| George Pipgras | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1899-12-20)December 20, 1899 Ida Grove, Iowa, U.S. | |
| Died: October 19, 1986(1986-10-19) (aged 86) Gainesville, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 9, 1923, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 2, 1935, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 102–73 |
| Earned run average | 4.09 |
| Strikeouts | 714 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
George William Pipgras (December 20, 1899 – October 19, 1986) was an American right-handedstarting pitcher andumpire inMajor League Baseball.
Known as "The Danish Viking", he spent most of his playing career with theNew York Yankees, breaking in as a rookie in 1923. He spent the 1925 and 1926 seasons in the minor leagues, and became a starter in the rotation for the first time with the legendary1927 team. Pipgras lead theAmerican League inwins with a 24–13, 3.38 ERA record for the following year's 1928 repeat champions.
After ending his 11-year career with theBoston Red Sox, he became an AL umpire from 1938 to 1946, and was the umpire behind the plate in one of baseball's most dramatic wins ever: on September 30, 1945, atSportsman's Park in St. Louis, whenHank Greenberg hit a ninth-inning grand slam, after Pipgras suggested to Greenberg the game should be called on account of darkness. However, Greenberg convinced himhe could still see the ball, so the game proceeded. The next pitch was hit over the fence and theDetroit Tigers went on to win the pennant and eventually the1945 World Series over theChicago Cubs 4–3 in 7 games.
His younger brotherEd pitched briefly for the 1932Brooklyn Dodgers.
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Pipgras was born inIda Grove, Iowa, and served in World War I with the 25th Army Engineers.
He started his major league career with the Yankees in the1923 season after being acquired from the Red Sox, making 17 appearances in his first two years. After returning to the minor leagues for two more years, he earned a place in the starting rotation in 1927, posting a 10–3 record for the team still considered by many to be the greatest ever, and winning Game 2 of the1927 World Series against thePittsburgh Pirates. In1928 he led AL pitchers in wins with a 24–13 record, and also ingames started (38) andinnings pitched (3002⁄3), while finishing second instrikeouts (139); he followed up with another Game 2 victory in the1928 World Series against theSt. Louis Cardinals as New York swept the NL champions for the second straight year. He was 18–12 as the Yankees slipped to second place in 1929, and 15–15 in 1930 with an AL-leading 3shutouts. After a 7–6 season in 1931, he bounced back with a 16–7 mark for the1932 AL champions, and again won hisWorld Series start in Game 3 as the Yankees swept theChicago Cubs. In that game,Babe Ruth andLou Gehrig each hit a pair ofhome runs, including Ruth's renowned "Called Shot." In May 1933, Pipgras' contract was sold back to the Red Sox, and he was 9–8 for the team that year before making a handful of appearances in 1934 and1935. In an eleven-season career, he posted a 102–73 record with 714 strikeouts and a 4.09earned run average in 14881⁄3 innings.
On August 4, 1938,Eastern League President Thomas Richardson announced that they sold the contract of Pipgras to the American League and PresidentWill Harridge. Pipgras would be required to report to Chicago to begin his umpiring duties.[1]
On Opening Day atYankee Stadium on April 20,1939, Pipgras worked as the third base umpire during a Red Sox-Yankees contest. The historicbox score included the names of futureHall of FamersJoe Cronin,Bill Dickey,Joe DiMaggio,Bobby Doerr,Jimmie Foxx,Lefty Grove,Red Ruffing,Lou Gehrig,Joe Gordon and prize rookieTed Williams as well. Pipgras was the starting pitcher for the Yankees in 1929's Opening Day, and his opponent for the Red Sox that day was Ruffing. According to historians, the unusual feat set by Pipgras is a case unique in major league history. He went on to umpire in the1944 World Series, as well as the 1940All-Star Game; he was the home plate umpire forDick Fowler'sno-hitter on September 9,1945.
Pipgras retired as an umpire in May 1946 due to illness.[2] In December, the Red Sox announced that they hired Pipgras andMace Brown asscouts.[3]
Pipgras had been in poor health in December 1985 when a doctor took care of him at his residence. On October 4, 1986, Pipgras went to a local hospital inInverness, Florida and on October 14, relocated to theUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs hospital inGainesville, Florida. Pipgras died on October 19, 1986 at the age of 86 in the hospital. At the time of his death, he was one of three living members of the 1927 New York Yankees withMark Koenig andRay Morehart.[4] His wife, Mattie Mae, died on November 23, 2013 at the age of 99.[5]