| Hal Newhouser | |
|---|---|
 Newhouser in 1953 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1921-05-20)May 20, 1921 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| Died: November 10, 1998(1998-11-10) (aged 77) Southfield, Michigan, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 29, 1939, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 3, 1955, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 207–150 |
| Earned run average | 3.06 |
| Strikeouts | 1,796 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 1992 |
| Election method | Veterans Committee |
Harold Newhouser (May 20, 1921 – November 10, 1998), nicknamed "Prince Hal" and "Hurricane Hal," was an American professionalbaseball player. He played inMajor League Baseball as apitcher from 1939 to 1955, most notably for theDetroit Tigers, where he was selected for seven straightAll-Star Games from 1942 to 1948. He became the first pitcher to win theMost Valuable Player Award twice in consecutive years, winning in 1944 and 1945. Newhouser was inducted into theNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 1992 and his number 16 wasretired by the Detroit Tigers in 1997.
Newhouser was highly regarded by Tigers scoutWish Egan, who ended up signing him for his hometown club for the 1939 season. Starting in the minor leagues that year, he was called up to the major league squad late in the season and made his first start on September 26, 1939. His initial years were rocky, failing to eclipse nine wins in a season from 1939 to 1943. His breakout year came in 1944, in which he totaled 29 wins, the highest mark for a pitcher since 1931, en route to an MVP award. He continued his stellar play in the 1945 season, in which he won another MVP Award, thePitching Triple Crown, and was the winning pitcher of Game 7 ofthat year's World Series against theChicago Cubs.
Newhouser continued to be a consistently solid pitcher in the post-war years, with no pitcher winning more games (170) than Newhouser did in the 1940s.[1] By 1950, problems with his throwing shoulder significantly decreased his effectiveness. He was released from the Tigers during the 1953 season and would've retired from baseball had it not been for former teammateHank Greenberg, who was general manager for theCleveland Indians. He signed for the Indians for the 1954 season and was a relief pitcher during their pennant-clinching campaign, retiring the following year.
Following his retirement as a player, Newhouser served as a scout for theBaltimore Orioles, with some of his notable player findings includingMilt Pappas andDean Chance. He then worked at a bank for twenty years before returning to scouting for theHouston Astros. He insisted that the Astros should draft shortstopDerek Jeter out of high school. When the Astros opted forPhil Nevin instead, he retired from baseball.
Harold "Hal" Newhouser was born on May 20, 1921, inDetroit, Michigan. He was the second son of Theodore and Emilie Newhouser. Theodore, originally fromCzechoslovakia, worked as a drafter in the automobile industry and was a former gymnast, while Emilie was originally fromAustria. Prior to Hal's birth, the Newhousers moved fromPittsburgh to Detroit. The Newhouser parents were largely indifferent about baseball, even after Hal's older brother of four years, Dick, was discovered byDetroit Tigers scoutWish Egan and spent a couple years for the team'sminor league affiliates.[2] During theGreat Depression, Newhouser sold newspapers, set up pins at a bowling alley, and collected plastic bottles to recycle to save up money to attend trade school.[3]
As a teenager, Newhouser played in a fast-pitchsoftball league, but upon the Tigers' win in the1935 World Series, Newhouser decided he wanted to pitch for his hometown major league team. At the age of fifteen, he started pitching in asandlot ball league for the first time. Over the course of three seasons, he recorded 42 wins and 3 losses. While attendingWilbur Wright Vocational High School, he started off playing for the school's baseball team. Egan, who took notice of Hal's athletic ability while scouting Dick, convinced him to drop that team and playAmerican Legion Baseball instead. Newhouser did well against the improved competition in Legion play. He recorded nineteen consecutive wins in one stretch, including striking out 20 or more hitters in a game five times.[4]
"I knew when I was fifteen I was going to play in the big leagues. No doubt in my mind."
While atWilbur Wright Vocational High School inDetroit, Newhouser picked upmachining. While he was a talented machinist, Newhouser found it too risky, especially after having to drive numerous classmates to the hospital due to injuries they had sustained. Instead, Newhouser studied to become adrafter atChrysler, where his father worked. While pitching in theminor leagues, Newhouser would study for his exams, which he would take in September when the major league Tigers called him up. When he was invited tospring training for the team in 1940, he fell behind in his studies and was held back from graduating with the rest of his classmates in June 1940. Starting in September of that year, he would spend three hours each morning at school before reporting toBriggs Stadium, including prior to1940 World Series games. He graduated in January 1941.[6]
Newhouser's talent had been noticed by teams across the MLB, most notably the Tigers and theCleveland Indians. Soon after returning from a Legion ball tournament on the evening of August 6, 1938, Newhouser signed with the Tigers at the age of 17, thanks to Egan's early scouting efforts and the relationship they had formed. Egan was able to convince Newhouser to sign for the team with a $500 signing bonus. Upon signing, Newhouser, whom Egan deemed the "greatest left-handed pitcher [he] ever saw," gave $400 to his parents while saving the other $100 for himself.[7] Ten minutes later,[3] Indians scoutCy Slapnicka arrived at the Newhouser house with a $15,000 check and a new car, offering both for Newhouser to sign with the franchise. Crushed, Newhouser told Slapnicka that he had already signed with Detroit.[7]
Newhouser started his career in1939 with the Tigers' Class D affiliate, theAlexandria Aces of theEvangeline Baseball League. He won his first professional baseball game there, striking out eighteen batters in the effort, before winning seven more and earning a promotion to the Class ABeaumont Exporters of theTexas League. Newhouser started hot in Beaumont, winning his first four games before falling into a slump, losing thirteen straight during one particularly bad stretch. This string of performances, along with his notably poor temper, alarmed the Tigers front office. Egan, however, convinced them to call up Newhouser near the end of the season, in order to keep a better eye on him. He joined a pitching staff with the likes of veteran playersSchoolboy Rowe,Tommy Bridges, andBobo Newsom, along with younger playersDizzy Trout andFred Hutchinson. ManagerDel Baker wanted to include the young prospects in the rotation in the final games of the season and on September 26, 1939, Newhouser made his major league debut in the second game of a doubleheader against the Indians. In the game, Newhouser gave up three hits and four walks in five innings, when the game was called due to darkness.[8] Newhouser was credited with the 0–3 loss.[9]
The1940 campaign saw Newhouser become a much more active part of the rotation. He started in 20 games and posted a 9–9 record with a 4.86earned run average (ERA).[10] On May 2, Newhouser recorded his first ever win when he allowed only six hits in a 5–3 victory against theWashington Senators away.[11] Detroit went on to win theAmerican League pennant, finishing one game over Cleveland and two over theNew York Yankees, earning a1940 World Series appearance against theCincinnati Reds. Newhouser, the youngest player on the Tigers roster,[12] did not make an appearance in the Series. He instead watched from the dugout as the Reds won in seven games. Newhouser continued to be an active part of the Tigers rotation in1941, this time posting a 9–11 record with a 4.79 ERA.[13]
During the1942 season, Newhouser succeeded against the reduced offensive talent in the league as a result of many players serving in the armed forces duringWorld War II. He finished the season with a 2.45 ERA with elevencomplete games and fivesaves and was anAll-Star Game selection for the first time in his career. Despite the positive pitching performance, Newhouser had inconsistent run support from his offensive counterparts and finished the season 8–14.[13] In June,[14] Newhouser planned on being sworn into theArmy Air Corps during a game in order to serve inWorld War II. However, due to acongenital heart defect,[15] he was deemed unfit for service following his physical examination in July.[16]
The1943 season saw a couple of changes in the Tigers lineup. Firstly, former catcherSteve O'Neill became the new manager of Detroit. Replacing him at the catcher spot would bePaul Richards,[13] who last played for thePhiladelphia Athletics in 1935.[17] Richards was largely tasked with bringing Newhouser and his young compatriots to their full potential.[13] At the start of the season, he had proven successful in doing this, as Newhouser credited Richards for his hot start. His 14 strikeouts on May 27 against theNew York Yankees were the most a pitcher had put up in a single game sinceBob Feller threw 18 in 1938. Through the beginning of June with 50 innings pitched, his earned run average was 0.90, 0.19 lower thanDutch Leonard's full season record.[18] Once again, Newhouser was selected for anAll-Star Game, recording a strikeout in three innings of work in the Midsummer Classic.[19] Despite the initial success, Newhouser lost nine straight games from late July to September[20] and finished the season with a dismal 8–17 record[13] and a league-leading 111 walks.[21] Following a September in which he posted a 5.19 ERA, he likely would have been let go had the wartime league talent not been so thin.[13]
During the offseason prior to the1944 season, Newhouser was offered a full-time job at Chrysler. His family implored him to take the position, as they viewed it as much more secure than a career in baseball, especially with his dismal 34–52 record in his first four years. Newhouser, however, decided to take one more chance at baseball. At that year's wartimespring training inEvansville, Indiana, Richards told Newhouser: "You've been a thrower. I'm going to make you a pitcher."[22] Originally possessing just afastball,curveball, andchangeup, Richards taught Newhouser how to throw aslider. He also taught Newhouser to control his emotions, although it remains unknown exactly what teaching method he used.[23]
The training worked, as 1944 proved to be Newhouser's breakout year. He posted a 29–9 record with a 2.22 ERA[24] en route to his firstMost Valuable Player Award.[25] His season started shaky, as he gave up five runs in just two innings of work during his first start, causing managerSteve O'Neill to send him to the bullpen for a week. On April 27 against theChicago White Sox, Newhouser was given the start, in what O'Neill told him was his "last chance" to remain in the starting rotation. Newhouser made good of his chance, pitching a twelve-inning complete game shutout.[21] This success continued and he was selected to his third-straightAll-Star Game on July 11, where he gave up two runs in one and two-thirds innings of work.[26]
The late season pennant race of 1944 was incredibly competitive, with the Tigers, Yankees (whom Newhouser recorded six wins against across the season), and theSt. Louis Browns all in contention within the final week. After the Yankees lost a late-season series to the Browns, they were eliminated from contention. With just two days to go, Detroit and St. Louis were tied at the top of the standings. Newhouser pitched win number 29 against theWashington Senators the following day, but the Browns also won their game, meaning the result of the next game would decide who wins the pennant. Detroit lost their final regular season game to the Senators, while St. Louis defeated the Yankees in a comeback fashion to secure the pennant.[23] The MVP award voting between Newhouser and teammateDizzy Trout was extremely tight. In fact, Trout won ten first-place votes compared to Newhouser's seven.[27] However, Newhouser's 236 votes were four more than Trout's 232 and he took the title, largely due to his league-leading 187 strikeouts.[28] Years later, Newhouser expressed disappointment that he was unable to reach the 30-win mark, which at the time was last achieved in the American League byLefty Grove in1931. He attributed the fact that he didn't reach the mark to two factors: the fact that in his final start prior to the playoffs, the game ended in a 1–1 tie against the Red Sox after getting called off due to weather, and the fact that in the final game of the season, when a win was needed, the Tigers decided to send Trout to the mound rather than Newhouser on short rest.[29]
He followed that up with a league-leading 25 wins and a 1.81 ERA, with only 9 losses in his1945 campaign,[24] also leading the league with 313 innings pitched, 29 complete games, 212 strikeouts, and 8 shutouts,[23] en route to his second consecutive MVP award[25] and thePitching Triple Crown.[30] This made him the first ever pitcher to win the MVP award twice in consecutive seasons.[31] Althoughno All-Star Game was held this season due to wartime travel restrictions, Newhouser made the hypothetical list of All-Stars compiled by theAssociated Press.[32]
Late in the season, Newhouser was suffering fromback spasms and was allowed to stay in Detroit while the team traveled east. During a series against the Yankees, however, Newhouser was asked to travel to New York and pitch by managerJack Zeller, as the Tigers pitching staff was exhausted. Despite being unable to throw his curveball due to severe pain, Newhouser leaned on his fastball and changeup to shutout the Yankees. His back continued to cause problems for him, however, as he was only able to pitch the first inning of a doubleheader against the Senators, who were just a half-game behind Detroit, before being relieved. The Senators finished the season with 87 wins, a game behind the Tigers, who with four consecutive games rained out, were unable to clinch the pennant right away.[33] When the rain finally let up, the Tigers played their final regular season game against theSt. Louis Browns.Virgil Trucks, who was medically discharged from theNavy atNorman, Oklahoma for a knee problem just five days prior, started the game.[34] After 5 1/3 innings, Trucks was relieved by Newhouser, who inherited a bases loaded situation with only one out and a 2–1 lead. Newhouser was able to escape the inning without allowing a run, but gave up one run in the seventh and eighth innings to allow the Browns a 2–3 lead. In the top of the ninth, however, sluggerHank Greenberg hit a grand slam to give the Tigers a 6–3 lead, which would hold, giving Newhouser the pitching win and clinching the pennant for Detroit.[30]
Detroit faced off against theChicago Cubs in the1945 World Series. Newhouser pitched the opening game, giving up seven runs before being pulled in the third inning as the Cubs routed Detroit, 9–0. Tied up at two games apiece, Newhouser was given the nod to pitch game five, improving upon his initial start by tossing a complete game in which the Tigers won 8–4. Three days later, Newhouser was chosen to pitch game seven. The Tigers offense gave him a five-run cushion in the first inning, but Newhouser only allowed three runs in nine innings, striking out ten in a 9–3 Tigers win, claiming the world title.[30]
In the offseason prior to the1946 season,Mexican League presidentJorge Pasquel offered Newhouser, the biggest name in baseball at the time, $200,000 to pitch three seasons in Mexico, with a $300,000 signing bonus. While tempting, Newhouser feared being banned from baseball if the Mexican League didn't survive. Newhouser instead accepted a $10,000 signing bonus to stay with the Tigers and a promise that he would be given a raise when his new contract was due.[35] However, before signing, trade rumors between the Yankees and the Tigers involved a deal between Newhouser andJoe DiMaggio.[36] It was further rumored thatBoston Red Sox sluggerTed Williams could also have been dealt for Newhouser andDick Wakefield. Ultimately, no such trade ever occurred and Newhouser remained a Tiger.[37] While the league was dominated by the Boston Red Sox, led by returning star Ted Williams, Newhouser remained one the AL's best pitchers.[36] He was selected to that year'sAll-Star Game and pitched four strikeouts in three innings of work.[38] In total, he tossed a league-best 26 wins with a league-leading 1.94 ERA. While Williams won the MVP award, Newhouser finished close behind him to claim second place in the voting.[36]
The1947 season for the Tigers was largely characterized by good pitching play, but a lack of solid batsmen following the departure of Hank Greenberg. Without solid run support, Newhouser posted a 17–17 record with a 2.87 ERA and 176 strikeouts,[36] although he was selected the starter for this year'sAll-Star Game, where didn't allow a run in three innings of work.[39] On August 28, during a game with the Red Sox, Newhouser was fined $250 by managerSteve O'Neill for a lack of effort after giving up five runs in the third inning, as well as for refusing to leave the mound after being summoned to the dugout. Newhouser claimed that he never talked back to O'Neill and felt confident that he could deliver a quality performance, insisting that he was trying. In response, O'Neill said that "it didn't look like it to me. He certainly was playing inferior ball." It was both O'Neill's first fine given as a manager and Newhouser's first received as a player.[40] Towards the end of the campaign, Newhouser engaged in film review, comparing his 1947 pitching to that of his big mid-1940s years. In doing so, he corrected a flaw in his follow-through. He won three of his last four decisions.[36]
Newhouser improved from the 1947 campaign in his1948 season, posting a league-leading 21 wins with 143 strikeouts[36] and earning anAll-Star Game selection.[41] The start of the season proved challenging for Newhouser. He won the Tigers'Opening Day matchup against the Chicago White Sox,[42] before losing four straight starts.[43] Starting with a 4–1 victory against the Boston Red Sox on May 19,[44] Newhouser won seven straight games until his streak was busted in another start against the Red Sox on June 20.[45] On August 8, he became the American League's first 15-game winner when he was credited for the win against the Washington Senators[46] and on September 29, following a 4–0 win against the Browns, Newhouser recorded his fourth twenty-win season of his career.[47] Newhouser pitched in the final game of the season against the Indians in front of a crowd of over 74,000 atCleveland Municipal Stadium. On short rest and battling an arm injury, he tossed a 7–1 victory over longtime foeBob Feller, in what Newhouser considered to be one of the best games of his life.[3] Despite the success, Newhouser's age was showing and his fastball began to slow.[36]
He was given the start on Opening Day on April 13, 1949 against the White Sox. Pitching in front of an Opening Day-record 53,435 fans at Briggs Stadium, Newhouser tossed a complete game, allowing three hits and only one run in the 5–1 win, his fourth straight on Opening Day.[48] On September 8, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Indians, Newhouser started the game by retiring the first 17 Cleveland batters in order before allowing a walk toFrank Papish. An inning later, he gave up his only hit, a single toLou Boudreau, ending the no-hit bid. Newhouser completed the 10–0 shutout, only his second one-hit performance of his career.[49] On September 24, also against the Indians, Newhouser tossed his eighteenth and final win of the season.[50]
Newhouser's1950 season was delayed due to a sore shoulder. Due to the ailment, he was only able to record four innings during spring training and missed the entire month of April and about half of May. Newhouser made his season debut on May 14, in a game against the St. Louis Browns.[51] He recorded 15 wins in 1950.[25] He only lasted three innings in that game, giving up five runs.[52] His second start on May 22 against the Washington Senators was much better, taking a shutout into the ninth inning before allowing a run in the 5–1 Tigers victory.[53]
During spring training for1951, Newhouser told an interviewer that "this will be my best season, or my last."[54] His best season it was not, as he recorded six wins and six losses with a 3.92 ERA.[55] His final appearance came on July 14 against the Senators, when he failed to last two innings in the loss. Pain in his arm became overbearing and he was placed on thedisabled list in August, with minor leaguerWayne McLeland called up to fill his spot.[56]
Despite his promise in spring training, Newhouser returned to the Tigersthe next season. Prior to 1952, Newhouser suggested a five-year deal worth $100,000, for insurance in case he could not pitch all five years and became a coach instead. While the Tigers had a policy against multiyear contracts, they considered the offer before ultimately turning him down.[57] Newhouser ultimately missed workouts in spring training due to his contract holdout. At one point, he requested a clause that he would not be traded, a condition general managerCharlie Gehringer couldn't guarantee.[58] In 19 starts that season, Newhouser posted a 9–9 record and a 3.74 ERA. Towards the end of the year, he lost his starting spot toBilly Hoeft. His ninth victory of the season was his 200th career win.[57]
On February 21, 1953, the day before spring training, Newhouser re-signed with the Tigers prior toto that year's season, being the last Tiger to re-sign.[59] He only appeared in seven games, finishing 0–1 with a 7.06 ERA.[57] The Tigers released Newhouser unconditionally on July 22, 1953. When interviewed, he said that "this is the end. I'm finished as an active player. My arm just can't stand the strain anymore."[60]
After his release, Newhouser assumed he would retire, though he spent the winter months training his arm inBradenton, Florida, On February 15, 1954, former teammate Hank Greenberg, now general manager of the Cleveland Indians, extended an opportunity to work out with the team inTucson, Arizona, which Newhouser accepted.[61] He made four appearances in the spring, giving up six runs in his first appearance. In his three subsequent appearances, he only allowed one run in 13 innings. On April 11, he signed with the Indians.[62] During the1954 season, he primarily served as along reliever and finished with seven wins and seven saves with a 2.51 ERA. His Indians team posted a record 111 wins that season, leading to aWorld Series appearance against theNew York Giants. Newhouser saw action in game four, relievingBob Lemon in the fifth inning. He faced two batters, failing to retire either of them before being pulled. Thefollowing season, Newhouser made just two appearances[57] before being released by the franchise on May 11, 1955.[63]
"I'll say this about Hal Newhouser, he was the best pitcher I've ever played behind."
Newhouser finished his career with a 207–150 record and a career ERA of 3.06. He led the American League in wins four times in his career, in strikeouts, complete games, and ERA twice, with one season atop the complete game category.[57] His 1,579 strikeouts and 170 wins between 1940 and 1949 were the most for any pitcher in that decade.[64] To date, his 207 winsplace him 107th all-time in career wins, tied withBob Lemon andCarl Mays.[65]
UnderBill James'Win Shares system, Newhouser was deemed top pitcher in the American League from 1945 to 1948. James argued that he would have won theCy Young Award had it existed during these years.[66]
He ranks among the top five pitchers in numerous Tigers records. He ranks first inwins above replacement, with 58.8, two more than second-placeJustin Verlander. His 33 shutout wins as a Tiger rank third all-time, his 200 wins, 212 complete games, and 1,770 strikeouts place him fourth and his 2,944 innings pitched ranks fifth.[67] His eleven consecutive pitching wins from June and July 1946 set a Tigers record that would not be matched until Verlander pitched 12 straight in2011.[21]
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | ERA+ | FIP | WHIP | H/9 | SO/9 | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 207 | 150 | 3.06 | 488 | 374 | 212 | 33 | 26 | 2,993.0 | 2,674 | 1,197 | 1,016 | 136 | 1,249 | 47 | 1,796 | 19 | 130 | 3.27 | 1.311 | 8.0 | 5.4 | [68] |
Newhouser's early seasons were marred by issues with his pitch control, specifically with hiscurveball. Even between innings, Newhouser's curves would go from well-located to hanging over the plate.[10] After working on his curveball, Newhouser routinely threw three different types of curves: an overhand, or12–6 curveball, a three-quarter curve which broke down and inside on a right-handed batter, and a slower curve. He usually employed the overhand curve when he had two strikes on a hitter.[69]
One constant throughout his career was his highwalk rate, even in his prime years. In his 223 starts during his All-Star years from 1942 to 1948, Newhouser allowed at least one walk in all but seventeen of them.[21] He is the Tigers' career leader in the statistic.[67] TheDetroit Free Press called his style of play as "making good the hard way" due to his success despite allowing so many walks.[21] In contrast, he was also known for his ability to generate strikeouts, especially in the peak of his career. In a 1981 piece forThe Baseball Research Journal, James P. Maywar deemed Newhouser the tenth-best strikeout hurler of all time.[70] In addition, he was known for his tenacity and for finishing games. Of his 374 starts, he completed 212 of them. Former catcherJoe Ginsberg recalled that "you couldn't get the ball away from him – he hated to be pulled from a game."[3]
Baseball historianBill James compared Newhouser's career to that ofLefty Grove, due to his strikeout ability, his slow development time, and for his low offensive production.[71] His temperament also drew comparisons to Grove, as he developed the nickname "Hurricane Hal" due to his violent outbursts. He once smashed an entire case-worth ofCoca-Cola bottles against the clubhouse walls after being pulled out of a game.[10] In contrast, he earned the moniker "Prince Hal" as a result of his dignified and courtly appearance.[72]
After his retirement, Newhouser became ascout for theBaltimore Orioles, ultimately becoming head scout.[72] His first discovery wasMilt Pappas, who he saw pitch atCooley High School in Detroit and convinced the O's to sign him in 1957. He also convinced them to signDean Chance a couple years later.[57] He left baseball for twenty years following this, becoming the vice president of a bank inPontiac, Michigan.[72]
Newhouser served as the Michigan area scout for theHouston Astros. After following 17-year oldDerek Jeter atKalamazoo Central High School inKalamazoo, Michigan, he implored Astros executives to select him in the upcoming1992 Major League Baseball draft. Prior to the draft,Dan O'Brien notified Newhouser that the Astros would select pitcherPhil Nevin ofCal State Fullerton, due to Nevin's lower signing bonus demands. Jeter was selected with the sixth pick by theNew York Yankees. Upset with the decision, Newhouser retired as a scout and from baseball altogether.[72][73]
Near the end of his life, Newhouser suffered fromemphysema and heart problems. On November 10, 1998, aged 77, he died atProvidence Hospital inSouthfield, Michigan.[3]
Newhouser married his wife, Beryl, in 1941, after meeting at a party two years prior.[13] Together, they had two daughters: Charlene and Sherrill. The couple remained married until Hal's death in 1998.[74] The family resided inBloomfield Hills, Michigan.[3]
In 1962, Newhouser was inducted into theMichigan Sports Hall of Fame.[75]
Newhouser's reputation as a "wartime pitcher," in which his most dominant seasons were during a period of decreased offensive talent, largely prevented him from making it to theNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum early on. In his final year of ballot eligibility in1975, Newhouser received 155 votes, or 42.8% of voters, far short of what is needed to be inducted. After three decades of eligibility,[76] Newhouser was inducted to the Hall in1992 by way of theVeterans Committee. He was inducted alongside pitchersRollie Fingers andTom Seaver, and umpireBill McGowan[77] in front of a then-record crowd of 20,000 people on August 2, 1992.[78]
On July 27, 1997, Newhouser's number 16 was retired by the Tigers during a ceremony at Tiger Stadium. He was the fourth Tiger to have a number retired, joiningAl Kaline,Hank Greenberg, andCharlie Gehringer.[79] He was the first Tigers pitcher to have his number retired.[80]
Bill James ranked Newhouser as the 36th-best pitcher of all-time in his 2001 bookThe New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract.[81]
In 2015, Newhouser was one of the ten inaugural inductees of theMichigan Baseball Hall of Fame.[82]
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| Award | Time(s) | Date(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALAll-Star | 7 | 1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948 | [83] |
| ALMost Valuable Player Award | 2 | 1944, 1945 | [84] |
| ALThe Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award | 2 | 1944, 1945 | [85] |
| The Sporting News MLB Player of the Year Award | 1 | 1945 | [86] |
Per Newhouser's biography onMLB.com.[83]
Led AL
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