| Whit Wyatt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1907-09-27)September 27, 1907 Kensington, Georgia, U.S. | |
| Died: July 16, 1999(1999-07-16) (aged 91) Carrollton, Georgia, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 16, 1929, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 18, 1945, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 106–95 |
| Earned run average | 3.79 |
| Strikeouts | 872 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
John Whitlow Wyatt (September 27, 1907 – July 16, 1999) was an American professionalbaseballpitcher. He played all or part of sixteen seasons inMajor League Baseball for theDetroit Tigers (1929–33),Chicago White Sox (1933–36),Cleveland Indians (1937),Brooklyn Dodgers (1939–44), andPhiladelphia Phillies (1945). While injuries sidetracked much of Wyatt's early career,[1] he is most famous for his performance in 1941, when his team (the Dodgers) won theNational League pennant.
Wyatt was born inKensington, Georgia, in 1907. As a high school pitching phenom atCedartown High School, he once struck out 23 college hitters in a game.[1] He attended theGeorgia Institute of Technology in 1927.
In 1928, Wyatt joined theEvansville Hubs in theThree-I League. After nearly two full seasons with Evansville, including a stretch in 1929 where he won sixteen straight games,[1] he was acquired by the major leagueDetroit Tigers late in the 1929 season. He made fourstarts that September and October, going 0–1 with a 6.75 ERA.
In 1930, Wyatt appeared in 21 games, including seven starts, posting a record of 4–5 with a 3.57 ERA. He spent most of 1931 in the minor leagues, leading theTexas League with a 1.53 earned run average.
In 1932, Wyatt managed his first full season, appearing in 43 games, including 22 starts, with a 9–13 record and a 5.03 ERA. In 1933, he was traded in midseason to the White Sox, where he was used mostly in relief for the next several seasons. After spending most of 1936 back in the minor leagues, he was acquired by the Indians in theRule 5 draft. He pitched in 29 games in 1937, then was back in the minor leagues in 1938. In the midst of an MVP season in theAmerican Association,[1] during which he won 23 games for theMilwaukee Brewers, he was purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers.
After going 8–3 in 16 games in 1939, Wyatt went 15–14 in 1940, leading the Dodger staff in innings andstrikeouts. His best year was 1941, when he was 22–10 with a league-leading 7shutouts. He was the winning pitcher in the only Dodgers victory against theNew York Yankees in the1941 World Series. He also pitched well in 1942, winning 19 games and leading the Dodgers in wins again. During his most productive period, 1940–43, Wyatt went 70–36 and led the league in shutouts twice.
In addition to being one of the best pitchers in the league, he also gained notoriety for head-hunting. When a beanball war broke out between frontrunners Brooklyn and St. Louis in 1941, Wyatt was at the forefront. ManagerLeo Durocher would leave money on top of his locker after he hit batters.[2]Joe DiMaggio only faced Wyatt in one World Series yet called him "the meanest guy [he] ever saw."[1]
In a 16-season career, Wyatt posted a 106–95 record with 872strikeouts and a 3.79ERA in 1761innings pitched, including 17shutouts and 97 complete games. He was an above-average hitter for a pitcher; he batted .219 (133-607) with 7 home runs and 69 RBI.
After retiring from the mound, Wyatt was a successfulminor-leaguemanager (his 1954Atlanta Crackers won theDouble-ASouthern Association championship andDixie Series), then spent over a decade as a pitching coach in the majors with thePhiladelphia Phillies (1955–57) and theMilwaukee / Atlanta Braves (1958–67), notably serving on the pennant-winning1958 Milwaukee Braves and as the first pitching coach for the relocatedAtlanta Braves of 1966. He died of complications frompneumonia at the Tanner Medical Center inCarrollton, Georgia, at age 91.[3]
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Brooklyn DodgersOpening Day Starting pitcher 1940–1941 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Philadelphia Philliespitching coach 1955–1957 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Milwaukee/Atlanta Bravespitching coach 1958–1967 | Succeeded by |