| Bullet Joe Bush | |
|---|---|
 Bush in 1914 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1892-11-27)November 27, 1892 Brainerd, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| Died: November 1, 1974(1974-11-01) (aged 81) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 30, 1912, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 22, 1928, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 195–183 |
| Earned run average | 3.51 |
| Strikeouts | 1,318 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Leslie Ambrose "Bullet Joe" Bush (November 27, 1892 – November 1, 1974) was an AmericanMajor League Baseballpitcher with thePhiladelphia Athletics,Boston Red Sox,New York Yankees,St. Louis Browns,Washington Senators,Pittsburgh Pirates, andNew York Giants between 1912 and 1928. Bush batted and threw right-handed. He is credited with having developed theforkball pitch.[1]
Bush helped the Athletics win the1913 World Series and the 1914American League pennant, the Red Sox win the1918 World Series, the Yankees win the 1922 AL pennant and1923 World Series, and the Pirates win the 1927National League pennant.
Bush led the American League in losses (24) in 1916, walks allowed (109) in 1924, and wild pitches in 1916 (15), 1923 (12), and 1924 (7). While with the Athletics in 1916, when he led the league in losses, he won 15 games; the entire team won only 36 during what was then a Major League-worst 36-117 (.235 won-loss percentage) season. This was 41.7% of the team's total wins. On August 26 of that season, Bushno-hit theCleveland Indians 5–0 atShibe Park; a first inning, leadoff walk toJack Graney was the only baserunner that kept him from aperfect game.
Bush finished fourth in voting for the 1922 American League MVP, as he led the league in winning percentage (.788). He also had a 26–7 win–loss record,255+1⁄3 innings pitched, 85 walks allowed, 92 strikeouts, and a 3.31 earned run average.
Over a 17-year career, Bush had a 195–183 win–loss record, 488 games, 370 games started, 225 complete games, 35 shutouts, 93 games finished, 20 saves,3,085+1⁄3 innings pitched, 2,990 hits allowed, 1,439 runs allowed, 1,203 earned runs allowed, 96 home runs allowed, 1,263 walks allowed, 1,318 strikeouts, 63 hit batsmen, 87 wild pitches, 13,053 batters faced, 1 balk, and a 3.51 earned run average.
Bush was also a very good hitting pitcher in his career, batting .253 (313-for-1239) with 128 runs, 7 home runs, and 140 RBI. He made 80 appearances as a pinch-hitter and was also used in the outfield.
Bush died inFort Lauderdale, Florida at the age of 81 on November 1, 1974.[2]
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher August 26, 1916 | Succeeded by |
