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| Curt Davis | |
|---|---|
 Davis, circa 1943 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1903-09-07)September 7, 1903 Greenfield, Missouri, U.S. | |
| Died: October 12, 1965(1965-10-12) (aged 62) Covina, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 21, 1934, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| April 28, 1946, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 158–131 |
| Earned run average | 3.42 |
| Strikeouts | 684 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Curtis Benton Davis (September 7, 1903 – October 12, 1965) was an AmericanMajor League Baseballpitcher. Even though he did not reach the big leagues until he was 30, the right-hander was a two-timeNational LeagueAll-Star over a 13-year career spread among thePhiladelphia Phillies (1934–1936),Chicago Cubs (1936–1937),St. Louis Cardinals (1938–1940) andBrooklyn Dodgers (1940–1946).
TheGreenfield, Missouri, native had quite a list of accomplishments, including winning 19 games as arookie, 22 games in 1939, eleven double-digit victory seasons, and pitching in the1941 World Series. He had excellent control, leading the NL inBB/9IP in 1938 and 1941, and finishing in the top ten in the league ten times.
Nicknamed "Coonskin”, Davis stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg). He began his career in professionalbaseball in 1928 at the age of 24 with theSalt Lake City Bees of the Class CUtah–Idaho League, and promptly won 16 of 30decisions. The following year, he jumped all the way to the topminor-league level as a member of theSan Francisco Seals of thePacific Coast League. In five seasons in San Francisco, he won 90 games and lost 77. Then he was selected on October 2, 1933, by the Phillies in that year'sRule 5 draft.
As arookie in1934, he won 19 games (losing 17) for a Phillies club that won only 56 of 149 games—accounting for 34 percent of the club's victories. The following year, he went 16–14 for another futile Phillies team. His fortunes improved when, in May 1936, he was acquired by thefirst-division Cubs, for whom he went 21–14 in 52 games over a season and a half and made the1936All-Star team. Appearing inthat season's Midsummer Classic, played atBraves Field,Boston, Davis entered the contest in the seventhinning with his side ahead, 4–0. But he gave up ahome run toLou Gehrig, the first batter he faced, andsingles toBaseball Hall of FamersGoose Goslin,Jimmie Foxx andLuke Appling; he retired two other Hall of Famers,Earl Averill andBill Dickey, but had to be relieved byLonnie Warneke with the National League margin cut to only onerun. Warneke nailed down thesave, however, and the NL hung on to win, 4–3.[1]
On April 16, 1938, he was one of the Cubs' players who were involved in the trade that brought future Hall of Fame pitcherDizzy Dean from the Cardinals; the Cubs won the1938National Leaguepennant, but Davis would enjoy a stellar1939 campaign in St. Louis, going 22–16 (3.63) and finishing third in the Senior Circuit inwins andsaves and fifth inshutouts. He made the NL All-Star squad for a second time.
Then, the following year, on June 12, 1940, he was traded to Brooklyn with future Hall of Fame sluggerJoe Medwick for four players and $125,000, in one of the highest-profile transactions of the baseball season.[2] He won 13 games in1941 as the Dodgers captured their first pennant since 1920. Then he started Game 1 of the 1941 World Series against theNew York Yankees, surrendering sixhits and threeearned runs in 51⁄3innings pitched.[3] He was charged with the 3–2 Brooklyn defeat in what would be his only World Series appearance.
In1942, Davis almost pitched the Dodgers to their second successive National League title. He won 15 of 21 decisions, posted a 2.36earned run average, third in the NL, and led the Brooklyn staff with five shutouts. But the Cardinals overcame the Dodgers in a furious pennant race,[4] and Davis' club finished out of the postseason. He remained a Dodger throughout theWorld War II era, winning ten games during each of the1943–1945 seasons. After pitching one game in1946 (on April 28), he was released by Brooklyn three days later.
Career totals for his 429games pitched include a 158–131 record, 281games started, 141complete games, 24 shutouts, 111games finished, 33saves, and anERA of 3.42 in 2,325innings pitched. Other top ten rankings for Davis includewins (four times),winning percentage (four times),ERA (four times),H/9IP (three times),WHIP (five times),shutouts (five times),saves (five times),games finished (once), and oldest player (five times).
An excellent hitter for a pitcher, Davis had a .203 careerbatting average (165-813) with 70runs, 11home runs and 81RBI. He hit .300 (12-40) with the Cubs in 1937 and .381 (40-105) with 17 RBI with the Cardinals in 1939.
Davis died at the age of 62 inCovina, California.
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Brooklyn DodgersOpening Day Starting pitcher 1942 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Brooklyn DodgersOpening Day Starting pitcher 1945 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | St. Paul Saints (1901–1960)manager 1947 | Succeeded by |