| Harry Brecheen | |
|---|---|
 Brecheen with theBaltimore Orioles in 1955 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1914-10-14)October 14, 1914 Broken Bow, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| Died: January 17, 2004(2004-01-17) (aged 89) Bethany, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 22, 1940, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 13, 1953, for the St. Louis Browns | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 133–92 |
| Earned run average | 2.92 |
| Strikeouts | 901 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Harry David Brecheen (/brəˈkiːn/,brə-KEEN, October 14, 1914 – January 17, 2004), nicknamed "the Cat", was an American left-handedpitcher inMajor League Baseball who played most of his career for theSt. Louis Cardinals. In the late 1940s, he was among the team's stars, in 1946 becoming the first left-hander ever towin three games in a singleWorld Series, and the only pitcher ever to win consecutive World Series games. He later led theNational League in several categories in 1948.
Bracheen's career World Seriesearned run average of 0.83 was a major league record from 1946 to 1976. From 1951 to 1971, he held the Cardinals' franchise record for careerstrikeouts by a left-hander, and he also retired with the fourth-highestfielding percentage among pitchers (.983), then the top mark among left-handers.
Born inBroken Bow, Oklahoma, Brecheen was acquired by the Cardinals in 1938 from theChicago Cubs after two minor league seasons, but made only three relief appearances during1940 and did not pitch again at the major league level until1943. He was nicknamed "The Cat" because of his ability to coverbunts.[1]
Brecheen appeared in three games, all in relief, in 1940. Exempted from military service duringWorld War II with a4-F classification due to a spinal malformation and a boyhood ankle injury, he pitched in the1943 and1944 World Series. In 1943, Brecheen pitched in 29 games, starting 13 of them. He went 9–6 with a 2.29 earned run average in 135 innings pitched. The next season, he went 16–5. Brecheen won game four of the 1944 World Series against theSt. Louis Browns. He was key to the Cardinals' upset win over theBoston Red Sox in the1946 World Series as he won three games during the series.[1] Brecheen recorded his finest season in 1948, posting awin–loss record of 20–7 with 21complete games and led the league in earned run average (2.24),strikeouts (149) andshutouts (7).[1]
A two-timeAll-Star, Brecheen's overall career record was 133 wins and 92 losses, with a 2.92 earned run average over 12 seasons.[1] After breakingBill Sherdel's club record for career strikeouts by a left-hander in 1951, he held the mark untilSteve Carlton surpassed it in 1971. Brecheen's 25 career shutouts remain the Cardinal record for left-handers. His career World Series ERA of 0.83 stood as the record (with at least 25 innings) untilJack Billingham broke it in1976 with a mark of 0.36.
Playing his entire career for St. Louis teams, Brecheen ended his career in 1953 as a playing coach with theSt. Louis Browns; it was that team's final season in the city before their move to Baltimore.[1] He won his only start of the1944 Series, which matched the city's two teams.
As a hitter, Brecheen was better than average for a pitcher, posting a .192batting average (129-for-673) with 48runs, 2home runs, 44RBI and 45bases on balls.
Brecheen'sscrewball was ranked the eighth-best of all time byBill James andRob Neyer.[2]
Following his playing career, Brecheen remained with the Browns when they became the Baltimore Orioles. His playing career ended in 1954 after straining his pitching arm picking up a heavy suitcase, then he stayed with the organization as their pitching coach from 1954 to 1967.[3] While coaching the Orioles pitchers for the next 14 years, the Orioles’ staff ranked in the top four in ERA. He trained many young pitchers includingBilly O'Dell,Jack Fisher,Jim Palmer,Dave McNally,Steve Barber,Chuck Estrada,Jerry Walker andMilt Pappas.
He was also successful with turning around the careers of veterans. In 1959, he converted 36-year-oldHoyt Wilhelm into a starter and the knuckleballer led the league with a 2.19 era and a 15-11 record. With Brecheen's help, seemingly washed up Phillies legendRobin Roberts made a successful comeback with the Orioles after going 1-10 with a 5.85 ERA in 1961.[4] Roberts would win 42 games with the Orioles over his 3 1/2 years with Baltimore.[5] Brecheen was let go after the 1967 season after too many promising Orioles pitchers turned up with arm troubles during his long tenure.[citation needed] He was voted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. He died at age 89 in a nursing facility inBethany, Oklahoma.[1]
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by n/a | St. Louis Brownspitching coach 1953 | Succeeded by Franchise relocated |
| Preceded by Franchise established | Baltimore Oriolespitching coach 1954–1967 | Succeeded by |