| Jeff Tesreau | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1888-03-05)March 5, 1888 Ironton, Missouri, U.S. | |
| Died: September 24, 1946(1946-09-24) (aged 58) Hanover, New Hampshire, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 12, 1912, for the New York Giants | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 11, 1918, for the New York Giants | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 115–72 |
| Earned run average | 2.43 |
| Strikeouts | 880 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Charles Monroe "Jeff" Tesreau (March 5, 1888 – September 24, 1946)[1]was an AmericanMajor League Baseball (MLB) player. Standing 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), Tesreau was given the nickname "Jeff" because he resembled boxerJim Jeffries.[2] He made his MLB debut in 1912.
Charles Monroe "Jeff" Tesreau was born on March 5, 1888, inIronton, Missouri.
Tesreau initially signed with a minor league team of theSt. Louis Browns in 1909. In1910, his contract was purchased by theNew York Giants.
After two years in the minors, Tesreau learned how to throw aspitball, which became his signature pitch.
He started the second game of the1912 season for the Giants.The New York Times wrote, "Tesreau has curves which bend like barrel hoops and speed like lightning. He's just the kind of a strong man McGraw has been looking for."[citation needed] Tesreau finished his rookie season with 17–7 record and on September 6 he wouldno-hit thePhiladelphia Phillies, 3-0. He also had a National League leadingERA of 1.96. Earned run average officially became a statistic ofMajor League Baseball in 1912, and Tesreau, along with theAmerican League'sWalter Johnson, became the first players recognized for leading the major leagues in that category. That season he also led the NL in hits per 9 innings pitched (6.566); he also led the league in that category in 1913 (7.085) and 1914 (6.645).[3]
From 1912 to 1917, Tesreau remained a starting pitcher with the Giants. In 1918, he had an argument with managerJohn McGraw and quit the team in the middle of the season. In 1919, Tesreau refused to play for the Giants, and McGraw refused to trade or release him. He would not play another game in the major leagues.
In his career he was 119-72 (.623) with a 2.43 ERA.[3]
Tesreau held his opponents to a .224batting average in his career, which was lower thanWalter Johnson (.227),Christy Mathewson (.245) andPete Alexander (.250) even though each pitched considerably longer than Tesreau.[2]
He was also a better than average hitting pitcher, posting a .216batting average (124-for-574) with 40runs, 2home runs and 46RBI. In six World Series games, he hit .300 (3-for-10) with 2 RBI. His highest salary, in the 1915-17 seasons, was $6,300.[3]
In the1912 World Series, Tesreau started three times, each againstBoston Red Sox aceSmoky Joe Wood, and registered a 1–2 record for the Series. He started Game 1 of the Series and was credited with the loss in the 4-3 defeat but did not allow a hit for 5.1 innings (a triple byTris Speaker broke up the no-hit bid). It is the longest no-hit bid by a rookie pitcher in World Series history and no rookie pitcher would throw five innings of no-hit ball in a Series start again untilIan Anderson in2021.[4] His performance stood as the longest postseason no-hit bid by a rookie for 101 years untilMichael Wacha broke the mark in2013.[5] He was also credited with the loss in Game 4 before bouncing back in Game 7 (which due to a tie in Game 2 meant that the Series was even at three apiece), although the Giants lost in the decisive Game 8 the next day.
Tesreau became the baseball coach for theDartmouth Big Green baseball team ofDartmouth College, in 1919, a position he held until his death on September 24, 1946. He won 348 games as coach for Dartmouth, often coaching againstSmoky Joe Wood, who had become thebaseball coach forYale University. He won fourEastern Intercollegiate Baseball League titles and was the alltime wins leader until he was passed byBob Whalen decades later.
Tesreau suffered a stroke while on a fishing trip in 1946. He died four days later.[2]
· Baseball Almanac| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher September 6, 1912 | Succeeded by |