| Larry Cheney | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1886-05-02)May 2, 1886 Belleville, Kansas, U.S. | |
| Died: January 6, 1969(1969-01-06) (aged 82) Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 9, 1911, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 16, 1919, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 116–100 |
| Earned run average | 2.70 |
| Strikeouts | 926 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Laurance Russell Cheney (May 2, 1886 – January 6, 1969) was an Americanstarting pitcher inMajor League Baseball who played for theChicago Cubs (1911–15),Brooklyn Robins (1915–19),Boston Braves (1919) andPhiladelphia Phillies (1919). Cheney batted and threw right-handed. He was born inBelleville, Kansas.
Cheney debuted with the Cubs on September 19, 1911. After two appearances as areliever, he pitched ashutout against Brooklyn, but was hit by aline drive off the bat ofZack Wheat which Cheney deflected with his throwing hand, fracturing his thumb and nose. The following season he relied heavily on aknuckleball andspitter after his broken finger took some speed off his heavy fastball. Then he blossomed, tying withRube Marquard for theNational League lead inwins (26), leading with 28complete games, as he finished second inwinning percentage (.722).
In 1913 Cheney won 21 games (17 as a starter, four as a reliever) and led the league insaves (11) andgames pitched (54). On September 14, he shut out theNew York Giants while allowing 14hits, setting a major league record for most hits given up while pitching a nine-inning shutout. He won 20 games in 1914, leading the league in starts (40) and games (50). From 1912 to 1914 he pitched 300 or moreinnings in each season, with a career-high 311 in 1914. Also in 1914, Cheney set a record for most wild pitches in a season opening with 4 against the Cincinnati Reds on April 14.
Traded to Brooklyn in August 1915 forJoe Schultz, after an 8–9 start, Cheney won 18 games in 1916, helping his new team reach theWorld Series. He pitched three innings of relief against theBoston Red Sox in Game Four of the Series,striking out five batters. Cheney then pitched for the Robins, Braves and Phillies in 1919, his last major league season, appearing in his final game on September 26.
Over nine seasons, Cheney posted a 116–100 record with 926 strikeouts and a 2.70ERA in 1881.1 innings.
Cheney died inDaytona Beach, Florida aged 82.
· Baseball Almanac| Preceded by | Brooklyn RobinsOpening Day Starting pitcher 1916 | Succeeded by |