Spud Chandler
The only Yankee pitcher to win the Most Valuable Player Award, Spud Chandler emerged as the teams' ace during the war years of the 1940s. The Georgian got a late start in the big leagues, and didn't win his first game until he was 29 years old, but he managed to log a 109-43 record to post the highest winning percentage in baseball history for pitchers with at least 100 victories. He won the opening and clinching game of the 1943 World Series.
Played For
New York Yankees (1937-1947)
Best Season: 1943
What Chandler did in 1946 (won 20 games and finished second with a 2.10 ERA) is more impressive because it came against a fully stocked major league. But in '43, Chandler was 20-4 and won two games in the World Series, which is hard to overlook. He won the MVP Award and was the toast of New York.
Factoids
In Game Five of the 1943 World Series, Spud Chandler pitched a 2-0 shutout to win the title for the Yankees. The ten hits he allowed in the game are the most ever surrendered by one pitcher in a nine-inning post-season shutout. All ten hits were singles.
Born
Spurgeon Ferdinand Chandler was born on September 12, 1907, in Commerce, GA.
Died
January 9, 1990, S.Pasadena, FL
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: NYA
Major League Debut
May 6, 1937
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1937
Bobby Doerr
Ken Keltner
Tommy Henrich
Johnny Vander Meer
George Case
Mickey Owen
Vince DiMaggio
Spud Chandler
Kirby Higbe
Uniform Numbers
#13 (1937), #24 (1937), #35 (1937), #21 (1938-1944, 1946-1947), #27 (1939), #28 (1944-1945)
Similar Players
Tex Hughson's career pattern was very similar, and to some extent, so was Tiny Bonham's, though Chandler was a far better pitcher than Bonham.
Related Players
Atley Donald, Tiny Bonham, Hank Borowy
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1950 |
BBWAA |
2 |
1.2% |
1951 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.4% |
1956 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.5% |
1962 |
BBWAA |
2 |
1.3% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1941 World Series
1942 World Series
1943 World Series
1947 World Series
Post-Season Notes
After losing each of his World Series starts in 1941 and 1942, though he pitched pretty well, Chandler shined in '43. Against the Cardinals, Spud twirled a 4-2 victory in Game One at Yankee Stadium, and a 10-hit, 2-0 shutout in Game Five to finish the series in St. Louis. He had a 1.62 ERA in six post-season games, which included four starts.
Awards and Honors
1943 AL MVP
Feats
Chandler's .717 winning percentage (109-43) is the best of any pitcher with at least 100 victories. Ironically, he led the league in winning percentage just once, in 1943.
Milestones
Chandler's 20th win of the 1946 season, a 6-0 shutout of the A's on September 29 in the first game of a doubleheader, was also his 100th career victory. His record stood at 100-38.
Transactions
April 12, 1948: Released by the New York Yankees.
All-Star Selections
1942 AL
1943 AL
1946 AL
1947 AL
Replaced
When Monte Pearson suffered an injury in 1937, Chandler was brought in to take his palce in the rotation. Spud responded with a 7-4 record with a 2.84 ERA in 12 games. The next season, he was the Yanks #4 starter.
Replaced By
Spec Shea
Best Strength as a Player
Chandler was an excellent athlete, having starred in both football and baseball at the University of Georgia. He was streaky, but a good hitter, and hit nine homers in his career. He was also a fantastic defensive pitcher.
Largest Weakness as a Player
No glaring weaknesses. Something kept him from getting to the big leagues before the age of 29, but I'm not sure what it was.
Learn More about Spud Chandler
Search Amazon.com for Books about Spud Chandler ⇒
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