Red Faber
Using a nasty spitball and change of pace, Urban "Red" Faber won more than 54% of his decisions while hurling for the White Sox, who posted a .473 mark without him on the mound. Like other practitioners of the spitball, Faber turned to the pitch after arm injuries pestered him early in his career. Pitching his entire career in the Windy City, he made the most of his one post-season appearance — pitching a complete game victory in Game Two of the 1917 World Series, winning Game Five in relief, and twirling a complete game clincher in Game Six against the Giants.
Played For
Chicago White Sox (1914-1933)
Best Season: 1921
Either 1921 or 1922. In both seasons Faber won 20 games while leading the league in ERA (2.48, 2.81) and WHIP. Over those two years, Faber was 46-32, completing 63 of his 77 starts. He pitched a combined 682 2/3 innings and allowed just 20 home runs.
Factoids
Red Faber made his final start against big league opponents in the 1933 City Series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Facing 24-year old Lon Warneke, 45-year old Faber won the game, 2-0.
Switch-Hitter
Faber was a switch-hitter, but usually swung from the left side. On July 22, 1928, he faced right-handed Yankees' hurler Wilcy Moore with the winning run on second base. Batting right-handed for some reason, Faber swung and missed the first two pitches. He then switched to batting left-handed and laced the next pitch for a game-winning single.
Hall of Fame Battery
Catcher Ray Schalk and pitcher Red Faber were teammates on the White Sox for 15 seasons, from 1914-1928. Both ended up in Cooperstown as Hall of Famers. Schalk was known as the finest defensive catcher in the American League during the late 1910s and 1920s. Faber won 20 games four times throwing to Schalk, and the two were good friends.
All Aces
The 1920 American League season was filled with drama and intrigue. While the White Sox were busy turning into the "Black Sox," the team was grinding its way through a pennant race with Cleveland, who lost shortstop Ray Chapman in August when he was struck in the head with a pitch and died. The White Sox lost the pennant, but it wasn't their pitching staff's fault. Four Sox hurlers won twenty games: Faber (23-13), Lefty Williams (22-14), Eddie Cicotte (21-10) and Dickie Kerr (21-9).
Three Straight Starts
The following pitchers are the only men to start three consecutive scheduled games, since 1900:
1901 Joe McGinnity, Bal (Sep 9, both games Sep 12: LWL)
1904 Rube Waddell, PhiA (June 5-7: LWL)
1908 Walter Johnson, Was (Sep 4, 5, and 7: WWW - three shutouts)
1908 Ed Walsh, ChiA (Both games Sep 29, Oct 2: WWL)
1912 Ed Walsh, ChiA (June 12, 13, and 15: WWL)
1914 Pat Ragan, Bro (Second game of Aug 29, Sep 2 and 3: WWL)
1917 Red Faber, ChiA (Both games Sep 3, Sep 4: WWW)
Most Wins in Baseball (1915-1924)
Pete Alexander... 204
Walter Johnson... 198
Wilbur Cooper... 178
Stan Coveleski... 172
Red Faber ... 164
Where He Played
Starting pitcher (483 games), relief pitcher (186 games)
Born
Urban Charles Faber was born on September 6, 1888, in Cascade, IA.
Died
September 25, 1976, Chicago, IL
Batted: Both
Threw: Right
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: CHA
Major League Debut
April 17, 1914
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1914
Babe Ruth
Harry Heilmann
George Burns
Everett Scott
Red Faber
Sad Sam Jones
Dolf Luque
Jack Tobin
Braggo Roth
Red, for the usual reasons.
Uniform Numbers
#18 (1931, 1933), #19 (1932)
Similar Players
Burleigh Grimes
Related Players
Ray Schalk, who was Faber's teammate and catcher for 15 years.
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1937 |
BBWAA |
3 |
1.5% |
1938 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.4% |
1939 |
BBWAA |
3 |
1.1% |
1942 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.4% |
1948 |
BBWAA |
3 |
2.5% |
1949 |
BBWAA |
6 |
3.9% |
1950 |
BBWAA |
9 |
5.4% |
1951 |
BBWAA |
8 |
3.5% |
1952 |
BBWAA |
9 |
3.8% |
1953 |
BBWAA |
9 |
3.4% |
1954 |
BBWAA |
12 |
4.8% |
1955 |
BBWAA |
27 |
10.8% |
1956 |
BBWAA |
34 |
17.6% |
1958 |
BBWAA |
68 |
25.6% |
1960 |
BBWAA |
83 |
30.9% |
1962 |
BBWAA |
30 |
18.8% |
1964 |
Veterans |
|
% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1917 World Series
Post-Season Notes
Faber was injured and did not appear in the 1919 World Series.
Feats
On July 14, 1915, Faber stole second base, third base and home in the same inning, helping himself to a 6-4 win over the Philadelphia A's. Despite this bit of baserunning, don't get the idea that Faber was a master on the paths. In 1917, Faber tried to steal third in a game against the Yankees, only to find teammate Buck Weaver already on the bag.
Batting Feats
- July 14, 1915: Steal 2nd, 3rd, Home...
Replaced By
In 1931, White Sox manager Donie Bush moved Faber to a relief role (though he still started 19 games), and placed rookie right-hander Vic Frazier in Faber's old spot in the rotation.
Best Strength as a Player
Control — Faber kept the ball around the strike zone, even his spitter, which had plenty of movement.
Largest Weakness as a Player
Velocity — Faber couldn't throw it past hitters, as his career 3.2 K's per nine innings attests.
Learn More about Red Faber
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