Red Ruffing was Joe McCarthy's opening act in the Fall Classic. On six occasions, in 1932, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1941 and 1942, Ruffing started Game One of the World Series for McCarthy, with the Yankee right-hander winning the game five times. Ruffing won 273 games, helping the Yankees to seven World Series with his off-speed stuff. He won 20 games four straight years, from 1936-1939, when the Yanks became the first team to win four straight titles. Ruffing teamed with Lefty Gomez to form one of the longest-running and most successful righty/lefty duos in baseball history. His personality was the opposite of Gomez's - he was generally quiet, efficient, and unflappable on the mound. Ruffing was one of the best hitting pitchers in baseball history, batting .269 with 36 homers for his career. He was 58-for-228 (.254) as a pinch-hitter. In 1967 he earned entry to Cooperstown, his pal Gomez joining him five years later.
Teams Red Ruffing Played For
Boston Red Sox (1924-1930) New York Yankees (1930-1946) Chicago White Sox (1947)
Related Players Ruffing and Lefty Gomez combined as one of the longest running (and most succesful) righty/lefty pitching combinations in baseball history.
Hall of Fame Voting
Year
Election
Votes
Pct
1948
BBWAA
4
3.3%
1949
BBWAA
22
14.4%
1949
Run Off
4
2.1%
1950
BBWAA
12
7.1%
1951
BBWAA
9
4.0%
1952
BBWAA
10
4.3%
1953
BBWAA
24
9.1%
1954
BBWAA
29
11.5%
1955
BBWAA
60
23.9%
1956
BBWAA
97
50.3%
1958
BBWAA
99
37.2%
1960
BBWAA
86
32.0%
1962
BBWAA
72
45.0%
1964
BBWAA
141
70.1%
1964
Run Off
184
81.8%
1966
BBWAA
208
68.9%
1967
BBWAA
212
72.6%
1967
Run Off
266
86.9%
Post-Season Appearances
1932 World Series
1936 World Series
1937 World Series
1938 World Series
1939 World Series
1941 World Series
1942 World Series
Post-Season Notes Ruffing was 7-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 10 World Series games. His Yankees won six of seven World Series in which he participated.
Transactions May 6, 1930: Traded by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees for Cedric Durst and $50,000. This was one of the Yankees best trades.
All-Star Selections
1934 AL
1938 AL
1939 AL
1940 AL
1941 AL
1942 AL
Best Strength as a Player Durability. Ruffing pitched in at least 28 games in 13 straight seasons (1928-1940).
Largest Weakness as a Player Ruffing struggled with his control early in his career.
