Early Wynn
The man they called "Gus" recorded his 300th and final win in 1963 at the age of 43. A share of Early Wynn's previous 299 victories had helped both the Indians and the White Sox to the only pennants of the 1950s not won by the Yankees. Wynn was a gritty right-hander who kept the ball in play and helped himself with the bat.
Played For
Washington Senators (1939-1948)
Cleveland Indians (1949-1957)
Chicago White Sox (1958-1962)
Cleveland Indians (1963)
All-Time Rankings
Early Wynn ranks #36 among the Top 50 all-time at SP. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1954
As the Tribe rolled to 111 wins and the pennant, Early Wynn joined his famous fellow starters (Bob Feller, Mike Garcia and Bob Lemon) in the rotation. He won 23 games, losing just seven, while posting a 2.73 ERA. He paced the league in innings and wins, while also completing 20 starts and saving two games.
Factoids
Wynn was a fierce competitor who often found himself in confrontations with umpires, opposing batters, his teammates, and his manager. He hated to be removed from a game, and he rarely was � finishing 47% of his starts.
On September 15, 1946, Early Wynn pinch-hit for the pitcher and slugged a grand slam in the Senators' seven-run fifth inning against the Tigers in Detroit. It was the third homer of Wynn's career, and his first grand slam.
Tom Glavine, Warren Spahn, and Early Wynn are the only pitchers in history to win 300 games despite never striking out 200 batters in any season.
Helping Yourself Out
The pitchers listed below are the only pitchers to win a 1-0 game and also drive in the only run with a home run.
8/3/1906, Tom Hughes, Senators, off Fred Glade, Browns (10th inning)
8/13/1932, Red Ruffing, Yankees, off Tommy Thomas, Senators (10th inning)
5/21/1938, Spud Chandler, Yankees, off Thornton Lee, White Sox
5/1/1959, Early Wynn, White Sox, off Tom Brewer, Red Sox
4/18/1962, Milt Pappas, Orioles, off Bill Stafford, Yankees
8/6/1962, Johnny Klippstein, Reds, off Don McMahon, Colt-45s (13th inning)
5/5/1965, Jim Bunning, Phillies, off Warren Spahn, Mets
9/16/1971, Juan Pizarro, Cubs, off Tom Seaver, Mets
6/17/1983, Bob Welch, Dodgers, off Mario Soto, Reds
8/28/2002, Odalis Perez, Dodgers, off Rick Helling, Diamondbacks
Brushback at First Base
Once, when Mickey Mantle sent a line drive back up the middle that narrowly missed him, Wynn motioned for his first baseman to play in back of the bag while he threw over and aimed for Mickey's legs.
Born
Early (Jr.) Wynn was born on January 6, 1920, in Hartford, AL.
Died
April 4, 1999, Venice, FL
Batted: Both
Threw: Right
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: CLE
Major League Debut
September 13, 1939
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1939
Ted Williams
Mickey Vernon
Bob Elliott
Bob Kennedy
Early Wynn
Hal Newhouser
Dizzy Trout
Fred Hutchinson
Johnny Hopp
Nicknames
Gus
Uniform Numbers
#44 (1939), #11 (1941-1944), #26 (1946-1948), #24 (1949-1962), #38 (1963)
Similar Players
Burleigh Grimes, Robin Roberts, Tommy John, Bert Blyleven
Related Players
Bob Feller
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1969 |
BBWAA |
95 |
27.9% |
1970 |
BBWAA |
140 |
46.7% |
1971 |
BBWAA |
240 |
66.7% |
1972 |
BBWAA |
301 |
76.0% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1954 World Series
1959 World Series
Awards and Honors
1959 ML Cy Young
Feats
On July 13, 1963, Wynn garnered his 300th (and final) major league victory. Starting the second game of a doubleheader against the Royals, Wynn hurled five innings, allowing four runs, but left with a slim lead. Four shutout innings of relief by Jerry Walker earned Wynn his milestone victory.
Milestones
- July 13, 1963: 300th Win...
Notes
On May 1, 1959, Wynn hit a solo homer off Boston's Tom Brewer to provide the only run in his 1-0 victory over the Red Sox.
Transactions
Before 1937 Season: Signed by the Washington Senators as an amateur free agent; December 14, 1948: Traded by the Washington Senators with Mickey Vernon to the Cleveland Indians for Ed Klieman, Joe Haynes, and Eddie Robinson; December 4, 1957: Traded by the Cleveland Indians with Al Smith to the Chicago White Sox for Minnie Minoso and Fred Hatfield; November 20, 1962: Released by the Chicago White Sox; June 21, 1963: Signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians; October 14, 1963: Released by the Cleveland Indians.
All-Star Selections
1955 AL
1956 AL
1957 AL
1958 AL
1959 AL
1960 AL
Replaced
In 1942, with several pitchers in the service for World War II, Wynn joined Bobo Newsom and Walt Masterson as three new arms in the Senators' rotation.
Replaced By
His last regular job as a starting pitcher was 1962 with the White Sox. In 1963 he was replaced by Gary Peters.
Best Strength as a Player
Durability. From the age of 31-40, Wynn started at least 30 games and hurled no fewer than 230 innings every season.
Largest Weakness as a Player
He gave up his share of home runs.
Learn More about Early Wynn
Search Amazon.com for Books about Early Wynn ⇒
Search for Early Wynn at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
