Bill Doak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Doak |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: January 28, 1891 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Died: November 26, 1954 (aged 63) Bradenton, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 1, 1912, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 13, 1929, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 169–157 | ||
| Earned run average | 2.98 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,014 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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William Leopold Doak (born January 28, 1891 – died November 26, 1954) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for three different teams between 1912 and 1929. Bill Doak spent most of his 13 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. People called him "Spittin' Bill" because he used a special pitch called the spitball. He was a top pitcher, leading the National League in earned run average (ERA) in 1914 and winning 20 games in the 1920 season.
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Bill Doak's Early Life
Bill Doak was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father wanted him to become a mining engineer. However, Bill loved baseball more than engineering. He started playing semipro baseball in 1909. By 1910, he was playing in the minor leagues. He then made it to the major leagues in 1912.
Bill Doak's Baseball Career
The St. Louis Cardinals bought Bill Doak's contract in 1913. He played for them for most of his career. In 1914, he had a great season. He won 19 games and lost only 6. He also had the best ERA in the league, which was 1.72. A low ERA means a pitcher gives up very few runs.
Bill Doak continued to be a strong pitcher. In 1920, he won 20 games, which is a big achievement for a pitcher. He also led the National League in ERA again in 1921. In 1924, he was traded to the Brooklyn Robins. He played there for a few years.
He came back to the St. Louis Cardinals for a short time in 1929. After that, he retired from baseball. His career record was 169 wins and 157 losses. His ERA was 2.98, and he had 1,014 Strikeouts. Even though his teams were not always the best, Bill Doak is still among the Cardinals' top 10 pitchers in many ways. For example, his 32 shutouts rank second in Cardinals history.
The Famous Spitball Pitch
Bill Doak was known for his special pitch, the spitball. This pitch earned him the nickname "Spittin' Bill." The spitball was a pitch where the pitcher would put spit or another substance on the ball. This made the ball move in unpredictable ways. In 1920, baseball decided to ban the spitball. However, Bill Doak was one of 17 pitchers who were still allowed to throw it. This was because they had used it for a long time.
Innovating the Baseball Glove
Bill Doak made a very important contribution to baseball that is still used today. In 1920, he had a great idea for the baseball glove. He suggested to the company Rawlings that they should add a web. This web would connect the first finger and the thumb of the glove. He believed this would create a natural pocket. This pocket would make it easier to catch and hold the baseball.
Rawlings listened to Bill Doak's idea. They created the "Bill Doak glove." This new glove design quickly became very popular. It replaced all other types of baseball gloves. The design of the Bill Doak glove is still the standard for baseball gloves today. So, every time you see a baseball glove, you can remember Bill Doak's clever idea!
Bill Doak's Later Life
After retiring from baseball, Bill Doak moved to Bradenton, Florida. There, he owned a candy shop called "Bill Doak's Sweet Shop." He also coached the baseball team at Bradenton High School. His team was very good and even made it to the state championship. Bill Doak passed away in Bradenton when he was 63 years old.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
- List of St. Louis Cardinals team records
