Dazzy Vance facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dazzy Vance |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: March 4, 1891 Orient, Iowa, U.S. |
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| Died: February 16, 1961 (aged 69) Homosassa Springs, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 16, 1915, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 14, 1935, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 197–140 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.24 | ||
| Strikeouts | 2,045 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1955 | ||
| Vote | 81.7% (16th ballot) | ||
Charles Arthur "Dazzy" Vance (born March 4, 1891 – died February 16, 1961) was a famous American professional baseball player. He was a talented pitcher who played for five different teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). His career lasted twenty years. Vance was known for his amazing fastball. He was the only pitcher to lead the National League in strikeouts for seven years in a row. Vance was honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Start
Vance was born in Orient, Iowa. He grew up mostly in Nebraska. He started playing semipro baseball there. In 1912, he joined a minor league baseball team in Red Cloud, Nebraska.
He played for a few other minor league teams. Then, in 1915, he briefly played in the major leagues for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees. But it took several years for him to become a regular major league player.
Overcoming an Injury
In 1916, doctors found that Vance had an arm injury. He received medical help. He kept working on his pitching skills in the minor leagues. He played for teams in places like Columbus, Ohio and Memphis, Tennessee.
Vance only played two more games for the Yankees in 1918. He said his arm suddenly felt strong again in 1921. This happened while he was pitching for the New Orleans Pelicans. That year, he struck out 163 batters. He finished the season with 21 wins and 11 losses. The Brooklyn Robins team bought his contract in 1922.
Major League Career Highlights
Vance and catcher Hank DeBerry played very well together for the Brooklyn Robins. In 1922, Vance had 18 wins and 12 losses. His earned run average (ERA) was 3.70. He also led the league with 134 strikeouts.
Winning the Triple Crown
His best season was in 1924. He led the National League in three important pitching stats:
- Wins (28 wins)
- Strikeouts (262 strikeouts)
- ERA (2.16)
Leading in all three is called winning the pitching Triple Crown. Because of his amazing performance, Vance also won the National League Most Valuable Player Award that year.
Setting Strikeout Records
On August 23, 1924, Vance set a new National League record. He struck out 15 Chicago Cubs batters in a nine-inning game. The next year, in 1925, he struck out 17 batters in a 10-inning game.
On September 24, 1924, Vance did something special. He became the sixth pitcher in baseball history to throw an immaculate inning. This means he struck out all three batters in one inning using only nine pitches. He finished 1924 with 262 strikeouts. This was more than the next two best National League pitchers combined!
Throwing a No-Hitter
Vance pitched a no-hitter on September 13, 1925. He played against the Philadelphia Phillies and won the game 10–1. A no-hitter means the opposing team gets no hits during the entire game.
The "Three Men on Third" Play
Vance was part of a very funny and famous play in baseball history in 1926. It's called the "three men on third" incident. Here's what happened:
- Vance was on second base.
- Chick Fewster was on first base.
- Babe Herman hit a long ball.
As Herman ran around the bases, the third base coach told him to go back. Fewster hadn't passed third base yet. Vance, who had already rounded third, misunderstood. He also turned around and went back to third base. Fewster then arrived at third base. Herman ignored the coach and also ran to third base. So, all three players ended up on third base at the same time! The opposing team's third baseman tagged out Herman and Fewster. Vance was safe because of a baseball rule.
Later Career and Retirement
Vance's playing skills started to slow down in the early 1930s. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals (a team known as the Gashouse Gang), the Cincinnati Reds, and then returned to the Dodgers.
On September 12, 1934, Vance hit his seventh and final major league home run. He was 43 years and 6 months old. This made him the second oldest pitcher to hit a home run at that time.
Vance retired after the 1935 season. He led the league in ERA three times and in wins twice. He also set a National League record by leading the league in strikeouts for seven years in a row (1922–1928). Vance finished his career with 197 wins and 140 losses. He had 2,045 strikeouts and a 3.24 ERA. These are great numbers, especially since he played very few major league games in his twenties.
Life After Baseball
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After retiring, Vance enjoyed hunting and fishing. He lived in Homosassa Springs, Florida, since the 1920s. In 1938, Vance became very sick with pneumonia. He was in the hospital for several months but recovered. He often attended old-timers games for the Brooklyn team.
Hall of Fame Induction
Vance was chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955. He found out about it when a police officer stopped him on a highway. The officer told him a photographer was waiting at his house. A "Dazzy Vance Day" celebration was held in Brooklyn to honor him.
Vance passed away from a heart attack in 1961 in Homosassa Springs. He was thought to be in good health before he died. He was survived by his wife, Edyth, and their daughter.
Legacy and Recognition
In 1981, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included Dazzy Vance in their book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time. Vance is also mentioned in a poem from 1949 called "Line-Up for Yesterday" by Ogden Nash:
V is for Vance,
The Dodgers' own Dazzy;
None of his rivals
Could throw as fast as he.
See also
In Spanish: Dazzy Vance para niños
- List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
- Major League Baseball titles leaders
