Early Wynn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Early Wynn |
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Wynn, c. 1958
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: January 6, 1920 Hartford, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Died: April 4, 1999 (aged 79) Venice, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 13, 1939, for the Washington Senators | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 13, 1963, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 300–244 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.54 | ||
| Strikeouts | 2,334 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1972 | ||
| Vote | 76.0% (fourth ballot) | ||
Early Wynn Jr. (born January 6, 1920 – died April 4, 1999) was a famous American professional baseball pitcher. People often called him "Gus". He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 23 years. His teams included the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox.
Wynn was known as one of the toughest pitchers in baseball. He had a powerful fastball and a very determined attitude. He was so good that he was chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
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Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Early Wynn was born on January 6, 1920, in Hartford, Alabama. His dad, Early Wynn Sr., was an auto mechanic and used to play baseball too. Young Early worked hard, even lifting heavy cotton bales. This made him want a different kind of life.
He was good at both football and baseball in high school. But a broken leg from a football injury made him focus only on baseball. Wynn later said this injury was "my best break ever."
When he was a teenager, Wynn tried out for the Washington Senators. He impressed the team and signed a minor league contract. He decided to leave high school to chase his baseball dream. From 1937 to 1939, he played in the minor leagues.
MLB Career Highlights
Starting with the Washington Senators (1939–1948)
Wynn first played in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1939. He was called up by the Senators in September. In his first game, he pitched the whole game but lost 4–2. He made three starts that year before going back to the minor leagues.
He returned to the big leagues in 1941 and got his first MLB win. In 1942, Wynn played his first full season. The next year, he won 18 games for the Senators.
Serving in World War II
In 1944, Wynn joined the United States Army during World War II. He missed all of 1945 and part of 1946. He served in the Tank Corps in the Philippines. Even in the Army, he kept playing baseball for a team called the Manila Dodgers.
He came back to the Senators in 1946. In 1947, he was chosen for his first All-Star team. He won 17 games that year. In 1948, he had a tough season, losing 19 games. After that year, the Senators traded him to the Cleveland Indians.
Becoming a Star with the Cleveland Indians (1949–1957)
The Indians saw Wynn's talent but knew he needed more pitches. Their Pitching coach Mel Harder taught him new pitches. These included a curveball, slider, and knuckleball. Wynn said these pitches helped him become a much better pitcher.
With Cleveland, Wynn became part of an amazing pitching group. It included Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, and Mike Garcia. Their manager called them "the greatest pitching staff I ever saw."
Winning Seasons and World Series
In 1950, Wynn won 18 games and led the American League (AL) with a 3.20 ERA. This was the start of seven straight seasons where he won at least 17 games.
In 1951, he had his first 20-win season. He led the league in innings pitched. In 1952, he won 23 games, which was second-best in the AL. He finished fifth in the AL MVP voting.
Wynn made the Opening Day start for the Indians in 1954. He won 23 games that year, leading the AL. He also had a great 2.73 ERA. The Indians won 111 games, setting an AL record. This earned them a spot in the 1954 World Series. Wynn started Game 2, but the New York Giants won the series in four games.
In 1955, Wynn was an All-Star again. He pitched three scoreless innings in the All-Star Game. This was the first of eight straight All-Star selections for him. He finished the season with 17 wins and a 2.82 ERA.
In 1956, Wynn won 20 games again. He was hit in the face by a line drive during a game, losing seven teeth. But he was back pitching just four days later!
In 1957, Wynn led the AL with 37 starts. However, he had a losing record of 14–17. He also led the league in strikeouts with a career-high 184. After the season, Wynn was traded to the Chicago White Sox.
Chicago White Sox Years (1958–1962)
Wynn joined the White Sox and was reunited with his former manager, Al López. In 1958, he led the AL in strikeouts for the second year in a row.
In 1959, everything came together for Wynn and the White Sox. He started using his knuckleball more as his fastball got slower. He said, "I can't throw as hard as I did six, seven years ago."
Wynn won the Cy Young Award in 1959 at age 39. He had a record of 22–10 and led the AL in wins. He became the oldest pitcher to win the award at that time. The White Sox also won the AL pennant.
World Series Appearance
In Game 1 of the 1959 World Series, Wynn was amazing. He allowed no runs for seven innings as the White Sox won 11–0. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers ended up winning the series in six games.
In 1960, Wynn was selected for his last All-Star Game. He finished the season with 13 wins. In 1961, his season ended early due to gout, a painful condition. He missed the rest of the season.
By 1962, Wynn was the oldest player in the AL. He pitched to a 7–15 record. The White Sox released him after the season, thinking his career was over.
The Chase for 300 Wins (1963)
Wynn had 299 career wins and was determined to reach 300. He signed with the Cleveland Indians again in June 1963. He struggled in his first three starts.
On July 13, against the Kansas City Athletics, Wynn finally got his 300th win. He pitched five innings and left the game with a lead. He later said he wasn't proud of that specific win because he didn't pitch a full game. But he still became one of only 24 MLB pitchers to win 300 games.
After his 300th win, Wynn made only one more start. He made several relief appearances before retiring at the end of the 1963 season.
Legacy and Toughness
Wynn was known for his intense passion for the game. He hated losing and was famous for his competitive spirit. He once said, "That space between the white lines – that's my office." He meant that when a batter crowded the plate, they were stepping into his space.
He was also known for throwing pitches close to batters. His manager even fined him if he didn't throw a "brushback pitch" with two strikes. Wynn believed it was part of his job to make hitters uncomfortable. He even once threw a pitch near his own 15-year-old son during batting practice. He said, "He was leaning in on me, and I had to show him who was boss." This shows how incredibly competitive he was, even with family!
Wynn was the first player to pitch at least 23 seasons in the major leagues. He appeared in games over four different decades. He won exactly 300 games, which is 23rd most in MLB history. He had five seasons with 20 or more wins. He also recorded 2,334 strikeouts and 49 shutouts.
He was also a good hitter for a pitcher. He batted .214 with 17 home runs. He even hit a grand slam as a pinch-hitter!
Wynn is still among the Cleveland Indians' top players. He is fifth in wins and tied for fourth in strikeouts. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him number 100 on their list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players.
Later Life and Hall of Fame
After retiring as a player, Wynn became a pitching coach for the Indians from 1964 to 1966. He then coached for the Minnesota Twins from 1967 to 1969.
In 1972, Wynn was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was inducted along with baseball legends Sandy Koufax and Yogi Berra. He was very happy to receive this great honor.
Wynn also worked as a baseball broadcaster. He did color commentary for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1977 to 1981. He also worked for the White Sox in 1982 and 1983.
Early Wynn lived in Nokomis, Florida, for many years. He even owned a steak house and bowling alley there. He passed away in April 1999 due to health problems.
In 2013, Wynn was honored for his service in the United States Army during World War II.
Personal Life
Early Wynn married Mabel Allman in 1939. They had a son named Joe. He later married Lorraine Follin in 1944, and they had a daughter named Sherry. Early and Lorraine lived in Nokomis, Florida. Wynn enjoyed flying his plane, hunting, and operating powerboats.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Early Wynn para niños
- 300 win club
- List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
- 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 all-time leaders in home runs by pitchers
- List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades
- List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders
- TSN Pitcher of the Year (1959)
