Gene Bearden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gene Bearden |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: September 5, 1920 Lexa, Arkansas |
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| Died: March 18, 2004 (aged 83) Alexander City, Alabama |
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| debut | |||
| May 10, 1947, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 5, 1953, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 45–38 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.96 | ||
| Strikeouts | 259 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Henry Eugene Bearden (September 5, 1920 – March 18, 2004) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He threw with his left hand. Gene played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1947 to 1953. He played for the Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, and Chicago White Sox.
In his career, Bearden played in 193 games. He pitched for 788 innings. He had a record of 45 wins and 38 losses. He completed 29 games by himself and had seven shutouts (meaning the other team scored no runs). He also had 259 strikeouts. His earned run average (ERA), which shows how many runs he allowed per game, was 3.96.
Gene Bearden was born in Lexa, Arkansas. After high school, the Philadelphia Phillies signed him to play baseball. He spent four seasons playing in the minor leagues. Then, he joined the United States Navy during World War II. He was hurt during a battle and stayed in the hospital until 1945. After getting better, he returned to baseball. He played for the New York Yankees organization for two years. Later, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians. He made his first MLB appearance in 1947.
The next year, in 1948, Gene was a rookie (a first-year player). He won 20 games. He finished second in the voting for the Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award. He helped the Indians win the American League championship and the World Series. But his success didn't last long. Within two years, he was released from the team. He then played for several other teams until 1953. After his last MLB game, he played four more years in the minor leagues. He retired from baseball and lived in Helena, Arkansas. He worked for a radio station and had other businesses. Gene Bearden passed away in 2004.
Early Life and Military Service
Gene Bearden was born in Lexa, Arkansas. His father worked for the railroad. His family moved to Tennessee, where Gene finished high school. In 1939, the Philadelphia Phillies signed him to play professional baseball. He started his career with the Moultrie Packers. He won five games and lost 11 that year.
In 1940 and 1941, Bearden played for the Miami Beach Flamingos. He had a great record, winning 18 games in 1940 and 17 games in 1941. In 1942, he played for the Savannah Indians and Augusta Tigers. After that season, Gene joined the United States Navy to serve in World War II.
Gene first served at a blimp station. Then, he was sent to the USS Helena in the Pacific Ocean. On July 6, 1943, during the Battle of Kula Gulf, his ship was hit by three Japanese torpedoes. The Helena began to sink. Gene had to leave the ship. He fell and hurt his head and knee. He was in the hospital until early 1945. Doctors put metal plates in his head and knee to help him heal.
Gene returned to baseball in 1945. He joined the New York Yankees organization. He won 15 games for the Binghamton Triplets. In 1946, he moved up to the Triple-A Oakland Oaks. He had a record of 15 wins and 4 losses. While in Oakland, his manager, Casey Stengel, taught him how to throw a knuckleball. This pitch became his main pitch in the major leagues. About 80% of his pitches were knuckleballs.
On December 6, 1946, the New York Yankees traded Gene Bearden to the Cleveland Indians. The Indians also received Hal Peck and Al Gettel. In return, the Yankees got Sherm Lollar and Ray Mack. The Indians' owner, Bill Veeck, had wanted a different pitcher at first. But after talking to Casey Stengel, he asked for Bearden instead. The trade was then completed.
Cleveland Indians Success
After spring training, Gene Bearden made it onto the Indians' main roster. He played his first game on May 10. He gave up three runs in less than an inning against the St. Louis Browns. After this game, he was sent down to the minor league Baltimore Orioles. Gene was not happy and left the team. He didn't want to pitch in minor league stadiums because he thought they were too small. He refused to play until Bill Veeck agreed to send him back to the Oakland Oaks. He spent the rest of 1947 with the Oaks. He was reunited with Casey Stengel. He finished the season with 16 wins and 7 losses. His ERA was 2.86 in 198 innings.
In 1948, Bearden earned a spot on the Indians' team again. He stayed with the team for the whole 1948 Cleveland Indians season. His first game was on May 8 against the Washington Senators. He won six of his first seven games as a starting pitcher. He had four complete games and two shutouts. Both shutouts were against the Boston Red Sox.
By September 1, Gene had 13 wins and 6 losses. His earned run average was 2.74. The manager, Lou Boudreau, decided to use a four-man pitching rotation. This meant Bearden would get more chances to start. Gene lost his first September game. But then he won his next seven starts. He pitched complete game shutouts against the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers. This helped the Indians and Red Sox tie for the league championship.
For the one-game playoff, the Indians played the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Manager Lou Boudreau chose Bearden to start the game. Gene had only one day of rest. But he pitched another complete game. He allowed only five hits and one run. Cleveland won the game 8–3. Boudreau also played well, getting four hits and two home runs. This win gave Bearden 20 victories and 7 losses for the season. His 2.47 ERA was the best in the American League.
On October 8, in Game 3 of the 1948 World Series, Gene pitched against the National League's Boston Braves. He threw a complete game, five-hit shutout. The Indians won 2–0. Gene also hit a double and scored a run. In Game 6 on October 11, he helped the Indians win the World Series. He came in to pitch and helped save the game for starter Bob Lemon. The Indians won 4–3 and became world champions!
Bearden had a great season. He led the league in ERA. He was second in wins with 20. He was also second in shutouts with six. He finished eighth in the voting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award. He also came in second for the Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award to Alvin Dark.
After the season, Gene Bearden went to Hollywood. He appeared as himself in two movies. These were The Stratton Story and The Kid From Cleveland. In 1949, Gene stayed in the starting rotation. But other teams started to understand his knuckleball. Casey Stengel, now the Yankees' manager, told his players not to swing at it. This was because Bearden's knuckleball often missed the strike zone. Gene also had a pinched nerve in his leg. These things made his pitching less effective. He was moved to the bullpen (where relief pitchers warm up) for the rest of the season. Bearden finished 1949 with 8 wins and 8 losses. His ERA was 5.10. He also led the American League in wild pitches with 11.
Later Career and Life
In 1950, Gene Bearden mostly pitched as a relief pitcher. After 14 games, the Indians put him on waivers. This meant other teams could claim him. The Washington Senators claimed him on August 2. Gene hoped to pitch better. He felt his leg injury had affected him in 1949. He pitched in 12 games for the Senators. He finished the season with 3 wins and 5 losses. His ERA was 4.21.
In 1951, after pitching one game for the Senators, the team released him. The Detroit Tigers then picked him up. They needed a left-handed relief pitcher. He spent the season with the Tigers. He had 3 wins and 4 losses with a 4.33 ERA. On February 14, 1952, the Tigers traded Bearden to the St. Louis Browns.
Bearden played the entire 1952 season with the Browns. He was both a starter and a reliever. In 34 games, he had 7 wins and 8 losses. His ERA was 4.30. He also led the American League with 10 wild pitches. However, his hitting got much better that year. He hit for a .354 average in 65 at bats. This made him the best hitting pitcher that season.
In March 1953, the Browns released Bearden. The Chicago White Sox then claimed him. He played in 25 games for the White Sox. He had 3 wins and 3 losses with a 2.95 ERA. After the season, the White Sox traded Bearden to the Seattle Rainiers in the minor leagues.
Gene pitched for the Rainiers in 1954. He had 11 wins and 13 losses. In 1955, he was traded to the San Francisco Seals. He had a great first half of the season, with ten wins and only one loss. He finished the year with 18 wins and 12 losses. In 1956, he played for the Sacramento Solons. He had 15 wins and 14 losses. During the offseason, he played in the Cuban League. His team won the 1956 Caribbean Series. In 1957, he played for the Sacramento Solons and the Minneapolis Millers. After that season, Gene Bearden officially ended his baseball career.
After retiring from baseball, Gene Bearden lived in Helena, Arkansas. He lived with his wife, Lois, and their children. He was involved in many businesses in Helena. He owned a restaurant and worked as a general manager for a car dealership. He also coached youth baseball. Gene Bearden passed away in 2004 in Alexander City, Alabama, at 83 years old.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
