Vean Gregg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vean Gregg |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: April 13, 1885 Chehalis, Washington, U.S. |
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| Died: July 29, 1964 (aged 79) Aberdeen, Washington, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 12, 1911, for the Cleveland Naps | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 25, 1925, for the Washington Senators | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 92–63 | ||
| Earned run average | 2.70 | ||
| Strikeouts | 720 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Sylveanus Augustus "Vean" Gregg (born April 13, 1885 – died July 29, 1964) was an American professional baseball player. He was a pitcher, which is the player who throws the ball to the batter. Gregg played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These included the Cleveland Naps, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Athletics, and Washington Senators. His career in MLB lasted from 1911 to 1925.
Gregg was known as "the Western Wonder" because of his amazing pitching skills. He achieved something very special by winning 20 games in each of his first three seasons. He was the only MLB player in the 20th century to do this. In 1911, he led the American League in earned run average (ERA), which measures how well a pitcher prevents runs. He was also part of the Red Sox team that won the 1915 World Series, even though he didn't play in any of the games.
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Early Life and Family
Vean Gregg was born in Chehalis, Washington. He spent most of his childhood in Clarkston. Vean also had a brother named Dave Gregg. Dave was also a pitcher and played one inning for the Cleveland Naps in 1913. He was even Vean's teammate for a short time.
Starting His Baseball Journey
Gregg began his professional baseball career in 1910. He first played for the Spokane Indians in the Northwestern League. Later that year, he joined the Portland Beavers in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). While playing for the Beavers, he pitched 14 shutouts. A shutout means the opposing team scores no runs during the game.
Playing for the Cleveland Naps
In 1911, Gregg moved up to Major League Baseball. He joined the Cleveland Naps in the American League. That year was fantastic for him. He had a record of 23 wins and only 7 losses. He also led the league with an impressive 1.80 earned run average. This was a sign of how dominant he was on the mound.
Gregg continued his strong performance in 1912 and 1913. In both years, he started 34 games. He finished each season with an identical record of 20 wins and 13 losses. This showed his consistency as a top pitcher.
Moving to the Boston Red Sox
On July 28, 1914, the Naps traded Gregg to the Boston Red Sox. In return, the Naps received three other players: Fritz Coumbe, Ben Egan, and Rankin Johnson Sr.. Around this time, Gregg started having problems with his arm. This arm soreness continued for the rest of his career.
Despite his arm issues, he was part of two World Series championship teams with the Red Sox. These were in the 1915 and 1916 seasons. Even though he was on the team, he did not play in any of the World Series games.
Time with the Philadelphia Athletics
On December 14, 1917, the Red Sox made another trade involving Gregg. They sent him, along with Merlin Kopp, Pinch Thomas, and $60,000, to the Philadelphia Athletics. In exchange, the Red Sox received Bullet Joe Bush, Wally Schang, and Amos Strunk.
In 1918, Gregg played for the Athletics. He had a record of 9 wins and 14 losses in 30 games. His ERA was 3.12. The Athletics finished in last place that season.
Baseball During World War I
When the United States joined World War I in 1918, Major League Baseball was paused. Vean was 33 years old at the time, which was too old to join the military. Instead, he moved to Canada. He worked on a ranch he had bought in Conjuring Creek, Alberta, near Edmonton, in 1912.
He also continued to play baseball for different local teams. He played for the Conjuring Creek team and the Calgary Great War Veterans Association (GWVA) team in 1919. He was also reportedly signed to the Edmonton Eskimos baseball team in August 1921. However, he needed to earn money to pay off debts from his farm. This led him to return to professional baseball in the United States.
Return to Professional Baseball
Gregg returned to professional baseball in 1922. He played for the Seattle Indians in the PCL until 1924. After the 1924 season, Seattle sold Gregg to the Washington Senators of the American League. This trade involved three players and some money.
In the 1925 season, Gregg had a record of 2 wins and 2 losses. He also recorded two saves. A save is when a pitcher finishes a close game without letting the other team score. His very last professional baseball appearance was in 1927. He pitched for only one-third of an inning for the Sacramento Senators in the PCL.
Career Highlights and Statistics
Vean Gregg's Major League Baseball career was impressive. His overall record was 92 wins and 63 losses. He pitched a total of 1,393 innings and recorded 720 strikeouts. His lifetime ERA was 2.70, which is very good.
He holds a unique record: he was the only pitcher in the 20th century to win 20 or more games in each of his first three seasons. This shows how strong he started his career.
Player Profile and Nicknames
Gregg was given the nickname "the Western Wonder." This name highlighted his talent and where he came from. Even famous baseball players recognized his skill. Ty Cobb, one of the greatest baseball players ever, said Gregg was "the toughest lefty he ever faced." Eddie Collins, another Hall of Famer, compared Gregg to another legendary pitcher, calling him "the left-handed Walter Johnson."
Life After Baseball
After his baseball career, Vean Gregg owned and ran a business. He had a place called The Home Plate in Hoquiam, Washington. It was a combination café and sporting goods store. In 1934, he even ran for sheriff in Grays Harbor County, Washington.
Gregg's brother, Dave Gregg, also played baseball. Vean and Dave opened a gas station together in Seattle. It was called "Vean Gregg Service Station."
Vean Gregg was married twice. He and his second wife, Dorothy, had five children together. He passed away on July 29, 1964, in Aberdeen, Washington.
In 2004, Vean Gregg was honored for his contributions to baseball. He was inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Vean Gregg Service Station, Seattle, 1925
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
