Jack Chesbro
Inducted:
1946
Personal Details
5-9, 180lb (175cm, 81kg)
Born:
June 5, 1874
North Adams, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died:
November 6, 1931
Conway, Massachusetts, U.S.
Position:
Pitcher
College:
NA
Jack Chesbro, nicknamed "Happy Jack," was a dominant pitcher in Major League Baseball during the early 1900s. Born on June 5, 1874, in North Adams, Massachusetts, Chesbro began his MLB career in 1899 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He later played for the New York Highlanders (now the Yankees) and the Boston Red Sox, concluding his career in 1909.
Chesbro's most remarkable season came in 1904 when he achieved a modern-era record of 41 wins, a feat that remains unmatched and is considered unbreakable in today's game. That season, he also completed 48 games, another modern-era record.
Over his 11-season career, Chesbro amassed a 198–132 win–loss record, a 2.68 ERA, and 1,265 strikeouts. His mastery of the spitball and exceptional control made him one of the era's most formidable pitchers.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to baseball, Chesbro was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946 by the Old-Timers Committee.
Chesbro's Awards and Records
- 2× wins leader (1902, 1904)
- Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (1946)
- Modern-era record for most wins in a single season (41 in 1904)
- Modern-era record for most complete games in a single season (48 in 1904)
- Led the league in wins in 1902 and 1904
- Pitched for Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Highlanders, and Boston Red Sox
- Known for his effective use of the spitball
MLB Teams:
Pittsburgh Pirates (1899–1902)
New York Highlanders (1903–1909)
Boston Red Sox (1909)
MLB Stats
Games Played:
392
Wins–Losses:
198–132
Earned Run Average (ERA):
2.68
Innings Pitched:
2,896.2
Strikeouts:
1,265
Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched (WHIP):
1.15