Stan Coveleski

Infobox MLB retired
name=Stan Coveleski
position=Starting Pitcher


bgcolor1=#990000
bgcolor2=#023465
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
birthdate=July 13, 1889
city-state|Shamokin|Pennsylvania
deathdate=death date and age|1984|3|20|1889|7|13
city-state|South Bend|Indiana
bats=Right
throws=Right
debutdate=September 10
debutyear=1912
debutteam=Philadelphia Athletics
finaldate=August 3
finalyear=1928
finalteam=New York Yankees
stat1label=Pitching Record
stat2label=Earned run average
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat1value=215-142
stat2value=2.89
stat3value=981
teams=
* Philadelphia Athletics (1912)
* Cleveland Indians (1916-1924)
* Washington Senators (1925-1927)
* New York Yankees (1928)
highlights=
* AL ERA champion: 1923, 1925
* AL strikeout champion: 1920
* 5 20-win seasons
* 2 sub-2.00 ERA seasons
hofdate=by|1969
hofmethod=Veteran's Committee

Stanley Anthony Coveleski (Kowalewski) (July 13, 1889, Shamokin, Pennsylvania – March 20, 1984) was a Major League Baseball player during the 1910s and 1920s. He was a starting pitcher. Coveleski was known for throwing the spitball, and he was one of the 17 pitchers allowed to continue throwing the pitch when it was outlawed in 1920. His brother, Harry "the Giant Killer" Coveleski, also played professional baseball, winning 20 games two times for Detroit and also knocking John McGraw's NY Giants out of the 1908 pennant race while pitching for the Phillies (hence the nickname).

Baseball career

Coveleski signed his first professional contract with the minor league Lancaster Red Roses in 1909. He made his major league debut in by|1912, with the Philadelphia Athletics, pitching in five games that season. In by|1916 he returned to the Majors as a member of the Cleveland Indians and enjoyed a string of very successful seasons. He won over 20 games each season from by|1918 until by|1921 and was the star of the 1920 World Series, in which he pitched three complete game victories.

Both Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb called Coveleski one of the toughest pitchers either faced. His control was legendary, and it was not unusual for him to pitch a complete game having thrown 95 pitches or less.

Cleveland traded Coveleski to the Washington Senators after a subpar by|1924 season in which he posted a 4.04 ERA. Coveleski rebounded to post his final 20 win season the following year. He retired after the by|1928 season with the Yankees.

In a 14-year career, he was 216-142, with a 2.89 ERA in 450 games, 385 of them starts. 224 of those, he completed, and 38 for shutouts. He struck out 981 in 3082 innings pitched. He was 3-2 in World Series games started (1920 and 1925).

In an article in 1976 in Esquire magazine, sportswriter Harry Stein published an "All Time All-Star Argument Starter," consisting of five ethnic baseball teams. Stan Coveleski was the right-handed pitcher on Stein's Polish team.

Baseball statistician Bill James, whom Newsweek has called the "Guru of Baseball" ranks Coveleski 24th among the greatest right-handed pitchers of all time in career value.

Legacy

Coveleski was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in by|1969 and on June 10, 1976 into the National Polish-American Hall of Fame. He is one of the Top 100 winning pitchers of all time. The minor league baseball stadium in South Bend, Indiana, is named in his honor.

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
* List of Major League Baseball ERA champions
* List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions

External links

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* [http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070410/News01/304100001 southbendtribune.com] So who was Stanley Coveleski?