Al Javery

Infobox MLB retired
name=Al Javery
bgcolor1=#0f437c
textcolor1=white
bgcolor2=#af0039
textcolor2=white
position=Pitcher
birthdate=birth date|1918|6|5
deathdate=death date and age|1977|8|16|1918|6|5
bats=Right
throws=Right
debutdate=April 23
debutyear=1940
debutteam=Boston Bees
finaldate=May 8
finalyear=1946
finalteam=Boston Braves
stat1label=ERA
stat1value=3.80
stat2label=K
stat2value=470
stat3label=Wins
stat3value=53
teams=
* Boston Braves (by|1940-by|1946)
highlights=
* All-Star: 1943, 1944

Alva William Javery (June 5, 1918 in Worcester, Massachusetts - August 16, 1977), was a professional Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1940-1946, spending all seven seasons with the Boston Braves. He became a key part of the rotation during World War II, which he did not serve in due to varicose veins.cite web|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Al_Javery_1918|title=Al Javery - BaseballLibrary.com|accessdate=2007-12-27] Nicknamed "Beartracks", he made his debut on April 23, 1940.cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/j/javeral01.shtml|title=Al Javery Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=2007-12-26]

Javery spent the 1940 season primarily as a relief pitcher, starting four games and pitching in 29 total, finishing with a 2-4 record. In 1941, he became a starter for the Braves, notching nine complete games in 23 starts, earning a 10-11 record in the process. The 1942 season marked the beginning of his workhorse years, finishing fifth in the National League in innings pitched with 261. He was second on the team to Jim Tobin, who led the league. Javery also started a league-leading 37 games, and finished the season with a 3.03 ERA and was 31st in MVP voting. In 1943, Javery arguably had his best season. He led the league in innings pitched with 303, led the league in batters faced with 1286, finished with a 17-16 record, the only winning record of his career, and finished 17th in MVP voting. He also pitched the final two innings of the 1943 All-Star Game, his first, strikings out three and not allowing a run en route to a 5-3 American League win. [cite web|url=http://baseball-almanac.com/asgbox/07131943.shtml|title=1943 All-Star Game Box Score by Baseball Almanac|accessdate=2007-12-27] He was again named to the All-Star Game in 1944, but he did not pitch. [cite web|url=http://baseball-almanac.com/asgbox/yr1944as.shtml|title=1944 All-Star Game|accessdate=2007-12-17|publisher=Baseball Almanac]

Javery finished the 1944 season with 254 innings pitched, a 10-19 record, and a 3.54 ERA, and finished second in the National League in strikeouts per 9 innings. He showed signs of slowing down in the 1945 season, after pitching in only 17 games and winning two. Two games early in the 1946 season marked the end of his career with the Braves. He was released on May 23, 1946 and sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League due to arm trouble the previous two seasons. [cite news|title=Javery Released to Toronto|work=Sports|page=24|publisher=The New York Times|date=1946-05-23|accessdate=2007-12-27] Javery died on August 16, 1977 in Putnam, Connecticut.

References

External links

*baseball-reference|id=j/javeral01