Bud Tinning

Lyle Forrest "Bud" Tinning (March 12, 1906--January 17, 1961) was a major league pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1930s.

Early Minor League Career

Tinning was born and raised in Pilger, Nebraska, where he was a sports star for the high school and local sandlot baseball teams. He was first noticed by professional baseball scouts while pitching for the Genoa, Nebraska town team, and began his professional career with the Omaha Packers, a franchise in the Western League.

Early in Tinning's professional career, he had issues with his weight and conditioning, and his performance with the Packers suffered until he got himself in proper playing condition. Once he finally achieved this, Tinning finally developed into a major league prospect.

His minor league career was highlighted by earning all-star status in the Western League for Des Moines in 1930, as well as for his 1931 season with the Minneapolis Millers, where he was noticed by the Cubs and was signed for the 1932 season at the age of twenty-six.

Chicago Cubs

While a starter in the minors, Tinning soon proved to be a success as a long relief pitcher, who could be counted on for occasional starts.

In the 1932 World Series, Tinning pitched three shutout innings against the New York Yankees in two relief appearances, and stuck out Babe Ruth.

Tinning's best year in the majors was in 1933, as he went 13-6 with a 3.18 ERA, and led the National League in winning percentage and was ninth in total shutouts, with three. Tinning wore jersey #21 in 1932, then wore #22 for the 1933-34 seasons.

Injury and Career's End

In November 1934, Tinning was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tex Carleton. This should have been a benefit for Tinning, as the Cardinals were hitting their peak as their "Gashouse Gang" era was dominating baseball. However, Tinning injured his arm in 1935 and pitched in only four games, effectively ending his career. After a brief comeback attempt in the minor leagues, he served as a minor league manager for several years.

After leaving baseball, Tinning owned and managed a motel in Evansville, Indiana with his wife, Inez Barnett, whom he married in 1932. Inez died in 1946.

Tinning died of a heart attack on January 17, 1961, and he was buried with his family in the Pilger village cemetery. Bud had no children.

In his book "Nebraska High School Sports", Nebraska sports historian Jerry Mathers recognized Tinning as Pilger's all-time greatest athlete.

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/tinnibu01.shtml Bud Tinning's Career Statistics]
* [http://www.thedeadballera.com/Cards/TinningBud_card.html Bud Tinning's 1934 Goudey Baseball Card]