Loading ...January 22, 1921—Acquired LHP Eppa Rixey from Phillies for OF Greasy Neale and RHP Jimmy Ring; Neale later reacquired through waivers in 1922.
The Reds followed their World Championship year of 1919, with another good year, but found they had lost their entire starting rotation by the end of 1920. Hod Eller had blown out his arm and the NL outlawed the shine ball, Ray Fisher had left the majors to coach at Michigan, aging Slim Sallee was traded, and young Dutch Reuther was traded for aging Rube Marquard. Only Jimmy Ring was left, and there were some game fixing rumors about him, though none every proven. (Ring had reported known game fixer Hal Chase to manager Christy Mathewson). The Reds went and traded for lefty Rixey, who was coming off an 11-22 season with the Phillies, and had lost more than 20 games in two of the three previous seasons.
Rixey went on to become the Reds’ biggest modern age winner of all time. Despite joining the Reds at age 30, he pitched for 13 years for Cincinnati, compiling a won-loss record of 179-148 with a 3.33 ERA. He was elected to the MLB’s Hall of Fame one month before his death.
Rixey won 20 or more games three times for the Reds with his biggest season coming in 1922 when he went 25-13. Six times he finished in the top six in league ERA and six times in the top seven in league wins. He anchored possibly the best rotation in Reds’ history, pitching alongside Dolf Luque, Pete Donohue, and Rube Benton.
Ring was a good starter for six years for the Phillies, winning as many as 18 in 1923. Neale had been a starting outfielder for the 1919 Reds and testified against Chase when the Reds suspected Chase of trying to throw their games in 1918. Neale was later reacquired through waivers after appearing in only 22 games with the Phillies. Neale was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
More trivia…Eppa Rixey’s page on baseball-reference.com is sponsored by Redleg Nation.
Rixey moved to Terrace Park, two doors down from where my parents eventually moved. He died long before they moved in, but his wife was always very encouraging during my brother’s stick ball games.
Steve, where would you list him on Reds All time pitchers?
Bill,
I think that’s a great question. Rixey is considered to be one of the more questionable Hall of Fame inductees. He won 266 games…but lost 251 in a time when lots of pitchers won lots of games. His Phillies teams were bad; his first Reds teams were actually quite good (we were the anti-Bronx Bombers with a big field); his later Reds teams were just awful.
I kind of equate him to Don Sutton, or may be Claude Osteen from the 70’s Dodgers….or may be Tom Browning…
Even as a Red his record was 179-148 with a 3.33 ERA. His first 6 or 7 seasons with the Red were quite good…keep in mind that the Reds had a rather week offense during this time and built their team around the pitching staff of Rixey, Dolf Luque, and Pete Donohue and the Reds’ big ball park. Other teams scored more runs in this high offensive era, which would have affected Rixey’s ERA.
As for the best Reds’ pitchers: if including pre-1900…I choose Tony Mullane and Bucky Walters as being the two best. For balanced continual success including some high peak seasons, I would probably put Rixey, Will White, Jim Maloney, Dolf Luque, and Paul Derringer on the next tier. For mid-term success I would then include Noodles Hahn, Tom Seaver, Gary Nolan, Tom Browning, Don Gullett, Jose Rijo, Johnny Vander Meer, Bob Purkey, Pete Donohue, Ken Raffensberger, Joe Nuxhall, and Mario Soto. Bob Ewing from the early 1900’s would be another candidate. For lightning in a bottle: Ewell Blackwell, Fred Toney, Joey Jay, Wayne Simpson, Hod Eller, and Danny Jackson’s one big year.
Where did Eppa Rixey go to college?
BTW, Redleg Nation sponsors the Rixey page at Baseball-Reference.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rixeyep01.shtml
Chad knows his answer…..Virginia
More Rixey info:
Rixey was studying chemistry and playing basketball at Virginia when an umpire attending law school there asked the 6-5 guy to try pitching.
He pitched 21 years in the National League, a record until Steve Carlton passed him; Rixey was also a fan favorite.
Rixey’s nickname was “Jephtha”, nicknamed by a Cincinnati sportswriter. Rixey liked it, commenting that it sounded “like a cross between a Greek letter fraternity and a college yell.”
Only in Virginia?
Oh…he held the National Leauge record for victories by a left hander until Warren Spahn broke the record. He still holds the National League record for most losses.