John Milton Warhop (July 4, 1884 – October 4, 1960) was an American baseball
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
who played eight seasons in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
from 1908 to 1915 for the
New York Highlanders / Yankees.
Considered by baseball insiders and historians as an unlucky pitcher, Warhop had a career 69–92 win–loss record, but with a 3.12
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
while playing for mostly second division Highlanders/Yankees teams. Of his 92 losses, the Yankees did not score a run in 23, and he holds the MLB record for losing the most 1–0 games with five in 1914. He was released after the 1915 season and played a number of seasons in
minor league baseball and semi-professional teams until his late 40s or early 50s.
Warhop had an underhand
submarine
A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...
delivery, which gave him the nickname "Crab".
He was also known for his rather small size, which is a subject of some conflict, although most historians and statisticians agree that he measured between 5 feet, 8 inches, used by several historians like
Marty Appel
Martin E. Appel (born August 7, 1948), is an American public relations and sports management executive, television executive producer, and author.
Appel's career has included sports public relations (including as Public Relations Director for ...
or 5 feet 9 inches, used by
Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball-Reference is a website providing baseball statistics for every player in Major League Baseball history. The site is often used by major media organizations and baseball broadcasters as a source for statistics. It offers a variety of advan ...
.
Early life
Warhop was born in
Hinton, West Virginia
Hinton is a city in Summers County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,266 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Summers County. Hinton was established in 1873 and chartered in 1897. Hinton was named after John "Jack" Hin ...
. He spent his early life working as a
coal miner
Coal mining is the process of resource extraction, extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its Energy value of coal, energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use c ...
for the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was a Class I railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from several smaller Virginia railroads begun in the 19th century. Led by industrialist Collis P. Huntington, it reached from Virginia's capital city of Richmond ...
.
Warhop played for local semi-professional teams sponsored by the railway company.
He drew the attention of several minor league teams, and in 1906, Warhop signed with the Class-D
Freeport Pretzels of the
Wisconsin–Illinois League
The Wisconsin State League was a class D baseball league that began in 1905, changing its name to the Wisconsin–Illinois League in 1908 and operating through 1914. The league re–organized under that name in 1926. Another Wisconsin State League ...
in 1906 to start his professional career.
His debut campaign included a
no-hitter
In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher wh ...
on Independence Day against the La Crosse Pinks. From 1906 to 1908, Warhop had an 82–20 win–lost record and 330
strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is deno ...
s, with a career high 30 wins in 1907.
After pitching to a 29–7 record for the
Williamsport Millionaires in 1909, people throughout both the National and American League started to take notice of his ability. As many as a dozen teams were interested in Warhop, and he signed a $1,000 contract ($ in today's dollars) with the
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
.
However, they soon sold Warhop to the Highlanders without appearing in a single game with the Tigers.
Major League Baseball career
1908–1912
Warhop made his debut on September 9, 1908. He ended up with a 1–2
win–loss record
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. The statistic is commonly used in standings or rankings to compare teams or individuals. It is defined as wins divided by the total number of match ...
with a 4.46
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA) in five games that year.
Warhop became a regular fixture in the starting rotation in 1909. He pitched a three hitter against the
Cleveland Nats on August 10, 1909 and finished the year with a 13–15 win–loss record, a 2.40 ERA, and 21
complete game
In baseball, a complete game (CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A pitcher who meets this criterion will be credited with a complete game regardless of the number of innings played—pitche ...
s in 36 games pitched as the Highlanders finished fifth in the
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
(AL).
However, Warhop led the AL in
hit batsmen
In baseball, hit by pitch (HBP) is an event in which a batter or his clothing or equipment (other than his bat) is struck directly by a pitch from the pitcher; the batter is called a hit batsman (HB). A hit batsman is awarded first base, provided ...
in 1909 (26) and 1910 (18), which might have been caused by his unorthodox pitching style.
In 1910, Warhop pitched to a 14–14 win–loss record, a 3.00 ERA and 11
errors (the most among AL pitchers).
[Gallagher p. 226] He was respected throughout baseball, and ''
Baseball Magazine
''Baseball Magazine'' is a now-defunct baseball magazine, the first monthly baseball magazine published in the United States. The magazine was founded by Boston sportswriter Jake Morse prior to the 1908 season. It continued publishing until Sep ...
'' once called him the "unluckiest pitcher in the American League".
![Jack Warhop baseball card](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Jack_Warhop_baseball_card.jpg)
The season saw Warhop post a 12–13 record, a 4.16 ERA and 15 hit batsmen (the third highest in the league).
His starts throughout the season were mixed; some were poor or marred by bad luck. He was shelled on May 9 in a 10–0 loss against a
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
lineup featuring
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond Cobb (December 18, 1886 – July 17, 1961), nicknamed "the Georgia Peach", was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder. He was born in rural Narrows, Georgia. Cobb spent 22 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, the las ...
,
Sam Crawford
Samuel Earl Crawford (April 18, 1880 – June 15, 1968), nicknamed "Wahoo Sam", was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Crawford batted and threw left-handed, stood tall and weighed . Born in Wahoo, Nebraska, he had a sh ...
and
Jim Delahanty
James Christopher Delahanty (June 20, 1879 – October 17, 1953) was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. He played thirteen seasons with eight clubs: the Chicago Orphans (1901), New York Giants (1902), Boston Beaneaters (1904–05), Cinci ...
, giving up
runs in each of the first four innings. However, he improved a few weeks later on May 20, when he limited the
St. Louis Browns
The St. Louis Browns were a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the Milwaukee Brewers. A charter member of the American League (AL), the Brewers moved to St. Louis, Missouri, after the 1901 season, where they ...
to four hits. This began a quality stretch for Warhop, who won five consecutive games by July 17—a result of an improvement in his
control
Control may refer to:
Basic meanings Economics and business
* Control (management), an element of management
* Control, an element of management accounting
* Comptroller (or controller), a senior financial officer in an organization
* Controllin ...
. Then, during an August 21 road game against the Tigers, he lost a 5–4
walk-off game in the eleventh inning, in part due to his own unsuccessful strategy in fielding two bunts. On both occasions, he threw to second base but was too late, and the
baserunners were able to advance safely and load the bases. The Highlanders lost when
Earle Gardner
Earle McClurkin Gardner (January 24, 1884 – March 2, 1943) was an American professional baseball second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball for the New York Highlanders from 1908 to 1912.
Career
Gardner played for the Springfiel ...
booted a routine ground ball by
Bill Donovan
William Edward Donovan (October 13, 1876 – December 9, 1923), nicknamed "Wild Bill" and "Smiling Bill", was an American right-handed baseball pitcher and manager.
Donovan played Major League Baseball for the Washington Senators (1898), Broo ...
in an rushed attempt to throw out the go-ahead runner at
home plate
A baseball field, also called a ball field or baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The term can also be used as a metonym for a baseball park. The term sandlot is sometimes used, although this usually refers ...
. His desperation culminated in him unsuccessfully requesting the league at the end of the season to change his win–loss record to 14–11, under the mistaken belief that his 12–13 record was incorrect.
Warhop's penchant for tough luck was best exemplified in the season, when he finished with a 10–19 record—the second highest number of losses in the AL—despite compiling a 2.86 ERA and 6.7
Wins Above Replacement
Wins Above Replacement or Wins Above Replacement Player, commonly abbreviated to WAR or WARP, is a non-standardized sabermetric baseball statistic developed to sum up "a player's total contributions to his team". A player's WAR value is claimed to ...
(WAR). Both his ERA and WAR were tenth best in the AL, though he also finished second in hit batsmen (16) and fifth in errors as a pitcher (7).
In a July 5 road game against the
Washington Senators, he entered the game in the second inning and lost 6–5 in a walk-off, despite dueling
Walter Johnson
Walter Perry Johnson (November 6, 1887 – December 10, 1946), nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year baseball career in Major League Baseball as a right-ha ...
up to the 16th inning. Then, in a game on August 22, he held the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
to just two
hits
Hits or H.I.T.S. may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* ''H.I.T.S.'', 1991 album by New Kids on the Block
* ''...Hits'' (Phil Collins album), 1998
* ''Hits'' (compilation series), 1984–2006; 2014 - a British compilation album se ...
and no runs in the first five innings. While pitching with a 3–0 lead, Warhop surrendered one run in the sixth inning, before getting shelled in the seventh, giving up four runs and the lead. After another four runs were given up in the ninth inning, the Highlanders lost the game 9–4. Towards the end of the season, Warhop was again on the losing side of a bad luck game, when he lost a 3–0
pitchers' duel
This is an alphabetical list of selected unofficial and specialized terms, phrases, and other jargon used in baseball, along with their definitions, including illustrative examples for many entries.
...
against the St. Louis Browns, having held them scoreless for the first five innings.
1913–1915
A sore arm in caused Warhop to pitch ineffectively and have just seven
games started
In baseball statistics, games started (denoted by GS) indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he throws the first pitch to the first opposing batter. If a player is lis ...
.
He recovered by ; however, Warhop was on the unfortunate end of a hard-luck campaign. He had an 8–15 win–loss record with a 2.37 ERA.
However, the Yankees were one of the worst offensive and defensive teams in baseball, which caused Warhop to be on the losing end of five 1–0 games, a present-day Major League Baseball record shared with five other pitchers.
In one of those games, on July 25, Warhop shutout the Chicago White Sox for twelve innings before losing 1–0 in the 13th, due to two errors—one of which was committed by himself on an errant throw to first base after a
sacrifice bunt
In baseball, a sacrifice bunt (also called a sacrifice hit) is a batter's act of deliberately bunting the ball, before there are two outs, in a manner that allows a baserunner to advance to another base. The batter is almost always put out, and ...
.
His first win of the season finally came on June 25 against the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
. He led the American League in home runs allowed at the end of the season with eight, a very high number in the
dead-ball era
In baseball, the dead-ball era was the period from around 1900 to the emergence of Babe Ruth as a power hitter in 1919, when he hit a then-major league record 29 home runs; only three players since 1890 had even hit 20. This era was characterized ...
. His pitching style included an underhand,
submarine
A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...
delivery which he abandoned by 1914.
He gave up Babe Ruth's first career home run on May 6, 1915, while Ruth was a member of the Boston Red Sox. Warhop threw a fastball in the third inning, and Ruth hit the ball to the upper right field stands. Warhop won the game 4–3 in extra innings. When interviewed about it many years later, Warhop shrugged it off, stating "that's one way to be remembered".
A little over three weeks later, on June 2, he gave up Ruth's second career home run in a 7–1 Yankee defeat.
In what would be his final season in Major League Baseball, Warhop had a 7–9 win–loss record and a 3.96 ERA, while leading the American League in home runs allowed (7) for the second consecutive year.
He was released alongside first baseman
Charlie Mullen
Charles George Mullen (March 15, 1889 – June 6, 1963) was a Major League Baseball first baseman. From 1910 to 1911, Mullen played for the Chicago White Sox, who kept him at first base almost exclusively throughout his two seasons with the team. ...
and catcher
Ed Sweeney on August 14 and then sold to
Jack Dunn of the Richmond Climbers in the
International League
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...
, but Warhop didn't play a game with them.
According to one historian, however, Warhop was released because Yankee management thought he was a "
jinx
A jinx (also jynx), in popular superstition and folklore, is a curse or the attribute of attracting bad or negative luck.
The word ''"jynx"'' meaning the bird wryneck and sometimes a charm or spell has been in use in English since the seventeent ...
" to the club, as during Warhop's tenure—with the exception of the 1910 season—the Highlanders/Yankees finished no higher than fifth in the division.
Warhop led the Yankees in games pitched four times (1908, 1909, 1912, 1914),
saves three times (1909, 1910, 1912), and complete games once (1909). His 114 career hit batsmen is a Yankees team record and ranks in the top 100 on the
MLB all-time hit batsmen list.
Later life
After leaving the Yankees, Warhop played in the minor leagues, including stints in the
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...
and the International League, until the late 1920s.
He was
player–manager for the Class-B
Norfolk Tars The Norfolk Tars were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off from 1906 to 1955. Based in Norfolk, Virginia, they played in the Virginia League from 1906 to 1918 and from 1921 to 1928, in the Eastern League from 1931 to 1932 and in the ...
of the
Virginia League
The Virginia League was a minor league baseball affiliation which operated in Virginia and North Carolina from 1906 to 1928. It was classified as a "C" league from 1906 to 1919 and as a "B" league from 1920 to 1928.
The most famous alumni to c ...
in 1921 and won 20 games for the team.
In 1927, he pitched and won both games of a doubleheader, a rare achievement, while with Bridgeport of the
Eastern League at age 42.
In 1928, Warhop became the manager for the
Sally League
The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its h ...
Spartanburg
Spartanburg is a city in and the seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city of Spartanburg has a municipal population of 38,732 as of the 2020 census, making it the 11th-largest city in the state. For a time, the Offi ...
team.
He played semi-professional baseball until the age of 50, when he retired and became a
butler
A butler is a person who works in a house serving and is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some a ...
for a large house in
Long Island
Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...
.
He married Grace Nichols on November 23, 1907. They later divorced, and he married Frances Helsinger in 1918. Warhop died at age 76 in
Freeport, Illinois
Freeport is the county seat and largest city of Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 23,973 at the 2020 census, and the mayor of Freeport is Jodi Miller, elected in 2017. Freeport is known for hosting the second Linc ...
, where his professional baseball career began.
See also
*
List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders
In baseball, hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch (HBP) is an event in which a batter or his clothing or equipment (other than his bat) is struck directly by a pitch from the pitcher; the batter is called a hit batsman (HB). A hit batsman is ...
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Warhop, Jack
1884 births
1960 deaths
American coal miners
Baseball players from West Virginia
Bridgeport Bears (baseball) players
Columbia Comers players
Freeport Pretzels players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Minor league baseball managers
New Haven Profs players
New York Highlanders players
New York Yankees players
Norfolk Mary Janes players
Norfolk Tars players
People from Hinton, West Virginia
Portland Beavers players
Salt Lake City Bees players
Spartanburg Spartans players
Toronto Maple Leafs (International League) players
Williamsport Millionaires players