Walter Esau Beall (July 29, 1899 – January 28, 1959) was an American

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding t ...

player who played for the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...

on several championship teams in the 1920s. Born in Washington, D.C., Beall was a standout pitcher in the

minor leagues Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in No ...

before his contract was sold by the Rochester Red Wings of the International League to the

in August 1924 for $50,000. He was used sparingly at the major league level, usually in relief. He made appearances with the Yankees from 1924 through 1927, and was a member of the

1927 New York Yankees The 1927 New York Yankees season was the 25th season of the New York Yankees of the American League. The team finished with a record of 110–44–1, winning their fifth pennant and finishing 19 games ahead of the Philadelphia Athletics and w ...

, a team often considered the greatest ever—though he only pitched one inning that year (May 30 against the Philadelphia Athletics). That was Beall's final appearance as a Yankee; two years later, he appeared in three games for the Washington Senators to close out his major league career. Beall is remembered as having one of the greatest curveballs in the history of baseball, though his lack of control prevented him from becoming a great pitcher. Teammate

Babe Ruth George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Su ...

noted that Beall possessed the "greatest curveball I ever saw." Beall died in Suitland, Maryland on January 28, 1959.

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Walter Beall
at Baseball Almanac {{DEFAULTSORT:Beall, Walter Major League Baseball pitchers New York Yankees players Washington Senators (1901–1960) players Baseball players from Washington, D.C. 1899 births 1959 deaths Norfolk Mary Janes players Rochester Tribe players Toronto Maple Leafs (International League) players Hartford Senators players St. Paul Saints (AA) players Montreal Royals players