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Rosy Ryan

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Rosy Ryan
Pitcher
Born:(1898-03-15)March 15, 1898
Worcester, Massachusetts,U.S.
Died:December 10, 1980(1980-12-10)(aged 82)
Scottsdale, Arizona,U.S.
Batted:Left
Threw:Right
MLB debut
September 7, 1919, for the New York Giants
Last MLB appearance
September 17, 1933, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record52–47
Earned run average4.14
Strikeouts315
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Wilfred Patrick Dolan "Rosy" Ryan(March 15, 1898 – December 10, 1980) was an American professionalbaseballpitcher.He played ten seasons inMajor League Baseballbetween 1919 and 1933 for theNew York Giants,Boston Braves,New York Yankees,andBrooklyn Dodgers.

Amateur career

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A native ofWorcester, Massachusetts,Ryan attended theCollege of the Holy Cross.He posted a 9–2win–loss recordas apitcherin his freshman year,[1]and threw the school's firstno-hitter,a 4–0 victory overDartmouthatFitton Fieldin 1918.[2]Ryan graduated from Holy Cross in 1920.[1]

Early professional career (1919–1920)

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Ryan went 15–8 with a 1.36earned run average(ERA) for theBuffalo Bisonsof theInternational Leaguein 1919, and was called up by theNew York Giantslate inthat season.He made his major league debut on September 7, getting the start on the mound in the second game of adoubleheaderagainst theBoston Bravesat thePolo Grounds.The game featured a pair ofBaseball Hall of Famersat shortstop in Boston'sRabbit Maranvilleand the Giants'Frankie Frisch.Ryan twirled five innings, allowing eight hits and three earned runs, taking the loss in the Giants' 4–2 defeat.[3]Ryan appeared in four games for the Giants that season, then had another impressive season in the International League in 1920 with theToronto Maple Leafs,and appeared in three games for the1920 Giants.

Peak seasons (1921–1924)

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Ryan became a Giants regular in1921,appearing in 36 games, and posting a 7–10 record with a 3.73 ERA in 147.1 innings. He had an impressive three-week stretch from July 4–24, tossing four complete game wins, including a 10-inning 4–3 win against theSt. Louis Cardinalsand Hall of FamerRogers Hornsby,who accounted for three of the Cards' six hits off Ryan.[4]Despite his solid regular season performance, Ryan did not appear in the postseason as the Giants went on to claim the1921 World Seriesover theNew York Yankeesand sluggerBabe Ruth.

Ryan with theNew York Giantsin 1922

Ryan's most productive major league seasons came in1922and1923.He went 17–12 and led theNational Leaguein ERA (3.01) in 1922, and went 16–5 and led the league in appearances (45) in 1923. In both years, Ryan was credited with the win in the opening game of the season's World Series.

In the1922 World Series,the Giants again faced the Yankees, and were down 2–0 after seven innings in Game 1. Ryan came on to shut down the Yanks in the final two innings, catching Ruth looking at a third strike in the eighth. The Giants finally got to Yankee starterBullet Joe Bushin the eighth, rallying for three runs and riding Ryan in the ninth for the 3–2 win.[5]The Giants went on to sweep the Bronx club for their second consecutive title.

In the1923 World Series,Giants' Game 1 starterMule Watsonallowed three Yankee runs in the first two innings, and was lifted for Ryan, who twirled the final seven innings, allowing only one additional Yankee run in the Giants' 5–4 win.[6]Ryan was used briefly in the Giants' Game 4 loss, and then came on in relief of starterArt Nehfin Game 6. With the Yankees leading the best-of-seven series three games to two, Nehf and the Giants led the do-or-die sixth game after seven innings, 4–1. Nehf loaded the bases in the eighth and then walked in the Yankees' second run of the game. Ryan was brought in with the bases loaded and one out. He proceeded to walkJoe Duganto force across a third Yankee run, but then with the bases still loaded, he fanned the mighty Ruth. With two down, Yankee batterBob Meuselsingled to drive in all three runners, and the Yankees took a 6–4 lead. The Giants failed to score in the bottom of the eighth, and Ryan set down the Yanks in order in the ninth, but the Giants could not rally in the final frame. Ryan took the loss, and the Yankees had their first World Series championship.[7]

Ryan went 7–6 in 37 appearances for the1924 Giants,and made two appearances in the Giants' seven-gameWorld Seriesloss to theWashington Senators.He tossed 4.2 innings of middle relief and allowed two earned runs in New York's 6–4 Game 3 win, but his moment of glory came at the plate, as he belted a fourth-inning homer to deep right field off Senators' hurlerAllen Russell.[8]Ryan was only the second pitcher ever, and the first relief pitcher, to hit a home run in World Series play.

Later playing career (1925–1938)

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1932 cigar card depicting Ryan with theMinneapolis Millers

Ryan was traded to the Boston Braves forTim McNamaraprior to the1925 season,and posted a lackluster 2–8 record with a 6.31 ERA in 37 appearances for Boston. He fared no better in 1926, beginning the season with a 7.58 ERA in seven appearances for Boston, before being shipped off to the minor leagueToledo Mud Hens,where he toiled into the 1928 season. He joined the New York Yankees late in their1928 season,appearing in three games and allowing 11 earned runs in six total innings. He spent the next four seasons in the minor leagues: 1929 and 1930 with theMilwaukee Brewers,1931 back with Toledo, and 1932 with theMinneapolis Millers.In 1933, he became a major league regular again, appearing in 30 games and posting a 4.55 ERA for theBrooklyn Dodgers.He was back in Minneapolis for the 1934 through 1936 seasons, and never made another major league appearance.

In 1937 and 1938, Ryan pitched forFalmouthin theCape Cod Baseball League.He appeared in only one game in 1937, but in 1938 was a regular contributor, using his "wide breaking curve"[9]to help lead the team to the league title.[10][11][12]

Coaching career and final years

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Ryan managed the minor leagueEau Claire Bearsin 1941 and 1942, and the Minneapolis Millers from 1944 to 1946. He was later a minor league general manager. Ryan was inducted to the Holy Cross Athletics Hall of Fame in 1960,[13]and in 1961 he was presented with theKing of Baseballaward given by Minor League Baseball.[14]

Ryan died in 1980 inScottsdale, Arizonaat age 82.

References

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  1. ^ab"Wilfred P.D. Ryan".nmnathletics.com.RetrievedJune 11,2020.
  2. ^Katharine Buckley McNamara."Holy Cross Athletics Timeline".holycross.edu.RetrievedJune 11,2020.
  3. ^"Boston Braves at New York Giants Box Score, September 7, 1919".baseball-reference.com.RetrievedJune 11,2020.
  4. ^"St. Louis Cardinals at New York Giants Box Score, July 14, 1921".baseball-reference.com.RetrievedJune 11,2020.
  5. ^"1922 World Series Game 1, Yankees at Giants, October 4".baseball-reference.com.RetrievedJune 11,2020.
  6. ^"1923 World Series Game 1, Giants at Yankees, October 10".baseball-reference.com.RetrievedJune 11,2020.
  7. ^"1923 World Series Game 6, Yankees at Giants, October 15".baseball-reference.com.RetrievedJune 11,2020.
  8. ^"1924 World Series Game 3, Senators at Giants, October 6".baseball-reference.com.RetrievedJune 11,2020.
  9. ^"Falmouth Twice Beats Orleans to Hold Cape League Leadership".Falmouth Enterprise.Falmouth, MA. August 30, 1938. p. 6.
  10. ^"Falmouth Bests Harwich Sunday Behind Pitching of Ex-Big Leaguer".Falmouth Enterprise.Falmouth, MA. August 9, 1938. p. 6.
  11. ^"Cape League Chatter".Falmouth Enterprise.Falmouth, MA. August 12, 1938. p. 8.
  12. ^"Falmouth Wins League Pennant by Narrow Margin Over Harwich".Falmouth Enterprise.Falmouth, MA. September 9, 1938. p. 5.
  13. ^"Members of the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame".goholycross.com. July 31, 1999.RetrievedJune 11,2020.
  14. ^"King of Baseball Award".baseball-almanac.com.RetrievedJune 11,2020.
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