Hall of Famer Spotlight: Carl Hubbell
When baseball fans think of Carl Hubbell, the first thing that comes to mind is the 1934 All-Star Game when Hubbell struck out Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin in succession. When you look deeper, you learn that Hubbell was one of the greatest pitchers of all time.
Born in Carthage, MO on June 22, 1903. Hubbell began is professional career when he was signed by the Detroit Tigers in 1926. Ty Cobb, who was the Tigers’ player-manager at the time, was not impressed by the young lefty and was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the International League. After going 7-7 on a playoff team, Hubbell returned to spring training expecting to make the Tigers. Instead Cobb, who was still not impressed, sent Hubbell back to the minors. This time to the Decatur Commodores of the Indiana-Illinois-Iowa League. After going 14-7 he was not invited back to Tigers spring training and was sent to the Beaumont Exporters of the Texas League. Fed up with the minor leagues, Hubbell demanded to be traded by the end of the season.
While pitching for the Exporters, New York Giants scout Greg Kinsella noticed Hubbell and informed Giants legendary manager, John McGraw, that Hubbell was released by the Tigers due to Cobb’s concerns about him throwing a screwball. McGraw, who managed fellow screwball pitcher Christy Matthewson, was not concerned and signed Hubbell a month later.
During Hubbell’s 16-year tenure with the Giants, New York won three National League pennants and the 1933 World Series. During 1936 and 1937, Hubbell won 24 consecutive starts and he would win at least 20-games in five consecutive seasons (1933-1937), notch the 1933 and 1936 MVP award and be selected to nine All-Star Games.
Hubbell would retire in 1943 with a lifetime record of 253-154, 2.98 ERA, 1,677 strikeouts and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947 Following his playing career, Hubbell continued working with the Giants for 35 years as the director of their minor league system, Director of Player Development and scout.
Carl Hubbell passed away on November 21, 1988 after being injured in a car accident in Scottsdale, AZ.
Information gathered from Wikipedia, Baseball-Reference.com, CarlHubbell.com, National Baseball Hall of Fame.
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