Skip to main content

Sunday School: History Lesson 25

Erskine Mayer was a pitcher with the Phillies from 1912-1918. He was a two-time 20 game winner for our Phils. Mayer attended Georgia Tech and left to play pro ball prior to his senior year and after going 26-9 for Portsmouth in his third year in the minors, his contract was purchased by the Phillies.

As a rookie in 1913, Mayer switched between relief work and starting assignments. He finished his first full season with a 9-9 record. Mayer would become known as a workhorse. In 1914, he appeared in 48 games (39 starts), the 2nd highest total in the NL, and threw 24 complete games and 321 total innings. He had a 21-19 record with 4 shut outs, 2 saves and a 2.58 ERA. In the second game on a double header on July 27th, Mayer tossed a 1-hitter against the Cardinals. Mayer also gave up Honus Wagner's 3,000th hit earlier that season.

In 1915, Mayer won 21 games again, this time with just 15 losses and a 2.36 ERA. He pitched 274 2/3 regular season innings that year. In the World Series, Mayer started game 2, allowing only a single run through 8 innings, before losing 2-1. Mayer also started the deciding game 5 of that series against the Red Sox, and was knocked out in the third inning.

Erskine Mayer's innings and appearances began to decrease over the next couple seasons. All the work took its toll and Mayer no longer had the same stamina. In 1916, Mayer made just 16 starts and put up a 7-7 record. Mayer gave an 11-6 effort in 1917, and began 1918 with a 7-4 record, before being traded to Pittsburgh, for Elmer Jacobs.

On August 1st, 1918, Mayer engaged in one of the greatest pitching duels of all time. Art Nehf of the Boston Braves and Mayer each pitched 15 scoreless innings to begin the game. More amazingly, Nehf threw 20 scoreless innings, only to lose the game 2-1, when the Pirates finally scored 2 runs in the 21st inning. Mayer finished 1918 with an overall record of 16-7 with a 2.65 ERA, while throwing 18 complete games. Mayer would pitch just one more season in the Majors.


-------------------------
Follow PhoulBallz on Twitter HERE!


BallHype: hype it up!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...

Yankees Fans Misled By Pepsi Promotion

**** Today, New York Yankees fans attended a Pepsi promotion in Times Square hoping for chances to win opening day tickets to the new stadium, but the tickets, which were difficult to track down due to poor organization on Pepsi's part, were actually for a game in June. Furthermore, the 250 pairs that were promised were actually only 100 pairs. The fans, who were made to sprint through traffic over multiple city blocks when locations for the promotion changed, quickly turned against the soda brand by pooring out their beverages and chanting anti-Pepsi phrases. Yankees fans are even threatening a boycott of Pepsi. An appearance by Yankee great Goose Gossage could not even settle the angry mob, as he had to be whisked away, as a precaution, according to the Daily News . Ooo , I'd hate to see what "the worst fans in sports" (Philadelphia fans) would have done to their free Pepsi cans and beloved reliever in that situation. Because this happened in a non-Philly city, th...

5th spot, Wall, Old timers, Links

The race for the Phillies' fifth starter spot is still on. While it's not fully fair to compare Grapefruit League stats, when some of the pitchers have had "B game" and scrimmage outings mixed in, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco look to be falling behind Chan Ho Park and "Jay" Happ. Happ added to his solid Grapefruit League stats (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 4 games) today against the Rays. Pitching coach Rich Dubee had been displeased with Kendrick even before he surrendered 8 earned runs in 3 innings of work yesterday against the Braves. Park has been working on improving his change up, with (Coach) Jamie Moyer. Park noticed Moyer's location control on his change, so he sought out Moyer to teach him the grip and positioning of the ball. Moyer, of course, feels good about helping anyone on the Phils' staff. Park has been coached by greats like Nolan Ryan with the Rangers and Sandy Koufax with the Dodgers, so Moyer is in great company. Park is working h...