Jack Pfiester

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jack Pfiester baseball card

John (Jack) Albert Pfiester (born May 24, 1878 in Cincinnati, Ohio - September 3, 1953), is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1903-1911.

Pfiester finished with a 1.51 ERA in '06 (one of the best rookie seasons by any pitcher since), and then a 1.15 ERA in '07. His career ERA is 2.02, 3rd lowest among pitchers with 1,000+ innings thrown, and he had a .617 win percentage. Unfortunately, even given his HOF numbers, Jack just needed to pitch a few more years to gain true recognition as one of the game's greats. On September 23, 1908 aganist the Giants he pitched the whole game, the full nine innings, allowing only five hits, all with a dislocated tendon in his pitching forearm. He had to be assisted off the field a few times after throwing curve balls. And as soon as the game ended he went to Ohio to be treated, his tendon snapped back into place by the able-fingered and appropriately named Bonesetter Reese. Bonesetter got Jack throwing again, it would prove to be only a matter of time before the wear and tear got to the lefty. In 1909 Pfiester had a solid year, posting 17 wins and a 2.43 ERA. But that would be his last full season. Over the next two years he would only make 20 more appearances as a major league pitcher, and by the age of 33 he was done. After Jack's playing career ended, he and his wife settled in Ohio with their son, Jack Jr. Jack died at the age of 72.