Ken Raffensberger

Ken Raffensberger - Topps baseball card - 1954 Series, #046

Kenneth David (Ken) Raffensberger (August 8, 1917 - November 10, 2002) was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1939 through 1954, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1939), Chicago Cubs (1940-41), Philadelphia Blue Jays (1943-44), Philadelphia Phillies (1945-1947[start]), Cincinnati Reds (1947[end]-1953) and Cincinnati Redlegs (1954). Raffensberger batted right handed and threw left handed. He was born in York, Pennsylvania.

[edit] Career

In a 15-season career, Raffensberger posted a 119-154 record with 806 strikeouts and a 3.60 ERA in 2151.2 innings pitched.

Raffensberger died in York, PA, at age 85.

Made National League All-Star team (1944)
Twice led NL in shutouts (1949, five - 1952, six)
Led NL in games started (1949, 38)
Led NL in saves (1946, six)
Led NL in WHIP (1951, 1.086)
Led NL in SO to Walk (1944, 3.02)
3-time appeared in National League MVP vote (1949, 1951-52)
Twice led NL in losses (1944, 20 - 1951, 17)
Led NL in home runs allowed (1950, 34)
Led NL in hits allowed (1949, 289)

I didn't go along with it... I never believed in throwing at a guy, Raffensberger said, after Phillies manager Ben Chapman had instructed his pitchers to throw the ball at Jackie Robinson when there were two strikes in the count.
Baseball great Stan Musial, the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer, said on an Ed Sullivan Show appearance that Raffensberger was the toughest left handed pitcher he'd ever faced and dubbed him "Crafty Raffy."