Alvin Crowder

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Alvin Floyd Crowder (January 11, 1899 – April 3, 1972), nicknamed "General," was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played eleven seasons with the Washington Senators (1926-1927, 1930-1934), St. Louis Browns (1927-1930), and Detroit Tigers (1934-1936).

Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Crowder served almost three years in the army in World War I, including assignments in the Philippines and 11 months with the American Expeditionary Force in Siberia. .[1] However, he never reached the rank of "General." His nickname, "General" Crowder, came from General Enoch Crowder, who designed the World War I draft lottery in the United States. [2] [3]

Crowder learned to play baseball when he was a private in the Army. He had been shipped from Siberia to the Philippines and back again before a Pacific Coast League scout offered him a job. [4]

Although he signed his first baseball contract in 1920, he did not play a full season until 1923 with the Winston-Salem Twins. He did not play in his first major league game until he was 27 in 1926. He won only 7 games in each of his first two seasons, but finished the 1928 season with a record of 21-5 for the Browns. His .808 win percentage was the best in the American League, and his 21 wins was 4th best in the league.

Crowder won 20 games in three different seasons, including a 26-13 record in 1932, the most wins in the American League. In 1933, Crowder won 24 games, again the most in the AL, helped the Senators win the pennant, pitched in the first Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and finished 7th in the American League Most Valuable Player voting.

The Detroit Tigers selected Crowder off waivers on August 3, 1934. He went 5-1 for the Tigers down the stretch, helping them win their first pennant in 35 years. He faced the Yankees in two series late in the 1934 season, winning the opening game in both series. those two victories helped the Tigers pass the Yankees for the American League pennant. In the 1934 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, he lost Game 1 to Dizzy Dean.

In 1935, he was 16-10 for the Tigers as the club won its second consecutive American League pennant. He pitched a complete game in Game 4 of the 1935 World Series for a 2-1 victory to help the Tigers win their first World Series championship. Crowder pitched in three World Series consecutively (1933-1935), posting a record of 1-2 with 3.81 ERA in 26 innings pitched.

Crowder was also known as "Yankee Killer," for his success against the Yankees and Babe Ruth in particular. [5]

In his career, Crowder had a 167-115 record with a 4.12 ERA.

After his playing career ended, Crowder returned to Winston-Salem where he operated the Winston-Salem Twins during the late 1930s and early 1940s. In 1967, Crowder was named to North Carolina's Sports Hall of Fame.

Croweder died in 1972 at age 73. He was born and died in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

[edit] See also

• 1935 Detroit Tigers season
• List of Major League Baseball wins champions

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
• Alvin Crowder Obituary
• BaseballLibrary.com