Hank Borowy

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Hank Borowy
Pitcher
Born: May 12, 1916
Died: August 23, 2004 (aged 88)
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 18, 1942
for the New York Yankees
Final game
September 14, 1951
for the Detroit Tigers
Career statistics
Win-Loss     108-82
ERA     3.50
Strikeouts     690
Teams
Career highlights and awards
  • All star in 1944 and 1945

Henry Ludwig (Hank) Borowy (May 12, 1916 - August 23, 2004) was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1942 through 1951, Borowy played for the New York Yankees (1942-45), Chicago Cubs (1945-48), Philadelphia Phillies (1949-50), Pittsburgh Pirates (1950) and Detroit Tigers (1950-51). He batted and threw right-handed. Born in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Borowy graduated from Fordham University. He pitched in six World Series games and posted a 108-82 record with 690 strikeouts and a 3.50 earned run average in 1717 innings pitched.

Borowy debuted on April 18, 1942 with the Yankees, finishing with a 15-4 record, 85 SO, 2.82 ERA. Then, he started Game 4 of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals without a decision.

In 1943 Borowy went 14-9, 107, 2.82, and won Game 3 of the World Series against St. Louis. Named an All-Star in 1944, he pitched three scoreless innings in the game, ending the season with 17-12, 107, 2.64.

Borowy enjoyed his best season in 1945 when he pitched for both the Yankees and Cubs and registered a combined 21-7, 82, 2.65, between the two teams. After a 10-5 start with the Yankees and being selected again to the All-Star Game, he was put on waivers inexplicably and was passed over by 15 teams. The Cubs snatched him for $97,500. Borowy went 11-2 for the remainder of the season, including three wins over the Cardinals down the stretch, and led the National League in winning percentage (.846) and ERA (2.14), as the Cubs won the pennant behind a Borowy's 4-3 win over Pittsburgh. The final margin for Chicago was 3 games over the Cardinals.

On October 3, 1945, the Tigers and Cubs meet in the World Series for the 4th time. In the opener, Borowy pitched a 6-hitter 9-0 shutout. He lost the fifth game, and then came back to win the sixth with four scoreless relief innings. Borowy started the final game on one day's rest but gave up hits to the first three batters before leaving. He took the loss and the Tigers won the Series. Borowy helped put the Cubs into their last World Series, and led to the end of Joe McCarthy's 15-season tenure as Yankees manager. McCarthy resigned in 1946. He is the last Chicago Cubs pitcher to win a World Series game.

For the remainder of his career, Borowy was plagued by finger blisters and a chronic sore shoulder. He pitched his final game on September 14, 1951.

Borowy grew up in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and was a longtime resident of Brick Township, New Jersey, where he died at age of 88.[1]

[edit] Fact

[edit] References

  1. ^ Goldstein, Richard. "Hank Borowy, 88, Top Pitcher With Yankees and Cubs in 40's", The New York Times, August 26, 2004. Accessed April 1, 2008. "Hank Borowy, a right-handed pitcher who helped the Yankees capture pennants in 1942 and 1943, then starred for the last Chicago Cubs team to reach the World Series, died Monday at his home in Brick, N.J. He was 88.... Borowy, a native of Bloomfield, N.J., who pitched for Fordham University, was 15-4 as a rookie on the Yankees' 1942 pennant winners."

[edit] External links

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New York Yankees 1943 World Series roster