Slim Love

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Edward Haughton "Slim" Love (August 1, 1890 - November 30, 1942) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played 6 seasons in the Major Leagues for the Washington Senators (1913), the New York Yankees (1916-1918), and Detroit Tigers (1919-1920). Born in Love, Mississippi, Slim's nickname arose from his large, lean frame, at 6' 7" and 195 pounds.

Love began his career in 1913 with the Washington Senators. He played in 5 games for the Senators and had a 1-0 record. Love did not play in the Major Leagues again until 1916, when he pitched in 20 games for the New York Yankees. Love spent three seasons with the Yankees for a record of 21-17. Slim's best year was 1918 when he had a 13-12 record for the Yankees (including 13 complete games) and was among the American League leaders in multiple pitching categories. In 1918, he struck out an average of 3.74 batters for every nine innings pitched, 5th best in the American League. His total of 95 strikeouts was 7th best in the League. While among the leaders in strikeouts in 1918, he was also No. 1 in the American League in bases on balls allowed with 116, No. 3 in hit batsmen with 10, and No. 5 in earned runs allowed with 78.

On December 18, 1918, the Yankees traded Slim Love to the Boston Red Sox with 3 other players for Ernie Shore and Duffy Lewis. Slim never played a game for the Red Sox, as he was traded with Chick Shorten and Eddie Ainsmith to the Detroit Tigers in January 1919 for Ossie Vitt.

Pitching for the Detroit Tigers in 1919, Slim Love had a 6-4 win-loss record in 22 games with a 3.01 earned run average. On August 24, 1919, Slim gave Babe Ruth his 42nd career home run in Detroit, 6th inning.

Over six seasons, Slim Love won 28 games and lost 21 with a career earned run average of 3.04.

After his baseball career was over, Love worked as a steamfitter in a Navy Yard. Love died in 1942 at age 52 in Memphis, Tennessee.

[edit] Sources

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference