| Pete Appleton | |
|---|---|
1933 Goudey card |
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| Pitcher | |
| Born: May 20, 1904 Terryville, Connecticut |
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| Died: January 18, 1974 (aged 69) Trenton, New Jersey |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| September 14, 1927 for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 20, 1945 for the Washington Senators | |
| Career statistics | |
| Earned run average | 4.30 |
| Win–loss record | 57-66 |
| Strikeouts | 420 |
| Teams | |
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Peter William Appleton [Jake] (May 20, 1904 – January 18, 1974) was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1927 through 1945 for the Cincinnati Reds (1927–28), Cleveland Indians 1930-32), Boston Red Sox (1932), New York Yankees (1933), Washington Senators (1936–39, 1945), Chicago White Sox (1940–42) and St. Louis Browns (1942–45). Listed at 5' 11", 180 lb., Appleton batted and threw right-handed. A native of Terryville, Connecticut, he legally changed his last name from Jablonowski to Appleton in 1933.[1]
Appleton was an accomplished pianist and band leader but opted for a baseball career after graduating from University of Michigan.[2]
After being named the best Triple-A pitcher while playing for the Montreal Royals in 1935, Appleton pitched for seven Major League clubs, including two stints with Washington Senators, from 1927 through 1945. His most productive season came in 1936 with Washington, when he posted career highs in wins (14), strikeouts (77), earned run average (3.53), starts (20), and innings pitched (201 ⅔).[1][3][4]
In a 14-season career, Appleton posted a 57-66 record with 420 strikeouts and a 4.30 ERA in 341 games (71 as a starter). After his pitching career, he spent many years as a scout for the Senators and their successor franchise, the Minnesota Twins.[1]
Appleton died in Trenton, New Jersey, at the age of 69.[5]