Ed Summers

Ed Summers

Ed Summers in 1908
Pitcher
Born: December 5, 1884
Ladoga, Indiana
Died: May 12, 1953 (aged 68)
Indianapolis, Indiana
Batted: Both Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 16, 1908 for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
June 1, 1912 for the Detroit Tigers
Career statistics
Win–loss record 68-45
Earned run average 2.42
Strikeouts 362
Teams

Oron Edgar Summers (December 5, 1884 – May 12, 1953), nicknamed "Kickapoo Ed", due to his Kickapoo ancestry, was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played five seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1908–12).

Biography

Summers was born in Ladoga, Indiana and attended Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He began his playing career in the American Association before joining the Tigers in the American League in 1908.

Ed Summers, Detroit Tigers pitcher

In his rookie season, Summers emerged as the Tigers' best pitcher, finishing with a 1.64 ERA in 301 innings pitched and a 24–12 win-loss record. On September 25, 1908, the Tigers were two games back of the Cleveland Naps for the AL pennant and were scheduled to play a doubleheader. Summers threw two complete game victories, winning the second game 1–0 after throwing 10 shutout innings.[1] The Tigers went on to win the pennant and returned to the World Series for a rematch against the Chicago Cubs.

In the 1908 World Series, Summers pitched in Games 1 and 4, losing both times to Three Finger Brown. That season his 24 wins tied for second place in the AL behind Ed Walsh's 40, and his 1.64 ERA remains the Tigers' single season record.

On July 16, 1909, Summers pitched 18 scoreless innings of a tie game against the Washington Senators at Bennett Park.[2] He finished the 1909 season at 19–9 and the Tigers recaptured the pennant. In the 1909 World Series, he started Game 3, but could not finish the first inning, allowing five unearned runs to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He returned for Game 5 but lost to Babe Adams.

Ed Summers, Colgan's Chips disc

Summers played three additional seasons before rheumatism ended his playing career at age 27. In 138 career games, he had a 68–45 record with a 2.42 ERA, including 79 complete games and 9 shutouts in 999 innings.

He died from a cerebral hemorrhage at age 68 in 1953 in Indianapolis.

See also

References

External links