Carl Mays

From SoSH

Carl William Mays (November 12, 1891 - April 4, 1971) was one of the better right-handed pitchers in Major League Baseball from 1916-1926, but he is best remembered for throwing the spitball pitch that struck Ray Chapman in the head on August 16, 1920, making Chapman the only on-field fatality in major league history.

Born in Liberty, Kentucky, Mays was a notorious submarine pitcher (he was nicknamed "Sub"), although it would be more accurate to say that he threw straight underhand. In a 15-year career with the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Giants, he compiled a 207-126 record with 29 shutouts, 862 strikeouts and a 2.92 ERA when the league average was 3.48.

Contents 1 Overall Career 1.1 The Hissy Fit that would change baseball 1.2 Reds 2 Trivia 3 Quotes 4 Transactions 5 External Links

Overall Career

Spring Training 1919 - Carl Mays and Babe Ruth are contract holdouts, missing the start of Spring Training.

Led the 1918 World Champion team in Wins (21), IP (293), GS (33), CG (30), Shutouts (8) and HBP (11). Pitched 2 CG in the World Series, giving up 2 runs.

The Hissy Fit that would change baseball

On July 13th, 1919 Mays had a hissy fit -- leaving the field after two innings, blaming his teammates for a perceived lack of support. Numerous attempts to get him to come back to the mound, by both manager and teammates, were not successful.

In defiance of Ban Johnson's order that no action be taken until Mays is returned to good standing, Boston owner Harry Frazee immediately trades the malcontent Mays to the Yankees for pitchers Bob McGraw Allen Russell and $40,000 (where fellow malcontent Ruth would join him a few months later). Johnson suspends Mays indefinitely and orders umpires not to let him pitch for New York. The Yankees get a court order restraining Johnson from interfering, further eroding Johnson's authority and standing.

In a defeat for American League president Johnson, Carl Mays is reinstated by AL directors, and the Yankees' 3rd place finish is recognized. Furthermore, a two man committee is appointed to review all fines over $100 and suspensions of more than 10 days. Dissatisfaction with the National Commission system comes to a head. The National League votes 6–2 for a one-man commission; the AL votes 6–2 for the status quo. Chairman Garry Herrmann resigns, stating his belief that no club owner should serve on the governing board. When the two leagues cannot agree on a chairman, it is left to the league presidents to decide disputes.

Reds

12/23/1923 Carl Mays sold to Reds for $85,000

Trivia

• In August of 1920, (his first season with the Yankees), Mays made history -- he became the first and only pitcher to kill another player in a major league game. He hit Cleveland's Ray Chapman, who died the following day. (note: Ty Cobb in particular went on to torment Mays for years afterwards because of this incident)
• In 1924, he gave up 13 runs and 20 hits to the Cleveland Indians

Quotes

• "Championship baseball teams are not founded on bats. They're built on a backbone of catching, pitching, a second-base combination and a center field." - Carl Mays in The Quotable Baseball Fanatic (2004)

• “Any ballplayers that played for me on either the Cardinals or the Yankees could come to me if he were in need and I would give him a helping hand. I made only two exceptions, Carl Mays and Joe Bush. If they were in a gutter, I'd kick them.” - Miller Huggins

Transactions

• July 29, 1919: Traded by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees for Allan Russell, Bob McGraw, and $40,000.
• December 11, 1923: Purchased by the Cincinnati Reds from the New York Yankees.

External Links

• The Beaning