OT: Warren Spahn

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OldRed
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OT: Warren Spahn

Post by OldRed »

Seems like Spahn is often overlooked as one of the greatest pitchers ever.

Cy Young 511 wins
Walter Johnson 417 wins
Grover Alexander 373 wins
Christy Mathewson 373 wins
Warren Spahn 363 wins

Spahn didn't win his first ML game until he was 25, because of serving in WWII.

13 times he won 20 or more games in a season.

At 42 years old he was 23 - 7.

I was lucky to have seen him pitch and have to have met him and had a beer with him.
ramfandan
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by ramfandan »

OldRed wrote: 15 Nov 2025 07:52 am Seems like Spahn is often overlooked as one of the greatest pitchers ever.

Cy Young 511 wins
Walter Johnson 417 wins
Grover Alexander 373 wins
Christy Mathewson 373 wins
Warren Spahn 363 wins

Spahn didn't win his first ML game until he was 25, because of serving in WWII.

13 times he won 20 or more games in a season.

At 42 years old he was 23 - 7.

I was lucky to have seen him pitch and have to have met him and had a beer with him.
Saw him pitch with Milwaukee Braves several times as I moved from St. Louis to Wisconsin in 1962. a true workhorse. Had quite the career . Agree that has always been one of the under the radar pitchers especially lefty guys.
Hazelwood72
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by Hazelwood72 »

OldRed wrote: 15 Nov 2025 07:52 am Seems like Spahn is often overlooked as one of the greatest pitchers ever.

Cy Young 511 wins
Walter Johnson 417 wins
Grover Alexander 373 wins
Christy Mathewson 373 wins
Warren Spahn 363 wins

Spahn didn't win his first ML game until he was 25, because of serving in WWII.

13 times he won 20 or more games in a season.

At 42 years old he was 23 - 7.

I was lucky to have seen him pitch and have to have met him and had a beer with him.
In addition, he and his Milwaukee Braves teammates (including Red Schoendienst) beat the NY Yankees in the 1957 World Series. This was during the Yankees tremendous run of great teams from 1949 to 1964. The only 2 years the Yanks didn’t win the AL Pennant were 1954 and 1959. Beating the Yankees in those days was quite the accomplishment.

And I agree, it seems like Spahn didn’t quite get the press that other great pitchers of his time did. And he still doesn’t.
OldRed
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by OldRed »

Spahn was also a pretty good hitting pitcher:

35 HRS
189 RBI
.194 BA
.234 OBP

17 years in a row he hit at least one HR and his last he hit was at 43 years of age.

And of course, the legendary game where he and Marichal 16 inning game in which Marichal threw 227 pitches and Spahn 201. The score ended 1 - 0 Giants on a walk off Willie Mays home run in the bottom of 16th inning.
redbirdfan51
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by redbirdfan51 »

Warren Spahn is often overlooked as one of the greats. Not only was he a great pitcher, but a great American having served in the military which interrupted his early career. None the less , he went on to to win 363 games. Along the way , he had lost some zip on his fastball , but in a sense reinvented himself and still was a 20 game winner. I had the pleasure of meeting him and having a nice conversation. He was also fan friendly.
BrummerStealsHome
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by BrummerStealsHome »

That pitching staff that had Warren Spahn, Johnny Sain, and Mel Famey must have been something to behold.
ecleme22
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by ecleme22 »

OldRed wrote: 15 Nov 2025 07:52 am Seems like Spahn is often overlooked as one of the greatest pitchers ever.

Cy Young 511 wins
Walter Johnson 417 wins
Grover Alexander 373 wins
Christy Mathewson 373 wins
Warren Spahn 363 wins

Spahn didn't win his first ML game until he was 25, because of serving in WWII.

13 times he won 20 or more games in a season.

At 42 years old he was 23 - 7.

I was lucky to have seen him pitch and have to have met him and had a beer with him.
See bold. Reminds me of Phil Neikro. 318 career wins. Only 31 wins by the time he turned 30.
OldRed
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by OldRed »

redbirdfan51 wrote: 15 Nov 2025 08:36 am Warren Spahn is often overlooked as one of the greats. Not only was he a great pitcher, but a great American having served in the military which interrupted his early career. None the less , he went on to to win 363 games. Along the way , he had lost some zip on his fastball , but in a sense reinvented himself and still was a 20 game winner. I had the pleasure of meeting him and having a nice conversation. He was also fan friendly.
Yes, he was. He even gave my wife a kiss on the check when we left.

Another thing, he helped develop some good pitchers for the Cardinals when he was manager of the Tulsa minor league team.
Bully4you
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by Bully4you »

OldRed wrote: 15 Nov 2025 07:52 am Seems like Spahn is often overlooked as one of the greatest pitchers ever.

Cy Young 511 wins
Walter Johnson 417 wins
Grover Alexander 373 wins
Christy Mathewson 373 wins
Warren Spahn 363 wins

Spahn didn't win his first ML game until he was 25, because of serving in WWII.

13 times he won 20 or more games in a season.

At 42 years old he was 23 - 7.

I was lucky to have seen him pitch and have to have met him and had a beer with him.
I'd take Randy Johnson over anyone.
JMO
Galatians221jb1
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by Galatians221jb1 »

Spahn was not a flame thrower. I believe he threw a screwball. Kept hitters off balance. He coached in the Cards system. Coached Simmons and Reuss at Tulsa (AAA) I'm pretty sure. They didn't care for him.
scoutyjones2
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by scoutyjones2 »

OldRed wrote: 15 Nov 2025 08:31 am Spahn was also a pretty good hitting pitcher:

35 HRS
189 RBI
.194 BA
.234 OBP

17 years in a row he hit at least one HR and his last he hit was at 43 years of age.

And of course, the legendary game where he and Marichal 16 inning game in which Marichal threw 227 pitches and Spahn 201. The score ended 1 - 0 Giants on a walk off Willie Mays home run in the bottom of 16th inning.
How is that good? :roll:
scoutyjones2
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by scoutyjones2 »

OldRed wrote: 15 Nov 2025 09:32 am
redbirdfan51 wrote: 15 Nov 2025 08:36 am Warren Spahn is often overlooked as one of the greats. Not only was he a great pitcher, but a great American having served in the military which interrupted his early career. None the less , he went on to to win 363 games. Along the way , he had lost some zip on his fastball , but in a sense reinvented himself and still was a 20 game winner. I had the pleasure of meeting him and having a nice conversation. He was also fan friendly.
Yes, he was. He even gave my wife a kiss on the check when we left.

Another thing, he helped develop some good pitchers for the Cardinals when he was manager of the Tulsa minor league team.
Who did he develop?
OldRed
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by OldRed »

scoutyjones2 wrote: 15 Nov 2025 10:59 am
OldRed wrote: 15 Nov 2025 09:32 am
redbirdfan51 wrote: 15 Nov 2025 08:36 am Warren Spahn is often overlooked as one of the greats. Not only was he a great pitcher, but a great American having served in the military which interrupted his early career. None the less , he went on to to win 363 games. Along the way , he had lost some zip on his fastball , but in a sense reinvented himself and still was a 20 game winner. I had the pleasure of meeting him and having a nice conversation. He was also fan friendly.
Yes, he was. He even gave my wife a kiss on the check when we left.

Another thing, he helped develop some good pitchers for the Cardinals when he was manager of the Tulsa minor league team.
Who did he develop?

Spahn managed the Tulsa Oilers for five seasons, winning 372 games from 1967 to 1971. You could look this up and find out who he developed.
OldRed
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by OldRed »

scoutyjones2 wrote: 15 Nov 2025 10:58 am
OldRed wrote: 15 Nov 2025 08:31 am Spahn was also a pretty good hitting pitcher:

35 HRS
189 RBI
.194 BA
.234 OBP

17 years in a row he hit at least one HR and his last he hit was at 43 years of age.

And of course, the legendary game where he and Marichal 16 inning game in which Marichal threw 227 pitches and Spahn 201. The score ended 1 - 0 Giants on a walk off Willie Mays home run in the bottom of 16th inning.
How is that good? :roll:
With a little effort you can find this information for yourself, but since you are lazy today read on:
Spahn was also a good hitter, with at least one home run in 17 straight seasons, and finishing with an NL career record for pitchers who do not play any other position, with 35 home runs. Wes Ferrell, who spent most of his time in the American League, holds the overall record for pitchers, with 37. Spahn posted a .194 batting average (363-for-1872) with 141 runs, 57 doubles, six triples, 94 walks, and 189 runs batted in (RBIs). He also drove in 10 or more runs nine times, with a career-high 18 in 1951. In 1958, he batted a strong .333 (36-for-108). In eight World Series games, he batted .200 (4-for-20) with four RBIs and a walk.
scoutyjones2
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by scoutyjones2 »

OldRed wrote: 15 Nov 2025 11:32 am
scoutyjones2 wrote: 15 Nov 2025 10:59 am
OldRed wrote: 15 Nov 2025 09:32 am
redbirdfan51 wrote: 15 Nov 2025 08:36 am Warren Spahn is often overlooked as one of the greats. Not only was he a great pitcher, but a great American having served in the military which interrupted his early career. None the less , he went on to to win 363 games. Along the way , he had lost some zip on his fastball , but in a sense reinvented himself and still was a 20 game winner. I had the pleasure of meeting him and having a nice conversation. He was also fan friendly.
Yes, he was. He even gave my wife a kiss on the check when we left.

Another thing, he helped develop some good pitchers for the Cardinals when he was manager of the Tulsa minor league team.
Who did he develop?

Spahn managed the Tulsa Oilers for five seasons, winning 372 games from 1967 to 1971. You could look this up and find out who he developed.
No, you made the claim, I expect you could back up your post. Apparently you can't
scoutyjones2
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Re: OT: Warren Spahn

Post by scoutyjones2 »

OldRed wrote: 15 Nov 2025 11:35 am
scoutyjones2 wrote: 15 Nov 2025 10:58 am
OldRed wrote: 15 Nov 2025 08:31 am Spahn was also a pretty good hitting pitcher:

35 HRS
189 RBI
.194 BA
.234 OBP

17 years in a row he hit at least one HR and his last he hit was at 43 years of age.

And of course, the legendary game where he and Marichal 16 inning game in which Marichal threw 227 pitches and Spahn 201. The score ended 1 - 0 Giants on a walk off Willie Mays home run in the bottom of 16th inning.
How is that good? :roll:
With a little effort you can find this information for yourself, but since you are lazy today read on:
Spahn was also a good hitter, with at least one home run in 17 straight seasons, and finishing with an NL career record for pitchers who do not play any other position, with 35 home runs. Wes Ferrell, who spent most of his time in the American League, holds the overall record for pitchers, with 37. Spahn posted a .194 batting average (363-for-1872) with 141 runs, 57 doubles, six triples, 94 walks, and 189 runs batted in (RBIs). He also drove in 10 or more runs nine times, with a career-high 18 in 1951. In 1958, he batted a strong .333 (36-for-108). In eight World Series games, he batted .200 (4-for-20) with four RBIs and a walk.
LMAO..he is not a good hitter. you posted his stat's. That's horrible :lol: career 43 OPS+! you think that is a good hitter? :roll:
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