Description
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Red Ames
Born: August 2, 1882 Warren, Ohio
Died: October 8, 1936 (aged 54) Warren, Ohio
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 185 lbs.
Positions: Pitcher
Played For:
New York Giants (1903–1913)
Cincinnati Reds (1913–1915)
St. Louis Cardinals (1915–1919)
Philadelphia Phillies (1919)
Biography:
Red Ames’ curveball was one of the Deadball Era’s most dramatic pitches. “Ames is without question almost the hardest pitcher to catch of the professionals,” wrote The Sporting Life in 1906. “Players say no man who holds a place in the pitcher’s box is able to curve the ball so far as he can. It is a fact that he doesn’t always know himself where his curves are going to land.” Ames carried a reputation for being “very liberal with passes,” often ranking among the league leaders in walks per nine innings, and in 1905 he set a dubious modern record by uncorking 30 wild pitches. But despite his frequent bouts of wildness and a penchant for bowling, a sport that pitchers of his era generally avoided for fear it would hurt their arms, the right-hander managed to hang on for 17 seasons in the National League, compiling a 183-167 record with a 2.63 ERA. He had a knack for losing tough, close games, becoming known as the unluckiest man in baseball-his middle initial stood for “Kessling,” but to newspaper reporters and fans it would always stand for “Kalamity.”
More info:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/amesre01.shtml
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/971ed34b
