Harry Coveleski
Years later, Grimes explained Elberfeld's influence on him. was an 18-year-old [sic] country boy. I'd been driving a four- horse team in a lumber camp for $35 a month, so when Elberfeld signed me for $150 per, I thought that was all the money in the world and that he was the greatest man. Being of such sentiments, I naturally did everything he told me to.'' With the Lookouts already having an established four-man rotation, Grimes was slated to serve as a reliever and spot starter in Chattanooga. His move to the Southern Association was an obvious step up in the level of corn- petition, as a number of former and soon-to-be major leaguers graced the league's rosters.
One of those players was the Lookouts' ace pitcher. Harry Coveleski, who was putting together one dominating performance after another. Nicknamed the "Giant Killer" for having defeated John McGraw's Giants three times in five days to keep them from winning the 1908 National League pennant, Coveleski had spent the past four seasons in the Southern Association trying to recapture that magic. Elberfeld tabbed Grimes to start a June 12 home game against the Atlanta Crackers. After giving up a run in the top of the first, he cruised through until the fifth with the aid of his battery mate, Gabby Street, who threw out three would-be base stealers. In the sixth inning, Grimes lost his control and surrendered five runs on three hits, two walks, and a hit batsman before being removed from the game.
One of those players was the Lookouts' ace pitcher. Harry Coveleski, who was putting together one dominating performance after another. Nicknamed the "Giant Killer" for having defeated John McGraw's Giants three times in five days to keep them from winning the 1908 National League pennant, Coveleski had spent the past four seasons in the Southern Association trying to recapture that magic. Elberfeld tabbed Grimes to start a June 12 home game against the Atlanta Crackers. After giving up a run in the top of the first, he cruised through until the fifth with the aid of his battery mate, Gabby Street, who threw out three would-be base stealers. In the sixth inning, Grimes lost his control and surrendered five runs on three hits, two walks, and a hit batsman before being removed from the game.
Wikipedia:
Coveleski was born as the fourth of five ball-playing brothers in the coal-mining community of Shamokin, Pennsylvania.[1] His oldest brother Jacob died while serving in the Spanish–American War, and his other brothers Frank and John played baseball as well, but never reached the major leagues.[2] His younger brother Stan Coveleski went on become a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
CareerCoveleski began his career with the Phillies in 1907. Over a span of five days at the end of the 1908 season, he beat the New York Giants three times, which enabled the Chicago Cubs to catch the first-place Giants in the NL standings and force a replay of the "Merkle's Boner" game. Thereafter, Coveleski was called "The Giant Killer". Traded to the Reds after the 1909 season, Coveleski had a disappointing 1910 season, including a game in which he walked sixteen batters, and was out of the Major Leagues for three seasons.
That year A. H. "Rick" Woodward, owner of the Southern Association's Birmingham Barons, bought Coveleski's contract from the Reds for $1,000, putting him on the team that be showcased in his brand-new steel-and-concrete Rickwood Field stadium. Coveleski got the start on the park's August 18, 1910 opening day, earning a no-decision in a 3-2 victory against the Montgomey Climbers in front of 10,000 fans. He ended up pitching two no-hitters for the Barons (though he lost one in extra innings), and won 21 games, including eleven straight decisions, to end the season with a 1.55 ERA. His final appearance for Birmingham was a 1-0 shutout against the league-champion New Orleans Pelicans in which he held their star slugger Shoeless Joe Jackson hitless in four appearances.[3]
Following an arm injury, Woodward traded Coveleski to the Chattanooga Lookouts, where he struggled for two seasons, going 25-37, before regaining his composure. In their 1913 campaign he led the Southern Association with 28 wins and attracted the notice of the Detroit Tigers' scouts. [NOTE: Kid Elberfeld was manager for the Lookouts.]
Coveleski joined the Tigers for the 1914 season, and pitched over 300 innings, completed 23 of his 36 games, and won 22 games, second in the American League only to Walter Johnson. In four of his five seasons with the Tigers, Coveleski's ERA was under three, and his 2.34 ERA with the Tigers is still the franchise's all-time career record.
Coveleski was born as the fourth of five ball-playing brothers in the coal-mining community of Shamokin, Pennsylvania.[1] His oldest brother Jacob died while serving in the Spanish–American War, and his other brothers Frank and John played baseball as well, but never reached the major leagues.[2] His younger brother Stan Coveleski went on become a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
CareerCoveleski began his career with the Phillies in 1907. Over a span of five days at the end of the 1908 season, he beat the New York Giants three times, which enabled the Chicago Cubs to catch the first-place Giants in the NL standings and force a replay of the "Merkle's Boner" game. Thereafter, Coveleski was called "The Giant Killer". Traded to the Reds after the 1909 season, Coveleski had a disappointing 1910 season, including a game in which he walked sixteen batters, and was out of the Major Leagues for three seasons.
That year A. H. "Rick" Woodward, owner of the Southern Association's Birmingham Barons, bought Coveleski's contract from the Reds for $1,000, putting him on the team that be showcased in his brand-new steel-and-concrete Rickwood Field stadium. Coveleski got the start on the park's August 18, 1910 opening day, earning a no-decision in a 3-2 victory against the Montgomey Climbers in front of 10,000 fans. He ended up pitching two no-hitters for the Barons (though he lost one in extra innings), and won 21 games, including eleven straight decisions, to end the season with a 1.55 ERA. His final appearance for Birmingham was a 1-0 shutout against the league-champion New Orleans Pelicans in which he held their star slugger Shoeless Joe Jackson hitless in four appearances.[3]
Following an arm injury, Woodward traded Coveleski to the Chattanooga Lookouts, where he struggled for two seasons, going 25-37, before regaining his composure. In their 1913 campaign he led the Southern Association with 28 wins and attracted the notice of the Detroit Tigers' scouts. [NOTE: Kid Elberfeld was manager for the Lookouts.]
Coveleski joined the Tigers for the 1914 season, and pitched over 300 innings, completed 23 of his 36 games, and won 22 games, second in the American League only to Walter Johnson. In four of his five seasons with the Tigers, Coveleski's ERA was under three, and his 2.34 ERA with the Tigers is still the franchise's all-time career record.
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