Win–loss record 45–65 Role Baseball player Name Carl Scheib | Innings pitched 1,070⅔ Earned run average 4.88 | |
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Gratz native Carl Scheib throws out the first pitch
Carl Alvin Scheib (born January 1, 1927) is a retired professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics (1943–45 and 1947–54) and St. Louis Cardinals (1954) of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Born in Gratz, Pennsylvania, Scheib led the American League in Wild Pitches (9) in 1950. He was one of the best-hitting pitchers of his time. In 1948, he registered 31 hits in 104 at bats, for a batting average of .298 with two home runs and 21 runs batted in. He appeared in 32 games as a pitcher, and 20 more as a pinch hitter. In 1951, Scheib appeared in 46 games as a pitcher, two more as a pinch hitter, and batted .396 (21 for 53). His .396 mark was the highest for a pitcher with that many at bats since 1925. In his MLB career, Scheib batted an even .250, with five home runs, 59 RBI and 117 hits in 468 at bats. In 11 seasons Scheib had a 45–65 Win–Loss record, 267 Games, 107 Games Started, 47 Complete Games, 17 Saves, 1,070 2⁄3 innings pitched, 290 Strikeouts, and a 4.88 ERA.
When Scheib made his first appearance in 1943 at age 16, he was the youngest player in the modern era until Joe Nuxhall debuted with the Cincinnati Reds the following season. Scheib remains the youngest player in American League history. A biography of Scheib entitled "Wonder Boy - The Story of Carl Scheib: The Youngest Player in American League History" by Lawrence Knorr was released May 26, 2016. It was published by Sunbury Press.
