Win–loss record 197–171 Role Baseball player Name Larry French | Strikeouts 1,187 Earned run average 3.44 | |
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Died February 9, 1987, San Diego, California, United States | ||
Lawrence Herbert French (November 1, 1907 – February 9, 1987) was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1929–1934), Chicago Cubs (1935–1941) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1941). A knuckleball specialist, French batted right-handed and threw left-handed. He was born in Visalia, California.
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One author has described French as the best pitcher not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. In a 14-season career, French posted a 197–171 record with 1,187 strikeouts and a 3.44 ERA in 3,152.0 innings pitched, including 40 shutouts and 198 complete games.
French joined the United States Navy after the Dodgers and became a career sailor, retiring in 1969 with the rank of Captain. He died in San Diego, California, at age 79.
1933 "shower game"
With his team leading the Boston Braves 8-0 in the ninth inning during their game on the 12th of July, reliever French figured he could duck out of the bullpen and hit the showers early. Little did he know as he was getting clean that the Braves had rallied to make the score 8-7. When the call came for French to pitch, he didn't even have time to rinse off. He put on his uniform and hustled out to the mound with soap trickling down his neck.