Huck Betts

Walter McKinley "Huck" Betts (February 18, 1897 – June 13, 1987), born in Millsboro, Delaware, was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies (1920–25) and Boston Braves (1932–35).

Huck Betts
Huck Betts 1934 Goudey baseball card
Pitcher
Born: (1897-02-18)February 18, 1897
Millsboro, Delaware
Died: June 13, 1987(1987-06-13) (aged 90)
Millsboro, Delaware
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 26, 1920, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 1935, for the Boston Braves
MLB statistics
Win–loss record61-68
Earned run average3.93
Strikeouts323
Teams

During his six-year tenure with the Phillies, Betts was an ordinary pitcher at best, compiling 18 wins against 27 losses, and a 4.40 ERA. He spent 1926 in the low minors, and then was out of baseball for the next five years.

Returning to the big leagues in 1932 with the Boston Braves, at the age of 35 Betts unexpectedly became one of the National League's best pitchers. He finished the season 13-11 with a 2.80 ERA, which was the third best ERA in the NL. He also did well in 1933, going 11-11 with a 2.79 ERA, which again put him in the top 10 of pitchers who qualified for the ERA crown. His ERA went up to 4.06 in 1934, but his won-loss record was the best of his career at 17-10.

His career ended the following year, going 2-9 for the woeful 1935 Boston Braves, often identified as one of the worst major league baseball teams of all time.

In 10 seasons Betts had a 61–68 win–loss record, 307 games, 125 games started, 53 complete games, 8 shutouts, 128 games finished, 16 saves, ​1,366 1⁄3 innings pitched, 1,581 hits allowed, 716 runs allowed, 596 earned runs allowed, 83 home runs allowed, 321 walks, 323 strikeouts, and a 3.93 ERA.

He threw a fastball, a curveball, and a screwball.[1]

In 1980, Betts was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame. He died in his hometown at the age of 90.

References
  1. James, Bill; Neyer, Rob (2004-06-15). The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers: An Historical Compendium of Pitching, Pitchers, and Pitches. Simon and Schuster. p. 134. ISBN 9780743261586. Retrieved 3 October 2012.


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