Rube Melton

Reuben Franklin Melton (February 27, 1917 – September 11, 1971) was a pitcher from 1941 to 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Rube Melton
Pitcher
Born: (1917-02-27)February 27, 1917
Cramerton, North Carolina
Died: September 11, 1971(1971-09-11) (aged 54)
Greer, South Carolina
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 17, 1941, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
June 3, 1947, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record30–50
Earned run average3.62
Strikeouts363
Teams

Melton experienced difficulty in his first MLB season when he was suspended by the Phillies for leaving the team without permission reportedly because of homesickness.[1] He led the league in walks and wild pitches during the 1942 season. He missed the 1945 season due to service in the US Army during World War II.[2] His best season occurred just after his military discharge in 1946 when he went 6–3 with a 1.99 ERA for the Brooklyn Dodgers.[2] An earlier arm injury forced him to cut his career short.[3]

Melton's playing career overlapped that of his cousin, Cliff Melton, who pitched for the New York Giants.[4]

Melton died in an automobile accident in Greer, South Carolina in 1971.[5]

References
  1. "Melton, Phil Rook Hurler, Suspended". The Pittsburgh Press. July 20, 1941. p. 4 (Section 4). Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  2. "Baseball in Wartime - Rube Melton". BaseballinWartime.com. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  3. Rube Melton at the SABR Baseball Biography Project, by Jack Morris, Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  4. "Rube Melton Stats". baseball-reference.com. sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  5. "Rube Melton Obituary". baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved January 5, 2018.


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