Carl Hubbell
Carl Hubbell was an accomplished left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, known primarily for his time with the New York Giants from the late 1920s until his retirement in 1943. Born on June 22, 1903, in Carthage, Missouri, and raised in Oklahoma, Hubbell's early baseball journey included a stint in the Oklahoma State League before he transitioned to professional baseball. He gained prominence for his mastery of the screwball, a challenging pitch that contributed to his success but also led to arm injuries later in his career.
Hubbell achieved significant milestones, including 253 career victories, a feat that went unmatched by a National League pitcher until 1959. In 1936, he garnered the National League Most Valuable Player award after a remarkable season, and he is perhaps best remembered for his exceptional performance in the 1934 All-Star Game, where he struck out five batters in two innings, including legends like Babe Ruth. Despite his on-field achievements, Hubbell was known for his humble demeanor and preference for a quieter life, contrasting with more flamboyant contemporaries.
Following his retirement, Hubbell remained involved in baseball as a farm director for the Giants, contributing to talent scouting and development until his passing on November 21, 1988. His legacy as one of baseball's most effective pitchers continues to be recognized and celebrated.
Carl Hubbell
- Born: June 22, 1903
- Birthplace: Carthage, Missouri
- Died: November 21, 1988
- Place of death: Scottsdale, Arizona
Sport: Baseball
Early Life
Although Carl Owen Hubbell was born in Carthage, Missouri, on June 22, 1903, he grew up in Oklahoma. Like other youths of his day, he played baseball often. At the age of nineteen, he signed a contract with Cushing of the old Oklahoma State League. Unfortunately for Carl, the league folded because of financial problems. In 1925, he was given a tryout by the Detroit Tigers but was assigned to the team’s farm system. After a couple of years, he was sold to Cleveland and then traded to the New York Giants.
The Road to Excellence
Carl’s success as a left-handed pitcher was largely the result of his ability to throw a screwball, a pitch with a considerable amount of movement on it that befuddled batters. This pitch put stress on a pitcher’s arm. Many pitchers of that day avoided the pitch, fearing that it could lead to arm troubles that would shorten their careers. Nevertheless, Carl perfected the pitch, and this won him a ticket to the majors.
The Emerging Champion
From the late 1920’s until 1943, Carl was the ace of the New York Giants pitching staff. His 253 victories were not bettered by a National League (NL) pitcher until Warren Spahn accomplished the feat in 1959. During his tenure with the Giants, Carl was the team’s most reliable pitcher. In 1936, he won twenty-six games, sixteen of which were back-to-back victories. That year, he almost single-handedly pitched his club past both the Cardinals and the Cubs to the NL pennant. For this feat, he was named the NL’s most valuable player.
Carl was extremely popular with his teammates, but not so with the New York press. He did not have the “color” or gift of gab that Dizzy Dean displayed. He was characterized as “exceptional but boring.” He simply did not enjoy the spotlight, but as the record books show, Carl was one of the most effective and successful pitchers. One of Carl’s most spectacular pitching feats occurred during an appearance in the 1934 all-star game at the Polo Grounds, the Giants, home park. He struck out five players in the first 2 innings, three of whom were some of the American League’s most feared hitters—Babe Ruth, Jimmy Fox, and Lou Gehrig. This feat added to Carl’s stature, but 1936 was to be his last year of greatness.
Continuing the Story
In the seasons succeeding 1937 and 1938, arm troubles began to plague the great left-hander. In 1938, an operation removed numerous bone chips from his left elbow. Throwing the screwball so frequently had finally taken its toll. By the time Carl retired in 1943, his winning total of games was half what it was a few years earlier. Pitching had so altered Carl’s arm that it looked distorted. The Giants rewarded Carl with a farm directorship, which he vigorously pursued over the next decade. He frequently toured Giants farm clubs, looking at new talent and making recommendations to the club’s president, Horace Stoneham. He died on November 21, 1988.
Summary
For a few years, Carl Hubbell was the premier left-hander in the National League. Effective control of the screwball enabled him to average more than 100 strikeouts over a ten-year period. This quiet, unassuming player from Oklahoma deserves his high place in baseball’s record books.
Bibliography
Graham, Frank. The New York Giants: An Informal History of a Great Baseball Club. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 2002.
Roberts, Russell. One Hundred Baseball Legends Who Shaped Sports History. San Mateo, Calif.: Bluewood Books, 2003.
Shatzkin, Mike, Stephen Holtje, and Jane Charlton, eds. The Ballplayers: Baseball’s Ultimate Biographical Reference. New York: Ideal Logic Press, 1999.