Fritz Coumbe

Who was Fritz Coumbe?

Frederick Nicholas Coumbe was a pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1914 through 1921. Coumbe batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Antrim, Pennsylvania.

Listed at 6 ft 0 in, 152 lb., Coumbe reached the majors in 1914 with the Boston Red Sox, spending part of this season with them before moving to the Cleveland Naps & Indians and Cincinnati Reds. His most productive season came in 1918 with the Indians, when he posted career-highs in wins, starts, strikeouts and innings pitched. Coumbe saved himself from baseball anonymity as one of the few players to appear in the major leagues' last triple-header, played on October 2, 1920 between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field. Cincinnati won the first two games, 13–4 and 7–3, and Pittsburgh won the third, 6–0. He saw action in right field in Game 1 and started at center field in Game 3.

In an eight-season career, Coumbe posted a 38–38 record with 212 strikeouts and a 2.80 ERA in 761⅓ innings, including four shutouts and 30 complete games. A good hitting pitcher, he also was used as a pinch-hitter, collecting a .206 batting average with one home run and 30 RBI. Coumbe died in Paradise, California at the age of 88.