Charlie Getzein

Who was Charlie Getzein?

Charles H. Getzein was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played with four different National League teams from 1884 to 1891.

Getzein was known by the nickname "Pretzels". Sources conflict as to whether the nickname was derived from his German ethnicity or from the belief that he was able to throw a "double curve" following "the curves of a pretzel." During nine major league seasons, Getzein compiled a 145-139 record and a 3.46 earned run average. He started 292 games and threw 277 complete games, a total that ranks 58th among the all-time leaders in complete games. Only three pitchers threw more complete games in major league careers shorter than Getzein's nine-year career.

Getzein had his best seasons as a member of the Detroit Wolverines, compiling records of 30-11 and 29-13 in 1886 and 1887. In the 1887 World Series, Getzein pitched six complete games and compiled a 4-2 record with a 2.48 ERA. He also won 23 games for the Boston Beaneaters in 1890.