Earl Caldwell

Who was Earl Caldwell?

Earl Welton Caldwell was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox. A native of Sparks, Texas, Caldwell batted and threw right-handed. He was nicknamed "Teach".

Caldwell debuted with the Philadelphia Phillies on September 8, 1928, and pitched a 4–0, six-hit shutout over the Boston Braves, but lost four games after that, and was let go at the end of the season. After spending seven years in minor league baseball, Caldwell was called up by the St. Louis Browns. He reappeared successfully on September 22, 1935, outdueling Schoolboy Rowe in a three-hit, 1–0 shutout over the American League leading Detroit Tigers. Caldwell ended with a 3–2 mark and a 3.68 ERA, but faded to a 7–16 with a 6.00 ERA in 1936 and was sent again to the minors.

In 1944, Caldwell helped the Milwaukee Brewers to clinch the American Association title. Caldwell compiled a 19–5 record, earning the most wins in the league and finishing with the highest winning percentage. His fine season earned him another shot at the majors, where he won 13 games basically as reliever for the Chicago White Sox in 1945, at 40 years of age. He also led the AL in games finished and had a 2.08 ERA in 90-2/3 innings pitched. The next three years he divided his playing time with Chicago and the Boston Red Sox, and pitched his final game on September 15, 1948. In an eight-season career, Caldwell posted a 33–43 record with a 4.69 ERA, 202 strikeouts, five shutouts, 18 complete games, 25 saves, and 587-2/3 innings in 200 games pitched.