Hugh Bedient

Who was Hugh Bedient?

Hugh Carpenter Bedient was a starting pitcher who played in the American League for the Boston Red Sox and with the Buffalo Blues of the Federal League. Bedient batted and threw right-handed.

In 1908 Bedient gained notoriety when he struck out 42 batters in a 23-inning complete game while pitching for a semi-pro baseball team. Signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1910, he made his major league debut in 1912. He won 20 games as a Red Sox rookie and outdueled legend Christy Mathewson, defeating the New York Giants, 2–1, in Game Five of the 1912 World Series. He also pitched the first seven innings of the final game, won by the Red Sox in the tenth, 3–2.

In three seasons with the Red Sox, Bedient had a mark of 43 wins and 35 losses with 314 strikeouts and a 3.05 earned run average in 667-1/3 innings pitched. He later became a member of the outlaw Federal League. Pitching for the Buffalo Blues, he went 16–18 with 106 strikeouts and a 3.12 ERA in 269-1/3 innings, leading the league with 10 saves.