Walter Beall

Who was Walter Beall?

Walter Esau Beall was an American baseball player who played for the New York Yankees on several championship teams in the 1920s.

Born in Washington, D.C., Beall was a standout pitcher in the minor leagues before his contract was sold by Rochester of the International League to the New York Yankees in August 1924 for $50,000. Beall was a member of the 1927 New York Yankees, a team often considered the greatest ever, though he only pitched one inning that year.

Beall is remembered as having one of the greatest curveballs in the history of baseball, though his lack of control prevented him from becoming a great pitcher. Teammate Babe Ruth noted that Beall possessed the "greatest curveball I ever saw."

Beall died in Suitland, Maryland on January 28, 1959.