WHY I THINK SMOKY JOE WOOD SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

 WHY I THINK SMOKY JOE WOOD SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

Who was the hardest thrower of all time? The names that come to mind may be Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Bob Feller, Lefty Grove, or Walter Johnson. Well, one hundred years ago, most people would cite “Smoky'' Joe Wood for that one, including Walter Johnson himself. He had a blistering fastball that dominated pretty much every hitter he ever faced. Wood had a lifetime record of 117-57 with a 2.03 career ERA, which is the fifth lowest of all time. Wood was also a superb hitter, with a .283 career batting average and 118 doubles. After his career as a pitcher ended, he became an outfielder with the Cleveland Indians. Smoky Joe Wood started his career with the Red Sox in 1908, going 1-1. He posted an 11-7 mark in 1909 and a 1.69 ERA in 1910. Wood went 23-17 (including a no-hitter) in 1911, setting the stage for his incredible 1912 season. That year he went 34-5 with a 1.91 ERA and ten shutouts, finishing fifth in the MVP race. He also helped the Red Sox to the World Series title that year and won a record three games in the Fall Classic. Wood broke his thumb in 1913, which would eventually end his pitching career. Wood won 11, 10, and 15 games in the next three seasons, and won the ERA Title with 1.49 in 1915. He stayed out of baseball in 1916 and made only a couple appearances in 1917. He came back in 1918 as the Indians' rightfielder, and batted .296 in 119 games. He retired following a wonderful season in 1922, when he hit .297 with 92 RBI's. Smoky Joe Wood was an incredible pitcher with a tremendous fastball and enough versatility to play rightfield between mound assignments. He belongs in the Hall of Fame. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS

Games Pitched career: 225 season high: 44 in 1911 

Starts career: 158 season high: 38 in 1912 

Complete Games career: 121 season high: 35 in 1912 led AL: 35 in 1912 

Shutouts career: 28 season high: 10 in 1912 led AL: 10 in 1912 

Games Finished career: 56 season high: 13 in 1910 

Wins career: 117 season high: 34 in 1912 led AL: 34 in 1912 

Losses career: 57 season high: 17 in 1911 

Winning Percentage career: .672 season high: .872 in 1912 led AL: .872 in 1912, .750 in 1915 

ERA career: 2.03 season low: 1.49 in 1915 led AL: 1.49 in 1915 

WHIP career: 1.087 season low: 1.021 in 1909 

Innings Pitched career: 1,434 ⅓ season high: 344 in 1912 

Strikeouts career: 989 season high: 258 in 1912 

Strikeouts Per Nine Innings career: 6.2 season high: 7.5 in 1911 led AL: 7.5 in 1911 

Walks career: 421 season high: 82 in 1912 

Strikeouts Per Walk career: 2.35 season high: 3.15 in 1912 

Saves career: 10 season high: 3 in 1911 

At Bats career: 1,952 season high: 505 in 1922 

Hits career: 553 season high: 150 in 1922 

Doubles career: 118 season high: 33 in 1922 

Triples career: 31 season high: 8 in 1922 

Home Runs career: 23 season high: 8 in 1922 

Runs career: 266 season high: 74 in 1922 

Runs Batted In career: 325 season high: 92 in 1922 

Stolen Bases career: 23 season high: 8 in 1918 

Walks career: 208 season high: 50 in 1922 

Strikeouts career: 265 season high: 38 in 1918 

Batting Average career: .283 season high: .297 in 1922 

On Base Percentage career: .357 season high: .367 in 1922 

Slugging Percentage career: .411 season high: .442 in 1922 

Total Bases career: 802 season high: 223 in 1922 

Sacrifice Hits career: 96 season high: 22 in 1922 

Fielding Percentage career: .962 season high: .987 in 1920 

Double Plays career: 31 season high: 10 in 1922 

Putouts career: 911 season high: 242 in 1922 led AL P: 41 in 1912 

Assists career: 518 season high: 110 in 1912 

DID YOU KNOW?

-father of Joe Wood 

-went 2-for-3 in his final MLB game and drove in a run 

-lost his MLB debut despite not allowing an earned run through his four innings 

-his 1.49 ERA in 1915 is the 35th lowest of all time  

-also played four games at first base, 19 at second base, 41 as a pinch hitter and 18 as a pinch runner 

-struck out 231 batters in 1911, including 15 in one game  

-was the youngest player to play in the AL in 1908 

-batted .286 in the 1912 World Series and fanned 21 batters

-tied Walter Johnson’s brand new record of 16 consecutive wins in 1912 

-was the first pitcher ever to reach ten strikeouts in one World Series game 

-his .872 winning percentage in 1912 is the 19th highest of all time, and his .672 career mark is the 11th best ever 

-ranks 18th in career WHIP, 14th in the fewest hits allowed per nine innings (7.14) and eighth in the fewest home runs allowed per nine innings