Historical Player Profiles: Carl Hubbell
The history of the game is very important to me and my co-bloggers at FBJ. Before meeting Hersh, my baseball knowledge was non-existent past 1985 when I first started following the game. So, we're going to focus a segment of our blog to great historical players that don't get the recognition of a Ruth, Cobb, or Gehrig.
Carl Hubbell came into the league in 1928 and spent his entire 16 year career with the NY Giants. He started to pile up wins by his 2nd season and was a force in the National League. Hubbell put up an incredible 5 year stretch from 1933 to 1937 that would rival almost anyone in history. During that time, he tossed 5 straight 20 win seasons (115-50 over the span), won 3 ERA titles, and led the league in K's one year. He also garnered two MVP awards, one of which he won over a Triple Crown winner (Philadelphia's Chuck Klein). The Cy Young didn't come into play until 1956, so for Hubbell to win two MVP awards over hitters the likes of Klein, Joe Medwick, and Mel Ott is very impressive.
Carl Hubbell was one of the first pitchers to really perfect the screwball pitch. The curveball (from a lefty standpoint like Hubbell) comes in on right handed hitters and goes away from left handed hitters. If you're a lefty pitching to a lefty, the curveball is a great pitch to get a strikeout as it tails away from the hitter. The screwball has the opposite effect. Again from lefty standpoint, it comes in on left handed hitters and tails away from right handed hitters. Most teams will stack a lineup with righties when facing a lefty pitcher because they can see the ball coming out of the pitcher's hand easier. If you have an effective screwball like Hubbell, it gives those righties fits as the ball appears to be coming right down the plate and tails away from their power zone.
Hubbell is also well known for an amazing feat he accomplished during the 1934 All Star Game. During the game, Hubbell struckout 5 eventual hall of fame players in a row by fanning Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin. They also once did a film strip of Hubbell where there were panes of glass behind the plate. He called which pane of glass he'd break before pitching, and hit every single one on cue. Here's a look at Hubbell's career numbers.
253-154, 2.98 ERA, 3,590 IP, 260 CG, 9 AS appearances, 2 MVP (3 other top 10)
Carl Hubbell came into the league in 1928 and spent his entire 16 year career with the NY Giants. He started to pile up wins by his 2nd season and was a force in the National League. Hubbell put up an incredible 5 year stretch from 1933 to 1937 that would rival almost anyone in history. During that time, he tossed 5 straight 20 win seasons (115-50 over the span), won 3 ERA titles, and led the league in K's one year. He also garnered two MVP awards, one of which he won over a Triple Crown winner (Philadelphia's Chuck Klein). The Cy Young didn't come into play until 1956, so for Hubbell to win two MVP awards over hitters the likes of Klein, Joe Medwick, and Mel Ott is very impressive.
Carl Hubbell was one of the first pitchers to really perfect the screwball pitch. The curveball (from a lefty standpoint like Hubbell) comes in on right handed hitters and goes away from left handed hitters. If you're a lefty pitching to a lefty, the curveball is a great pitch to get a strikeout as it tails away from the hitter. The screwball has the opposite effect. Again from lefty standpoint, it comes in on left handed hitters and tails away from right handed hitters. Most teams will stack a lineup with righties when facing a lefty pitcher because they can see the ball coming out of the pitcher's hand easier. If you have an effective screwball like Hubbell, it gives those righties fits as the ball appears to be coming right down the plate and tails away from their power zone.
Hubbell is also well known for an amazing feat he accomplished during the 1934 All Star Game. During the game, Hubbell struckout 5 eventual hall of fame players in a row by fanning Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin. They also once did a film strip of Hubbell where there were panes of glass behind the plate. He called which pane of glass he'd break before pitching, and hit every single one on cue. Here's a look at Hubbell's career numbers.
253-154, 2.98 ERA, 3,590 IP, 260 CG, 9 AS appearances, 2 MVP (3 other top 10)
And Hubbell didn't make our all-time Giants roster, haha! Tough when you've got guys names Mathewson and Marichal on the roster ahead of you.
ReplyDeleteMarichal and Mathewson, who do you take off? Hubbell was great and good story Mc.
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