Red Sox in Cooperstown Pt. 4: Jack Chesbro

JACK CHESBRO
Years with Boston: 1909 (1 game, 0-1, 4.50 ERA, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts)
Best Year in Boston: 1909 (1 game, 0-1, 4.50 ERA, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts)

(I don't think there is a Red Sox card)

"Happy" Jack Chesbro is mostly in the Hall of Fame for his incredible 1904 season in which he won 41 games and threw 48 complete games, both records, for the New York Highlanders.  Most of the rest of his career ranged from average to good, but that one season got him in the Hall of Fame.  In 1909 Chesbro was 35 years old and was on the downswing of his career.  He had pitched in nine games with a 6.34 ERA with the Highlanders when he was placed on waivers.  Boston picked him up and he pitched one game with the Red Sox.  He pitched six innings and gave up seven hits and three earned runs, walking four, and striking out three.  That was it for his stint with Boston.

Chesbro is in the Hall of Fame for his 1904 season.  He pitched only one game for Boston and it was not a particularly good game.  That one game is as irrelevant to his Hall of Fame case as is possible.

One-Game Wonder: Jack Chesbro

Jack Chesbro is a Hall of Famer.  He is somewhat of a questionable choice, most of his merits have been tied into his 1904 season when he won 41 games, pitched an incredible 454.2 innings and had a microscopic 1.82 ERA.  Outside of that season, he is a somewhat less-than-deserving choice.

But that's not why we're here.  Chesbro pitched for the Red Sox for only one game in 1909.  One.  Game.

It was the end of his career and he was picked up off of waivers from the Yankees.  He pitched six innings, giving up seven hits and four runs, three earned, taking the loss.  He struck out three and walked four.  And that was the end of his career.