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{{short description|American baseball player}}
{{short description|American baseball player}}
{{About|the baseball player|the musician and record producer|Wes Farrell}}
{{About|the baseball player|the musician and record producer|Wes Farrell}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Wes Ferrell
|name=Wes Ferrell
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|image=WesFerrellGoudeycard.jpg
|image=Wes Ferrell AP Wire Photo.jpg
|image_size= 220px
|caption=Ferrell, circa 1934–37
|bats=Right
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date|1908|2|2}}
|birth_date={{birth date|1908|2|2}}
|birth_place=[[Greensboro, North Carolina]]
|birth_place=[[Greensboro, North Carolina]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1976|12|9|1908|2|2}}
|death_date={{death date and age|1976|12|9|1908|2|2}}
|death_place=[[Sarasota, Florida]]
|death_place=[[Sarasota, Florida]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 9
|debutdate=September 9
Line 38: Line 40:
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders|AL wins leader]] (1935)
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders|AL wins leader]] (1935)
* Pitched a [[no-hitter]] on April 29, 1931
* Pitched a [[no-hitter]] on April 29, 1931
* MLB record 37 career home runs hit by a pitcher
* [[Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame]]
* [[Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame]]
* [[Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame]]
* [[Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame]]
}}
}}
'''Wesley Cheek Ferrell''' (February 2, 1908 – December 9, 1976) was an American [[professional baseball]] player. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] from 1927 through 1941. Primarily a [[starting pitcher]], Ferrell played for the [[Cleveland Indians]] (1927–33), [[Boston Red Sox]] (1934–37), [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]] (1937–38), [[New York Yankees]] (1938–39), [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] (1940) and [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] (1941). He batted and threw right-handed.
'''Wesley Cheek Ferrell''' (February 2, 1908 – December 9, 1976) was an American [[professional baseball]] player. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] from 1927 through 1941. Primarily a [[starting pitcher]], Ferrell played for the [[Cleveland Indians]] (1927–33), [[Boston Red Sox]] (1934–37), [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]] (1937–38), [[New York Yankees]] (1938–39), [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] (1940) and [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] (1941). He batted and threw right-handed.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Wesley Cheek Ferrell was born on February 2, 1908 in [[Greensboro, North Carolina]] to Rufus Benjamin "Lonnie" and Alice Clara Carpenter.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Thompson|first1=Dick|title=The Ferrell Brothers of Baseball|date=2005|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=0786420065|pages=17–18}}</ref> His father was employed by the [[Southern Railway (U.S.)|Southern Railroad]],<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> and the family lived on a 160-acre [[dairy]] farm that was also used to grow crops such as [[hay]] and [[tobacco]].<ref name=wesferrellsabr>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Mark|title=The Baseball Biography Project: Wes Ferrell|url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/81a7570e|work=sabr.org|publisher=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]|access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref> Wes was the fifth of seven children, all boys.<ref name="Thompson20">Thompson, p. 20</ref> They each played baseball for the local high school team, and two others went on to enjoy long careers in baseball: [[Rick Ferrell|Rick]], a [[Baseball Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] [[catcher]], and George, an 18-year [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] veteran.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/><ref name=georgeferrell>{{cite web|title=George Ferrell (minors)|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ferrel001geo|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]].com|access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref>
Wesley Cheek Ferrell was born on February 2, 1908, in [[Greensboro, North Carolina]], to Rufus Benjamin "Lonnie" and Alice Clara Carpenter.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Thompson|first1=Dick|title=The Ferrell Brothers of Baseball|date=2005|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=0786420065|pages=17–18}}</ref> His father was employed by the [[Southern Railway (U.S.)|Southern Railroad]],<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> and the family lived on a 160-acre [[dairy]] farm that was also used to grow crops such as [[hay]] and [[tobacco]].<ref name=wesferrellsabr>{{cite web|title=Wes Ferrell (SABR BioProject)|url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/81a7570e|publisher=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]}}</ref> Wes was the fifth of seven children who were all boys.<ref name="Thompson20">Thompson, p. 20</ref> They each played baseball for the local high school team, and two others went on to enjoy long careers in baseball: [[Rick Ferrell|Rick]], a [[Baseball Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] [[catcher]], and George, an 18-year [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] veteran.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/><ref name=georgeferrell>{{cite web|title=George Ferrell (minors)|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ferrel001geo|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref>


Wesley starred in baseball and [[basketball]] while playing for Guilford High School, and later for the [[Oak Ridge Military Academy]] in 1926.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> He was soon noticed by Bill Rapp, a [[scout (sport)|scout]] for the [[Cleveland Indians]], and in 1927 they, as well as the [[Detroit Tigers]], offered him a contract while he was playing for a [[semi-professional]] team in [[East Douglas, Massachusetts]]. He chose the Indians, and joined the team for the remainder of the [[1927 Cleveland Indians season|1927]] season. He made his [[Major League Baseball]] debut on September 9, 1927, [[pitcher|pitching]] a single [[inning]] against the [[Boston Red Sox]], and gave up three [[earned run]]s.<ref name=Retrosheet>{{cite web|title=Wes Ferrell|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/F/Pferrw101.htm|publisher=[[Retrosheet]], Inc|access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref><ref name=991927box>{{cite web|title=Boston Red Sox 6, Cleveland Indians 1|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1927/B09090BOS1927.htm|work=retrosheet.org|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc|access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref> Although, he initially made the Indians' roster in [[1928 Cleveland Indians season|1928]], he was soon demoted to the [[Terre Haute Tots]], of the [[Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League]]. He pitched well for the Tots, [[Win–loss record (pitching)|winning]] 20 games against eight losses, and had a 2.74 [[earned run average]]. In September, he was re-called to majors, and pitched two games before the season ended. He [[games started|started]] both games, [[complete game|completed]] one of them, and while he pitched well, he received the loss in both.<ref name=1928wesgamelog>{{cite web|title=The 1928 CLE A Regular Season Pitching Log for Wes Ferrell
Wesley starred in baseball and [[basketball]] while playing for Guilford High School, and later for the [[Oak Ridge Military Academy]] in 1926.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> He was soon noticed by Bill Rapp, a [[scout (sport)|scout]] for the [[Cleveland Indians]], and in 1927 they, as well as the [[Detroit Tigers]], offered him a contract while he was playing for a [[semi-professional]] team in [[East Douglas, Massachusetts]]. He chose the Indians, and joined the team for the remainder of the [[1927 Cleveland Indians season|1927]] season. He made his [[Major League Baseball]] debut on September 9, 1927, [[pitcher|pitching]] a single [[inning]] against the [[Boston Red Sox]], and gave up three [[earned run]]s.<ref name=Retrosheet>{{cite web|title=Wes Ferrell|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/F/Pferrw101.htm|publisher=[[Retrosheet]], Inc|access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref><ref name=991927box>{{cite web|title=Boston Red Sox 6, Cleveland Indians 1|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1927/B09090BOS1927.htm|work=retrosheet.org|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc|access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref> Although, he initially made the Indians' roster in [[1928 Cleveland Indians season|1928]], he was soon demoted to the [[Terre Haute Tots]], of the [[Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League]]. He pitched well for the Tots, [[Win–loss record (pitching)|winning]] 20 games against eight losses, and had a 2.74 [[earned run average]]. In September, he was re-called to majors, and pitched two games before the season ended. He [[games started|started]] both games, [[complete game|completed]] one of them, and while he pitched well, he received the loss in both.<ref name=1928wesgamelog>{{cite web|title=The 1928 CLE A Regular Season Pitching Log for Wes Ferrell
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|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1931/B04290CLE1931.htm|work=retrosheet.org|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc|access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref> On May 8, he experienced pain in his right shoulder while warming up for a start against the Red Sox, and for the rest of the season his fastball became largely ineffective, forcing him to rely upon his other pitches.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> As stellar as his pitching statistics were, it was his hitting skills that were dramatically improving each season. Through 1930, he had hit just one home run but in 1931 he hit nine, breaking the previous home run record for pitchers of seven by [[Jack Stivetts]] in 1890.<ref name=homerunlog>{{cite web|title=Wes Ferrell Home Run Log|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.cgi?id=ferrewe01&t=b|work=baseball-reference.com|access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref> On August 31 he hit two home runs against the [[Chicago White Sox]] in 13–5 victory at [[Comiskey Park]], the first of five times he would achieve the feat.<ref name=homerunlog/>
|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1931/B04290CLE1931.htm|work=retrosheet.org|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc|access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref> On May 8, he experienced pain in his right shoulder while warming up for a start against the Red Sox, and for the rest of the season his fastball became largely ineffective, forcing him to rely upon his other pitches.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> As stellar as his pitching statistics were, it was his hitting skills that were dramatically improving each season. Through 1930, he had hit just one home run but in 1931 he hit nine, breaking the previous home run record for pitchers of seven by [[Jack Stivetts]] in 1890.<ref name=homerunlog>{{cite web|title=Wes Ferrell Home Run Log|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.cgi?id=ferrewe01&t=b|work=baseball-reference.com|access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref> On August 31 he hit two home runs against the [[Chicago White Sox]] in 13–5 victory at [[Comiskey Park]], the first of five times he would achieve the feat.<ref name=homerunlog/>


[[File:WesFerrellGoudeycard.jpg|left|180px|thumb|A 1933 Goudey trading card of Ferrell]]
Ferrell was an honest and outspoken individual, and his attitude began to sour during this period of his career. It was suspected that he had anxiety in regard to his shoulder injury, which caused him to angrily react to perceived bad calls by [[Umpire (baseball)|umpires]], and teammates who made [[Error (baseball)|errors]] that negatively affected the game. On one occasion, Ferrell refused to be pulled from a game by his [[manager (baseball)|manager]], and was suspended ten days without pay for [[insubordination]].<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> Because of his volatile temperament he was fined and suspended several times for refusing to leave a game, or for leaving it without permission.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> After being driven from the mound in one game, he punched himself in the face and began to slam his head into the wall. He had to be restrained by his team to stop him from continuing to hurt himself.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> Despite the pain in his shoulder, and worsening behavioral issues, he continued to be a durable and effective pitcher. In 1932, Ferrell posted his fourth consecutive 20-win season, with a record of 23–13, struck out 105, and had a 3.66 ERA.<ref name=Retrosheet/>
Ferrell was an honest and outspoken individual, and his attitude began to sour during this period of his career. It was suspected that he had anxiety in regard to his shoulder injury, which caused him to angrily react to perceived bad calls by [[Umpire (baseball)|umpires]], and teammates who made [[Error (baseball)|errors]] that negatively affected the game. On one occasion, Ferrell refused to be pulled from a game by his [[manager (baseball)|manager]], and was suspended ten days without pay for [[insubordination]].<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> Because of his volatile temperament he was fined and suspended several times for refusing to leave a game, or for leaving it without permission.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> After being driven from the mound in one game, he punched himself in the face and began to slam his head into the wall. He had to be restrained by his team to stop him from continuing to hurt himself.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> Despite the pain in his shoulder, and worsening behavioral issues, he continued to be a durable and effective pitcher. In 1932, Ferrell posted his fourth consecutive 20-win season, with a record of 23–13, struck out 105, and had a 3.66 ERA.<ref name=Retrosheet/>


The 1933 season began well for Ferrell, he had a 5–4 win–loss record and a 2.12 ERA on June 1,<ref name=1933ferrellgamelog>{{cite web|title=The 1933 CLE A Regular Season Pitching Log for Wes Ferrell|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1933/Kferrw1010071933.htm|work=retrosheet.org|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc|access-date=May 29, 2014}}</ref> and was named to the inaugural [[1933 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] representing the American League.<ref name=1933allstargame>{{cite web|title=American League 4, National League 2|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1933/B07060ALS1933.htm|work=retrosheet.org|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc|access-date=May 29, 2014}}</ref> He was not called upon to play in the game, but his brother Rick was also selected to the team, and played the entire game.<ref name=1933allstargame/> As the season progressed, however, his performance began to diminish. From July until the end of the season, he was largely ineffective as a pitcher, and his availability became infrequent.<ref name=1933ferrellgamelog/> In response, his [[manager (baseball)|manager]], [[Roger Peckinpaugh]], tried playing him in [[left fielder|left field]]. The experiment was deemed a failure, owing to Ferrell's lack of fielding skills.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> He had another great year as a batter, however, hitting seven home runs, and he compiled 26 RBIs and a .271 batting average.<ref name=Retrosheet/> After a disappointing 11–12 record for the year, the Indians offered him what Ferrell regarded as an unacceptable contract offer, and he refused to sign. He also refused to join the team unless his contract demands were met.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> For his first 100 starts in his career, Ferell went 63-32 (.663), with the winning percentage being among the highest in MLB history for first 100 starts.<ref>https://twitter.com/twithersAP/status/1555212382686830592 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2022}}</ref> On May 25, 1934, the Indians traded him, along with [[Dick Porter]], to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for [[Bob Weiland]], [[Bob Seeds]] and $25,000 cash.<ref name=Retrosheet/>
The 1933 season began well for Ferrell, he had a 5–4 win–loss record and a 2.12 ERA on June 1,<ref name=1933ferrellgamelog>{{cite web|title=The 1933 CLE A Regular Season Pitching Log for Wes Ferrell|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1933/Kferrw1010071933.htm|work=retrosheet.org|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc|access-date=May 29, 2014}}</ref> and was named to the inaugural [[1933 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] representing the American League.<ref name=1933allstargame>{{cite web|title=American League 4, National League 2|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1933/B07060ALS1933.htm|work=retrosheet.org|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc|access-date=May 29, 2014}}</ref> He was not called upon to play in the game, but his brother Rick was also selected to the team, and played the entire game.<ref name=1933allstargame/> As the season progressed, however, his performance began to diminish. From July until the end of the season, he was largely ineffective as a pitcher, and his availability became infrequent.<ref name=1933ferrellgamelog/> In response, his [[manager (baseball)|manager]], [[Roger Peckinpaugh]], tried playing him in [[left fielder|left field]]. The experiment was deemed a failure, owing to Ferrell's lack of fielding skills.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> He had another great year as a batter, however, hitting seven home runs, and he compiled 26 RBIs and a .271 batting average.<ref name=Retrosheet/> After a disappointing 11–12 record for the year, the Indians offered him what Ferrell regarded as an unacceptable contract offer, and he refused to sign. He also refused to join the team unless his contract demands were met.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/><ref>{{cite news |title=Indians Suspend Wes Ferrell For Failure To Report |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=48xHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YP8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1069%2C814916 |access-date=November 26, 2022 |agency=[[Associated Press]] (AP) |newspaper=Meriden Record |date=April 28, 1934 |location=Meriden, CT |page=4}}</ref> For his first 100 starts in his career, Ferell went 63-32 (.663), with the winning percentage being among the highest in MLB history for first 100 starts.<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1555212382686830592 |user=twithersAP |title=Per Guardians, Shane Bieber is 47-23 (.671) in 100 starts for Cleveland. It's the highest winning percentage by a pitcher in his first 100 major league starts in team history, better than Wes Ferrell (63-32, .663) and Hall of Famer Bob Lemon (57-31, .648).|date=August 4, 2022}}</ref> On May 25, 1934, the Indians traded him, along with [[Dick Porter]], to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for [[Bob Weiland]], [[Bob Seeds]] and $25,000 cash.<ref name=Retrosheet/>


=== Boston Red Sox ===
=== Boston Red Sox ===
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=== Later career ===
=== Later career ===
[[File:Wes Ferrell 1941.jpeg|thumb|190px|Ferrell during his last MLB season in 1941 with the [[Boston Braves]].]]
Shortly after being traded to Washington, Wes won four of his first five starts, and was named to his second All-Star team.<ref name="1937 gamelog WAS">{{cite web|title=The 1937 WAS A Regular Season Pitching Log for Wes Ferrell |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1937/Kferrw1010121937.htm |work=retrosheet.org|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc|access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref> Joining him on the team was his brother Rick,<ref name=1937allstars>{{cite web|title=1937 MLB All-Star Game |url=http://espn.go.com/mlb/allstargame/history/results/_/year/1937|work=espn.go.com|publisher=[[ESPN.com|ESPN Internet Ventures]]|access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref> and the game was played on July 7, although neither of the Ferrell brothers played.<ref name=1937allstargame>{{cite web|title=1937 MLB All-Star Game Box Score and Play-By-Play |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS193707070.shtml|work=baseball-reference.com|access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref> Although he had a lackluster pitching record of 14–19, he led the AL in innings and complete games for the third consecutive season.<ref name=Retrosheet/> Ferrell remained with Washington in 1938, and leading the team with 13 victories, but due to his behavior and personality conflict with owner [[Clark Griffith]], he was released from the team on August 12.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> Ferrell was quickly signed by the Yankees, and appeared in five games before the season ended. Over the following winter, he underwent arm surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow,<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> but was unable to fully recover. He was released by the Yankees in May 1939, and went unsigned until January 1940, when he joined the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]]. He made just one relief appearance for the Dodgers before being released in May. He signed with the [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] in February 1941, but was released after four games.<ref name=Retrosheet/>
Shortly after being traded to Washington, Wes won four of his first five starts, and was named to his second All-Star team.<ref name="1937 gamelog WAS">{{cite web|title=The 1937 WAS A Regular Season Pitching Log for Wes Ferrell |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1937/Kferrw1010121937.htm |work=retrosheet.org|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc|access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref> Joining him on the team was his brother Rick,<ref name=1937allstars>{{cite web|title=1937 MLB All-Star Game |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/allstargame/history/results/_/year/1937|work=[[ESPN]]|publisher=[[ESPN.com|ESPN Internet Ventures]]|access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref> and the game was played on July 7, although neither of the Ferrell brothers played.<ref name=1937allstargame>{{cite web|title=1937 MLB All-Star Game Box Score and Play-By-Play |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS193707070.shtml|work=baseball-reference.com|access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref> Although he had a lackluster pitching record of 14–19, he led the AL in innings and complete games for the third consecutive season.<ref name=Retrosheet/> Ferrell remained with Washington in 1938, and leading the team with 13 victories, but due to his behavior and personality conflict with owner [[Clark Griffith]], he was released from the team on August 12.<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> Ferrell was quickly signed by the Yankees, and appeared in five games before the season ended. Over the following winter, he underwent arm surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow,<ref name=wesferrellsabr/> but was unable to fully recover. He was released by the Yankees in May 1939, and went unsigned until January 1940, when he joined the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]]. He made just one relief appearance for the Dodgers before being released in May. He signed with the [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] in February 1941, but was released after four games.<ref name=Retrosheet/>


Ferrell finished his major-league career with a win–loss record of 193–128, 4.04 ERA, and 985 strikeouts in 2623 innings pitched. In 374 games pitched, he started 323, completed 227, and tossed 17 shutouts. In addition to his talents as a pitcher, he was also one of the best-hitting pitchers in major league history, setting records for pitchers; his nine home runs in 1931, and his career-total of 38 still stand. In total, he collected 329 [[hit (baseball)|hits]], 57 [[double (baseball)|doubles]], and 12 [[triple (baseball)|triples]]; delivered 208 RBIs; scored 175 [[run (baseball)|runs]]; and compiled a .446 [[slugging percentage]], and a .280 batting average.<ref name=Retrosheet/>
Ferrell finished his major-league career with a win–loss record of 193–128, 4.04 ERA, and 985 strikeouts in 2623 innings pitched. In 374 games pitched, he started 323, completed 227, and tossed 17 shutouts. In addition to his talents as a pitcher, he was also one of the best-hitting pitchers in major league history, setting records for pitchers; his nine home runs in 1931, and his career-total of 38 still stand. In total, he collected 329 [[hit (baseball)|hits]], 57 [[double (baseball)|doubles]], and 12 [[triple (baseball)|triples]]; delivered 208 RBIs; scored 175 [[run (baseball)|runs]]; and compiled a .446 [[slugging percentage]], and a .280 batting average.<ref name=Retrosheet/>
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=== Later life and legacy ===
=== Later life and legacy ===
Wes Ferrell died at the age of 68 on December 9, 1976 in [[Sarasota, Florida]], and is interred at New Garden Cemetery in Greensboro, North Carolina.<ref name=Retrosheet/>
Wes Ferrell died at the age of 68 on December 9, 1976, in [[Sarasota, Florida]], and is interred at New Garden Cemetery in Greensboro, North Carolina.<ref name=Retrosheet/>


Arguments in favor of inducting Ferrell into the Baseball Hall of Fame include the factors which affected his numbers and lack of post-season success. In addition to the era in which he played, he didn't play for many good teams, and he pitched in hitter-friendly parks.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cohen|first1=Robert W.|title=Baseball's Hall of Fame or Hall of Shame?|publisher=Cardoza Publishing|isbn=1580425720}}</ref> In his book, ''[[The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract]]'', [[Bill James]], noted that Ferrell's high career ERA of 4.04 is not surprising due to the heavy-hitting era in which he played. The average AL ERA during his playing time was lofty 4.54. However, when Ferrell's ERA is adjusted with what he produced as a hitter, he was effectively 22% better than the league average. In this regard, he is comparable to other high-ERA pitchers that helped themselves by being a good batter such as [[Ted Lyons]], a Hall of Fame member, and [[Carl Mays]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=James|first1=Bill|title=[[The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract]]|date=2010|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|isbn=978-1439106938|page=872}}</ref>
Arguments in favor of inducting Ferrell into the Baseball Hall of Fame include the factors which affected his numbers and lack of post-season success. In addition to the era in which he played, he didn't play for many good teams, and he pitched in hitter-friendly parks.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cohen|first1=Robert W.|title=Baseball's Hall of Fame or Hall of Shame?|publisher=Cardoza Publishing|isbn=1580425720}}</ref> In his book, ''[[The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract]]'', [[Bill James]], noted that Ferrell's high career ERA of 4.04 is not surprising due to the heavy-hitting era in which he played. The average AL ERA during his playing time was lofty 4.54. However, when Ferrell's ERA is adjusted with what he produced as a hitter, he was effectively 22% better than the league average. In this regard, he is comparable to other high-ERA pitchers that helped themselves by being a good batter such as [[Ted Lyons]], a Hall of Fame member, and [[Carl Mays]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=James|first1=Bill|title=[[The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract]]|date=2010|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|isbn=978-1439106938|page=872}}</ref> He also has the record of most homeruns hit batting as a pitcher with 37 and has a career BA of .280, a career OBP of .351, a career SLG of .446, and an OPS of .797.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/ferrewe01.shtml |title=Wes Ferrell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More }}</ref>


Although he, unlike his brother, has not been inducted into the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]], in 1981, [[Lawrence Ritter]] and [[Donald Honig]] included him in their book ''The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time'', in celebration of his being not just a star pitcher but the best-hitting pitcher of all time—noting that [[Babe Ruth]] did most of his hitting when he was no longer a regular pitcher.
Although he, unlike his brother, has not been inducted into the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]], in 1981, [[Lawrence Ritter]] and [[Donald Honig]] included him in their book ''The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time'', in celebration of his being not just a star pitcher but the best-hitting pitcher of all time—noting that [[Babe Ruth]] did most of his hitting when he was no longer a regular pitcher.
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In February 2008, Ferrell was inducted to the [[Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame]]. He is the only pitcher since 1900 to win 20&nbsp;games in his first four full major league seasons. He retired with the seventh highest [[winning percentage]] (.601) among pitchers with at least 300 AL decisions (for teams that never won the pennant) and also with the fourth highest [[fielding percentage]] (.975) in AL history.
In February 2008, Ferrell was inducted to the [[Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame]]. He is the only pitcher since 1900 to win 20&nbsp;games in his first four full major league seasons. He retired with the seventh highest [[winning percentage]] (.601) among pitchers with at least 300 AL decisions (for teams that never won the pennant) and also with the fourth highest [[fielding percentage]] (.975) in AL history.


"I didn't see any big deal in being a good hitter as well as a good pitcher", said Ferrell, a two-time minor league batting champion as an [[outfielder]] after his major league days were over. When he went on to be a [[manager (baseball)|manager]], Ferrell was slapped with suspensions for incidents such as removing his team from the field, which through erroneous reports grew into legends of Ferrell having physically attacked umpires.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TwI_9eAWSeMC&q=wes+ferrell+attack+umpire&pg=PA260|title=The Ferrell Brothers of Baseball|last=Thompson|first=Dick|date=2005-03-11|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-2006-3|language=en}}</ref> He was a fiery competitor and a brilliant player with natural talent, whose achievements may have been obscured by his irascibility.
"I didn't see any big deal in being a good hitter as well as a good pitcher", said Ferrell, a two-time minor league batting champion as an [[outfielder]] after his major league days were over. When he went on to be a [[manager (baseball)|manager]], Ferrell was slapped with suspensions for incidents such as removing his team from the field, which through erroneous reports grew into legends of Ferrell having physically attacked umpires.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TwI_9eAWSeMC&q=wes+ferrell+attack+umpire&pg=PA260|title=The Ferrell Brothers of Baseball|last=Thompson|first=Dick|date=March 11, 2005|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-2006-3}}</ref> He was a fiery competitor and a brilliant player with natural talent, whose achievements may have been obscured by his irascibility.


==See also==
==See also==
⚫
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
* [[2009 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball all-time leaders in home runs by pitchers]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball all-time leaders in home runs by pitchers]]
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==External links==
==External links==
{{baseballstats |mlb=114087 |espn=21512 |br=f/ferrewe01 |fangraphs=1004010 |brm=ferrel001wes |retro=F/Pferrw101}}
*{{baseballstats |mlb=114087 |espn=21512 |br=f/ferrewe01 |fangraphs=1004010 |brm=ferrel001wes |retro=F/Pferrw101}}
*{{SABR Baseball Biography Project|81a7570e}}
*[https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/81a7570e Wes Ferrell] at SABR (Baseball BioProject)
⚫
*[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=ferrewe01 Wes Ferrell] at [[Baseball Almanac]]
*[http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081106&content_id=9990&vkey=hof_news Baseball Hall of Fame: Ferrell Remembered for Pitching, Hitting Prowess]
*[http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/news/2007/election/vc/ferrell.htm Baseball Hall of Fame 2007 candidate profile]
⚫
*[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=ferrewe01 Wes Ferrell] at Baseball Almanac
*[https://baseballbiography.com/wes-ferrell-1908 Wes Ferrell] at Baseballbiography.com
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060819230816/http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/ferrewe01.php Wes Ferrell] at The Baseball Page
*{{Find a Grave|8212}}
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{{AL wins champions}}
{{AL wins champions}}
{{Boston Red Sox Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{Boston Red Sox Opening Day starting pitchers}}
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{{Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame}}
{{Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame}}
{{Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame}}
{{Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame}}
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Revision as of 20:23, 18 July 2024

This article is about the baseball player. For the musician and record producer, see Wes Farrell.

Wes Ferrell
Ferrell, circa 1934–37
Pitcher
Born: (1908-02-02)February 2, 1908
Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Died: December 9, 1976(1976-12-09) (aged 68)
Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 9, 1927, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
May 6, 1941, for the Boston Braves
MLB statistics
Win–loss record193–128
Earned run average4.04
Strikeouts985
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Wesley Cheek Ferrell (February 2, 1908 – December 9, 1976) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball from 1927 through 1941. Primarily a starting pitcher, Ferrell played for the Cleveland Indians (1927–33), Boston Red Sox (1934–37), Washington Senators (1937–38), New York Yankees (1938–39), Brooklyn Dodgers (1940) and Boston Braves (1941). He batted and threw right-handed.

Early life

Wesley Cheek Ferrell was born on February 2, 1908, in Greensboro, North Carolina, to Rufus Benjamin "Lonnie" and Alice Clara Carpenter.[1] His father was employed by the Southern Railroad,[2] and the family lived on a 160-acre dairy farm that was also used to grow crops such as hay and tobacco.[2] Wes was the fifth of seven children who were all boys.[3] They each played baseball for the local high school team, and two others went on to enjoy long careers in baseball: Rick, a Hall of Fame catcher, and George, an 18-year minor league veteran.[2][4]

Wesley starred in baseball and basketball while playing for Guilford High School, and later for the Oak Ridge Military Academy in 1926.[2] He was soon noticed by Bill Rapp, a scout for the Cleveland Indians, and in 1927 they, as well as the Detroit Tigers, offered him a contract while he was playing for a semi-professional team in East Douglas, Massachusetts. He chose the Indians, and joined the team for the remainder of the 1927 season. He made his Major League Baseball debut on September 9, 1927, pitching a single inning against the Boston Red Sox, and gave up three earned runs.[5][6] Although, he initially made the Indians' roster in 1928, he was soon demoted to the Terre Haute Tots, of the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League. He pitched well for the Tots, winning 20 games against eight losses, and had a 2.74 earned run average. In September, he was re-called to majors, and pitched two games before the season ended. He started both games, completed one of them, and while he pitched well, he received the loss in both.[7]

Major league career

Cleveland Indians

In 1929, he joined the Indians for good. Though only a spot-starter at first, he established himself as one of the best pitchers in the American League (AL) by season's end. He was noted to have had an excellent fastball, which he complemented with a good curveball and a deceptive changeup.[2] He posted a 21–10 win–record with 100 strikeouts and a 3.60 earned run average (ERA).[5] His 21 victories placed second in the league behind George Earnshaw's 24, and he finished in the top ten in strikeouts, earned run average, and saves.[8] In 1930, he began the season as the Indians' number two starting pitcher behind Willis Hudlin, who made the team's opening day start.[9] He quickly established himself as the team's ace by significantly improving his pitching performance. He increased his win total to 25 which finished second in the league, this time behind Lefty Grove's 28, and lowered his ERA to 3.31.[10] His batting skills improved in 1930; his batting average jumped from .237 in 1929 to .297 in 1930.[5]

Ferrell continued his excellence during the 1931 season. Although his ERA increased to 3.75, he led the league in complete games with 27 and collected another 22 wins.[5] On April 29, he pitched a 9–0 no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns, striking out eight, while also hitting a home run and a double and amassing four runs batted in (RBIs). His brother Rick was the Browns' catcher.[11] On May 8, he experienced pain in his right shoulder while warming up for a start against the Red Sox, and for the rest of the season his fastball became largely ineffective, forcing him to rely upon his other pitches.[2] As stellar as his pitching statistics were, it was his hitting skills that were dramatically improving each season. Through 1930, he had hit just one home run but in 1931 he hit nine, breaking the previous home run record for pitchers of seven by Jack Stivetts in 1890.[12] On August 31 he hit two home runs against the Chicago White Sox in 13–5 victory at Comiskey Park, the first of five times he would achieve the feat.[12]

A 1933 Goudey trading card of Ferrell

Ferrell was an honest and outspoken individual, and his attitude began to sour during this period of his career. It was suspected that he had anxiety in regard to his shoulder injury, which caused him to angrily react to perceived bad calls by umpires, and teammates who made errors that negatively affected the game. On one occasion, Ferrell refused to be pulled from a game by his manager, and was suspended ten days without pay for insubordination.[2] Because of his volatile temperament he was fined and suspended several times for refusing to leave a game, or for leaving it without permission.[2] After being driven from the mound in one game, he punched himself in the face and began to slam his head into the wall. He had to be restrained by his team to stop him from continuing to hurt himself.[2] Despite the pain in his shoulder, and worsening behavioral issues, he continued to be a durable and effective pitcher. In 1932, Ferrell posted his fourth consecutive 20-win season, with a record of 23–13, struck out 105, and had a 3.66 ERA.[5]

The 1933 season began well for Ferrell, he had a 5–4 win–loss record and a 2.12 ERA on June 1,[13] and was named to the inaugural Major League Baseball All-Star Game representing the American League.[14] He was not called upon to play in the game, but his brother Rick was also selected to the team, and played the entire game.[14] As the season progressed, however, his performance began to diminish. From July until the end of the season, he was largely ineffective as a pitcher, and his availability became infrequent.[13] In response, his manager, Roger Peckinpaugh, tried playing him in left field. The experiment was deemed a failure, owing to Ferrell's lack of fielding skills.[2] He had another great year as a batter, however, hitting seven home runs, and he compiled 26 RBIs and a .271 batting average.[5] After a disappointing 11–12 record for the year, the Indians offered him what Ferrell regarded as an unacceptable contract offer, and he refused to sign. He also refused to join the team unless his contract demands were met.[2][15] For his first 100 starts in his career, Ferell went 63-32 (.663), with the winning percentage being among the highest in MLB history for first 100 starts.[16] On May 25, 1934, the Indians traded him, along with Dick Porter, to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Bob Weiland, Bob Seeds and $25,000 cash.[5]

Boston Red Sox

By joining the Red Sox, Ferrell united with his brother Rick, who was their starting catcher.[17] He made his debut for Boston on May 30 in relief, as were his next two appearances. He entered the starting rotation on June 10.[18] On August 12, in front of a record crowd of 46,766 fans (with about 20,000 turned away), Babe Ruth made his farewell appearance as a New York Yankee in Boston. He singled and doubled against Ferrell, but Boston prevailed against Ruth and the New York Yankees by a score of 6–4.[19] From that point until the end of the season, he was consistently effective, lowering his ERA from 4.64 on July 25, to a season-ending 3.63.[18] He completed the 1934 season with a 14–5 record, and twice hit two home runs in a game.[5] The first occurred against the St. Louis Browns on July 13, and the other on August 22 against the Chicago White Sox when he hit a game-tying home run in the eighth inning, then hit the game-winning, walk-off home run in tenth inning.[12] Never known as a control pitcher, Ferrell's base on balls totals were usually high, including leading the league with 130 in 1931, but in 1934, his bases on balls per 9 innings pitched was the best in AL.[20]

In 1935, Ferrell continued the success he had in the latter part of 1934, and arguably had his greatest season. He compiled league-leading totals with victories with 25, as well as innings pitched, games started, and games completed. He also finished within the leaders in shutouts, bases on balls per nine innings, and strikeouts.[21] As a batter, he had a .347 batting average, and hit seven home runs, the third, and last, time he reached this plateau.[5] On July 21, with the Red Sox trailing the Detroit Tigers 4–6 in the bottom of the ninth inning and two runners on the bases. Ferrell was sent in as a pinch hitter and hit a three-run walk-off home run, defeating the Tigers by the score of 7–6.[12] The following day, Ferrell once again hit a walk-off home run, this time in a tied-game against the St. Louis Browns.[12] His achievements during the 1935 season resulted in his second-place finish in the Most Valuable Player (MVP) voting, finishing behind Hank Greenberg.[22]

Ferrell had another effective season in 1936, with a 20–15 record, while leading the league in games started, complete games, and inning pitched.[5] His best games that season were two-hit shoutouts; one occurred on May 3 against the Tigers, and the other on June 21 against the Browns.[23] This was his sixth and last time he achieved the 20-win mark during his major league career. His 1937 season began slow and he was unable to turn it around, by June 11, he had just three victories against six losses, and his ERA was a lofty 7.61.[24] On June 11, the Ferrell brothers and Mel Almada were traded to the Washington Senators in exchange for Ben Chapman and Bobo Newsom.[5]

Later career

Ferrell during his last MLB season in 1941 with the Boston Braves.

Shortly after being traded to Washington, Wes won four of his first five starts, and was named to his second All-Star team.[25] Joining him on the team was his brother Rick,[26] and the game was played on July 7, although neither of the Ferrell brothers played.[27] Although he had a lackluster pitching record of 14–19, he led the AL in innings and complete games for the third consecutive season.[5] Ferrell remained with Washington in 1938, and leading the team with 13 victories, but due to his behavior and personality conflict with owner Clark Griffith, he was released from the team on August 12.[2] Ferrell was quickly signed by the Yankees, and appeared in five games before the season ended. Over the following winter, he underwent arm surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow,[2] but was unable to fully recover. He was released by the Yankees in May 1939, and went unsigned until January 1940, when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. He made just one relief appearance for the Dodgers before being released in May. He signed with the Boston Braves in February 1941, but was released after four games.[5]

Ferrell finished his major-league career with a win–loss record of 193–128, 4.04 ERA, and 985 strikeouts in 2623 innings pitched. In 374 games pitched, he started 323, completed 227, and tossed 17 shutouts. In addition to his talents as a pitcher, he was also one of the best-hitting pitchers in major league history, setting records for pitchers; his nine home runs in 1931, and his career-total of 38 still stand. In total, he collected 329 hits, 57 doubles, and 12 triples; delivered 208 RBIs; scored 175 runs; and compiled a .446 slugging percentage, and a .280 batting average.[5]

Post-major league career

Even after the end of his major league career, Ferrell continued to play minor league ball. During these later years, he mainly played the outfield. After his release by the Braves in May 1941, he signed with the Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets of the class-D Bi-State League, where he batted .332 with 20 home runs in just 74 games. The following season, he joined the class-C Lynchburg Senators of the Virginia League, where he hit .361 with 31 homers in 123 games. He continued to play sporadically in the minors for several years before finally retiring for good after the 1949 season.

Later life and legacy

Wes Ferrell died at the age of 68 on December 9, 1976, in Sarasota, Florida, and is interred at New Garden Cemetery in Greensboro, North Carolina.[5]

Arguments in favor of inducting Ferrell into the Baseball Hall of Fame include the factors which affected his numbers and lack of post-season success. In addition to the era in which he played, he didn't play for many good teams, and he pitched in hitter-friendly parks.[28] In his book, The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, Bill James, noted that Ferrell's high career ERA of 4.04 is not surprising due to the heavy-hitting era in which he played. The average AL ERA during his playing time was lofty 4.54. However, when Ferrell's ERA is adjusted with what he produced as a hitter, he was effectively 22% better than the league average. In this regard, he is comparable to other high-ERA pitchers that helped themselves by being a good batter such as Ted Lyons, a Hall of Fame member, and Carl Mays.[29] He also has the record of most homeruns hit batting as a pitcher with 37 and has a career BA of .280, a career OBP of .351, a career SLG of .446, and an OPS of .797.[30]

Although he, unlike his brother, has not been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, in 1981, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included him in their book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time, in celebration of his being not just a star pitcher but the best-hitting pitcher of all time—noting that Babe Ruth did most of his hitting when he was no longer a regular pitcher.

In February 2008, Ferrell was inducted to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame. He is the only pitcher since 1900 to win 20 games in his first four full major league seasons. He retired with the seventh highest winning percentage (.601) among pitchers with at least 300 AL decisions (for teams that never won the pennant) and also with the fourth highest fielding percentage (.975) in AL history.

"I didn't see any big deal in being a good hitter as well as a good pitcher", said Ferrell, a two-time minor league batting champion as an outfielder after his major league days were over. When he went on to be a manager, Ferrell was slapped with suspensions for incidents such as removing his team from the field, which through erroneous reports grew into legends of Ferrell having physically attacked umpires.[31] He was a fiery competitor and a brilliant player with natural talent, whose achievements may have been obscured by his irascibility.

See also

References

  1. ^ Thompson, Dick (2005). The Ferrell Brothers of Baseball. McFarland & Company. pp. 17–18. ISBN 0786420065.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Wes Ferrell (SABR BioProject)". Society for American Baseball Research.
  3. ^ Thompson, p. 20
  4. ^ "George Ferrell (minors)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Wes Ferrell". Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  6. ^ "Boston Red Sox 6, Cleveland Indians 1". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  7. ^ "The 1928 CLE A Regular Season Pitching Log for Wes Ferrell". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  8. ^ "1929 American League Pitching Leaders". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "The 1930 Cleveland Indians Regular Season Game Log". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  10. ^ "1930 American League Pitching Leaders". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  11. ^ "Cleveland Indians 9, St. Louis Browns 0". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Wes Ferrell Home Run Log". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  13. ^ a b "The 1933 CLE A Regular Season Pitching Log for Wes Ferrell". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  14. ^ a b "American League 4, National League 2". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  15. ^ "Indians Suspend Wes Ferrell For Failure To Report". Meriden Record. Meriden, CT. Associated Press (AP). April 28, 1934. p. 4. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  16. ^ @twithersAP (August 4, 2022). "Per Guardians, Shane Bieber is 47-23 (.671) in 100 starts for Cleveland. It's the highest winning percentage by a pitcher in his first 100 major league starts in team history, better than Wes Ferrell (63-32, .663) and Hall of Famer Bob Lemon (57-31, .648)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ^ "The 1934 Boston Red Sox Regular Season Roster". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  18. ^ a b "The 1934 BOS A Regular Season Pitching Log for Wes Ferrell". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  19. ^ "Boston Red Sox 6, New York Yankees 4 (1)". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  20. ^ "1934 American League Pitching Leaders". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  21. ^ "1935 American League Pitching Leaders". baseball-reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  22. ^ "Baseball Awards Voting for 1935". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  23. ^ "The 1936 BOS A Regular Season Pitching Log for Wes Ferrell". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  24. ^ "The 1937 BOS A Regular Season Pitching Log for Wes Ferrell". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  25. ^ "The 1937 WAS A Regular Season Pitching Log for Wes Ferrell". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  26. ^ "1937 MLB All-Star Game". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  27. ^ "1937 MLB All-Star Game Box Score and Play-By-Play". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  28. ^ Cohen, Robert W. Baseball's Hall of Fame or Hall of Shame?. Cardoza Publishing. ISBN 1580425720.
  29. ^ James, Bill (2010). The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract. Simon & Schuster. p. 872. ISBN 978-1439106938.
  30. ^ "Wes Ferrell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More".
  31. ^ Thompson, Dick (March 11, 2005). The Ferrell Brothers of Baseball. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-2006-3.

Further reading

Achievements
Preceded by No-hitter pitcher
April 29, 1931 		Succeeded by
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