1986 Sportflics Decade Greats: Early Wynn

 

Some nice action shots here at a near-empty Yankee Stadium.

The player: Early Wynn, whom Ted Williams called "the toughest pitcher I ever faced," was one of the best pitchers in the American League in the 1940s and 1950s. He came up with the Senators in 1939 at the age of 19, and by 1942 was a regular in their starting rotation. He had some good years and some not-so-good years, and was traded to the Indians after the 1948 season. When he joined Cleveland he learned some new pitches, and quickly became a star. From 1950 to 1956 he won at least 17 games each year, with an ERA of 3.20 or less in all but one. After the 1957 season, believing the aging hurler was out of gas, Cleveland traded him to the White Sox for Minnie Minoso. With the White Sox Wynn leaned more and more on his knuckleball, and had a resurgence in 1959, going 22-10 with a 3.17 ERA. In the World Series he pitched an excellent Game 1 but was roughed up in Games 4 and 6. Wynn stayed with the White Sox through the 1962 season, but at the age of 43 failed to make the team out of 1963 spring training. Sitting on 299 wins, Wynn signed with the Indians, pitching just well enough to win one more game, on July 13 against Kansas City. He retired after the season with a 300-244 record, and a 3.54 ERA.

The man: Wynn served in the US Army in 1945, in the Tank Corps in the Philippines. (He did not join earlier as he was a single father after his wife was killed in an auto accident several years earlier.) Wynn was known as one of the toughest, meanest pitchers around. He would throw at any player who crowded the plate, including his own son in a famous batting practice incident. After his career he served short stints as pitching coach for the Indians and Twins, but his abrasive demeanor did not work well for many of the pitchers on his staffs. His rough personality did not seem to impact other areas of his life. He was later an announcer for the Blue Jays and White Sox, Wynn's health declined in later years and he died in 1999.

My collection: I have two vintage Wynn cards, 1955 Bowman and 1959 Topps. His last Topps card was #385 in 1962. His last playing days card came in the 1963 Jello/Post sets.