President's Day Trivia
 

I was a pitcher who plied my trade for 21 years. I had a winning record in only 11 of those years, finished my career with 15 more wins than losses, had a 3+ ERA, and lost my only World Series appearance. I averaged under 3 strikeouts/game. Who am I?

Wilbur Wood?

Knowing Jay it's going to be a pre war HOFer. I will guess Grimes or Rixey.

Cy Young?

Peter is on the right track.

Rixey?

Could be Faber too, another of those 20s guys who pitched forever. OK I am going to guess Rixey because I think of the three he was probably the worst as I have seen him near the top of overrated HOFer lists.

Rixey it is. Really a marginal HOFer.

Yeah he is in and Tiant is out. Go figure.

But none of those guys was President

I’ve crossed paths with E Rixey V through my job. He’s a direct line descendent, and said they’re the only Eppas in the US (maybe world). Pretty cool. He was surprised that I recognized the name, more surprised that I had a few of his great great grandfather’s cards. My impression after a couple meetings, he’s a really nice, sharp guy.

Rixey didn't get any support until people realized that no lefty had more wins in NL history through the first 74 years of the league. Warren Spahn was approaching his record and then Rixey started getting a lot of media attention.

Before that, he never received more than 14% of the votes in 14 years on the Hall of Fame ballot. He then shot up to 50%, but still had to wait until the Veteran's Committee voted him in three years later.

...or "Predident". (See thread title) ;)

Who had the most wins lifetime with an under .500 record?

LOL, good point

Set a Precedent with that one:)

Bobo Newsome?

Yes, unless there was some 19th century dude I don't know about.

There was.

LOL thanks for the correction. At least I made a disclaimer. :)

El Presidente:

Martinez is himself the answer to a trivia question -- the pitcher with the most wins career without a 20 win season. But he had a lot more wins than losses.

245 wins is a lot for someone who never even had a 17-win year. Of course, he had 14 wins in '81 and might have set a career high that year absent the strike. He also finished 1 out away from pitching exactly 4,000 innings.