When Carl Hubbell was truly “King”

July 17, 2019 by

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hubbellWhen it comes to winning streaks on the mound, King Carl Hubbell is baseball royalty.  On this date (July 17) in 1936, the Giants’ southpaw Carl Hubbell shut out the Pirates 6-0 to start an MLB-record of 24 consecutive wins. (The first win on the streak was on July 17, 1936 – the final win in the streak was on May 27, 1937 – Hubbell’s streak ended with a loss on May 31, 1937).

Here are a few stats from the screwball specialist’s streak:

  • It included 27 appearances – 22 starts.
  • Hubbell completed 19 of his 22 starts during the streak.
  • While his 22 starts included just two shutouts, he gave up two or fewer runs in 18 of those starts.
  • Of his 24 wins, three came in relief (under today’s rules, he would have been awarded two saves along the way).
  • He pitched a total of 207 2/3 innings and put up a 1.82 earned run average.
  • The streak included 16 wins at to close out Hubbell’s 1936 season and eight victories to open his 1937 campaign.
  • Hubbell finished the 1936 season at 26-6, 2.31 –leading the league in wins, winning percentage (.813) and capturing the NL MVP Award.
  • Hubbell finished 1937 at 22-8, 3.20 – leading the league in wins and winning percentage (.733), It was the last of five consecutive 20+ wins seasons for King Carl.
  • While Hubbell holds the record for consecutive victories overall, the record for consecutive wins in a single-season is 19, shared by another two New York Giants:  Tim Keefe (1988) and Rube Marquard. Marquard’s 19 consecutive wins is also the record for most consecutive victories at the start of a season (April 11-July 3, 1912.)

Hubbell finished his 16-season (1928-43) MLB career with 253 wins, 154 losses and a 2.98 ERA. He as a nine-time All Star, two-time NL MVP.

GETTING OFF TO A GOOD START

Giants’ lefty Rube Marquard started off the 1912 with a record 19 wins before his first loss (July 8). During the streak, Marquard made 21 mound appearances (18 starts), threw 16 complete games and put up a a 1.62 earned run average in 122 innings pitched. Marquard finished the season at 26-11, 2.57, leading the league in wins. Marquard finished an 18-season (1908-1925) with 201 wins (177 losses) and a 3.08 earned run average.  

—-OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO MINNESOTA READERS—-

GEKaatOn this date in 1969, Twins’ pitcher Jim Kaat – who had already won seven of his eventual 16 Gold Gloves – made three errors in a game against the White Sox. How rare an occasion was this? In 25 MLB seasons, Kaat would only make more than one error in a game twice (he had two errors in a game on June 9, 1964) and would exceed three errors in a season only four times. He would, by the way, get the win in his error-prone game (as the Twins topped the ChiSox 10-6 and also win the Gold Glove in 1969.   Side Note: In his career Kaat amassed not only 16 Gold Gloves,  but 287 victories (237 losses), a 3.45 earned run average, three season of 20+ wins (leading the league with 25 in 1966 (eight seasons of 15 or more wins and 15 seasons of double-digit wins).

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; NationalPastime.com

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