Larry Cheney
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Laurance Russell (Larry) Cheney (May 2, 1886 - January 6, 1969) was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs (1911-1915[start]), Brooklyn Robins (1915[end]-1919), Boston Braves (1919[mid]) and Philadelphia Phillies (1919[end]). Cheney batted and threw right handed. He was born in Belleville, Kansas.
Cheney debuted with the Cubs on September 19, 1911. After two brief appearances as a reliever, he pitched a shutout against Brooklyn, but was hit by a line drive of the bat of Zack Wheat which Cheney deflected with his throwing hand. His thumb was fractured, as well as his nose. The following season he relied heavily on a knuckleball and spitter after his broken finger took some speed of his heavy fastball. Then he blossomed, tying with Rube Marquard for the National League lead in wins (26), leading with 28 complete games, as he finished second in winning percentage (.722).
In 1913 Cheney won 21 games (17 as a starter, four as a reliever) and led the league in saves (11) and games pitched (54). On September 14, he shut out the New York Giants and on 14 hits, setting a major league record for the most hits in a nine-inning shutout. He won 20 games in 1914, leading the league in starts (40) and games (50). From 1912-14 he pitched 300 or more innings in each of these seasons, with a career-high 311 in 1914.
Traded to Brooklyn in August 1915 for Joe Schultz, after a 8-9 start, Cheney contributed significantly winning 18 games in 1916, helping his new team to reach the World Series. He pitched three innings of relief against the Boston Red Sox in Game Four of the Series, striking out five batters. Then pitched for the Robins, Braves and Phillies in 1919, his last major league season. He played his final game on September 26.
In a nine-season career, Cheney posted a 116-100 record with 926 strikeouts and a 2.70 ERA in 1881-1/3 innings.
Cheney died in Daytona Beach, Florida, at age of 82.
[edit] Facts
- The spitball, which was picked up from Ed Walsh, was Cheney’s most effective pitch.
- With Brooklyn, Cheney was a teammate of Zack Wheat, the player who had broken his finger and nose with a line drive in his rookie season.
