Ben Cantwell

Benjamin Caldwell Cantwell

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 168 lb.
• School University of Tennessee
• High School Milan High School
• Debut August 19, 1927
• Final Game September 23, 1937
• Born April 13, 1902 in Milan, TN USA
• Died December 4, 1962 in Salem, MO USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Ben Cantwell pitched 11 seasons in the major leagues, all in the National League. The meat of his career was spent with the Boston Braves.

Ben initially caught the eye of John McGraw and the New York Giants while in the minors, going 24-5 for Sanford in 1926 and 25-5 for Jacksonville in 1927. He made 12 appearances in two seasons with the McGraw men before being bundled to Boston in a package for Joe Genewich. While Genewich washed out as a moundsman in 1930, Ben was just getting cooking. His best year was 1933, when he went 20-10 with a 2.62 ERA, 18 complete games and a pair of shutouts and saves in 40 games (252 2/3 innings). Just two years later, 1935, the tables turned and turned hard. He was 4-25, leading the NL in losses, while pitching to a 4.61 ERA with 13 complete games in 39 games (210 2/3 innings). Despite the hard luck, that 4.61 ERA was best on the team among pitchers who started a majority of their games. The following year, 1936, his final as a full-timer, his 3.04 ERA in 133 1/3 innings was far below the team ERA of 3.94.

After his major league days he had some more good years in the minors, with a 12-7 record (1.65 ERA) for Jersey City in 1937 and a 13-5 record (2.56 ERA) for Oakland in 1940. He died in Salem, MO at the age of 60.

Cantwell attended Tennessee at the same time as Hunter Lane. Lane played with the Boston Braves in 1924, while Cantwell did not come around until 1928.

Notable Achievements

• 15 Wins Seasons: 1 (1933)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 1 (1933)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1933 & 1935)

Related Sites

• Ben Cantwell at the SABR Bio Project