George Mogridge

George Anthony Mogridge

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 165 lb.

• Debut August 17, 1911
• Final Game July 2, 1927
• Born February 18, 1889 in Rochester, NY USA
• Died March 4, 1962 in Rochester, NY USA

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Biographical Information

George Mogridge was a tall, slender pitcher who was successful in both the dead ball era and the lively ball era. His lifetime record was 132-133 and he had a lot of saves compared to most pitchers of his era.

Mogridge reached the majors in 1911, pitching briefly for the Chicago White Sox late in the season. After making 17 appearances for the Sox the next year, he returned to the minors for several years, playing in the Western League and with the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association.

The Sox sold Mogridge to the New York Yankees in 1915, and he returned to the majors with the club that summer. He was primarily a starter the next two years, and on August 24th, 1917, he threw the first no-hitter in Yankees history in a game against the Boston Red Sox. The next summer, he had his best year, going 16-13 with a 2.18 ERA while leading the American League with 45 appearances and 7 saves. Following the 1920 season, he was traded to the Washington Senators. His 2.73 ERA in his six years with New York is one of the five best ERAs for a Yankee pitcher in the 20th century.

Mogridge went on to additional success with the Senators, winning 18 games in each of his first two seasons there. His 3.00 ERA in 1921 around the start of the lively ball era was good enough for second in the league. He dropped to 13 wins in 1923, but that summer, according to a SABR article, he became the only pitcher (through 1979) to ever steal home in extra innings. It was part of a double steal with Nemo Leibold and provided an insurance run in a 5-1 victory.

In 1924, Mogridge won 16 games as the Senators won the AL pennant. He made two appearances in the World Series, earning the victory in Game Four as Washington beat the New York Giants in seven games.

Mogridge was traded to the St. Louis Browns in 1925 and spent the later part of the season with the club. He finished his big league career with the Boston Braves, mostly finishing up games and getting 8 saves in two seasons. He then finished the 1927 season as manager of the Rochester Tribe, replacing George Stallings, who was the only other manager of the team during its six-year history.

Notable Achievements

• AL Games Pitched Leader (1918)
• AL Saves Leader (1918)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 3 (1918, 1921, 1922 & 1924)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 5 (1918 & 1921-1924)
• Won a World Series with the Washington Senators in 1924

Related Sites

• George Mogridge at the SABR Bio Project