Harold Treadwell

Harold E. Treadwell

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• Debut 1923
• Final Game 1928
• Born April 21, 1897 in Huntington, NY USA
• Died January 1, 1971 in Chicago, IL USA

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Biographical Information

Harold Treadwell was a pitcher of the 1920s. He threw submarine, using a fastball and curveball.

He debuted for the New York Lincoln Giants in 1919, going 4-2 with a 3.94 ERA (83 ERA+) against other top black teams. He tied José Suárez and Tom Williams for third in wins among top eastern black teams. He moved to the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants in 1920, going 27-6, 2.57 overall and 4-4, 3.10 ERA (73 ERA+) against top teams. He was 4th in wins among eastern black teams.

In 1921, he was 13-4 with a 3.25 ERA against all competition despite missing time with illness. Against top competition, he was 5-2, 5.14 (86 ERA+) and hit .242/.286/.364. He tied Connie Rector and String Bean Williams for 5th in wins among top eastern black teams. He also pitched against the 1921 Athletics, losing 8-7 to Fred Heimach.

The submarine hurler fell to 6-9, 4.35 in 1922 but his ERA+ improved to 106. He batted .268/.288/.282. He was among leaders for top eastern black teams in wins (5th), losses (tied Nip Winters for 1st), starts (24, one ahead of Dick Redding), starts (18, 1st, one ahead of Redding and Doc Sykes), complete games (13, 3rd, 2 behind Redding and Sykes), IP (163 1/3, 1st, 8 2/3 ahead of Redding), runs allowed (95, 1st, 5 ahead of Roy Roberts, earned runs allowed (79, 1st, 5 ahead of Roberts), hits allowed (155, 2nd, 28 behind Redding), walks (82, 1st, 27 ahead of Winters) and strikeouts (90, 2nd, one behind Winters). In the postseason, he beat Aubrey Owens and the Chicago American Giants in Game 2. Coming back after two days' rest, he then went 20 innings, the first 19 without a run in a duel with Ed Rile and Dave Brown. In the 20th, he walked Cristobal Torriente, who was bunted over. Dave Malarcher then got Chicago's 9th hit off Treadwell, scoring the game's lone run. He had a 1.24 RA for the postseason.

Treadwell was 1-1 with a 2.79 ERA for Habana in the 1922-1923 Cuban Winter League. In 1923, he struggled for the Bacharach Giants (0-1, 5 BB, 3 H, 6 R in 2 2/3 IP) and was 1-0 with a save and a 2.61 ERA for the Harrisburg Giants. He bounced around in 1924, appearing for the Cleveland Browns (5 R, 3 ER in 3 IP), Detroit Stars (2 R in 1 1/3 IP) and Chicago American Giants (0-1, 6.60 in 5 G).

He was 2-3 with a 8.90 ERA for the 1925 ABCs. He split 1926 between the Dayton Marcos (0-7, 5.80) and Detroit (1-4, 4.66). Only Basilio Rosell lost more games that year in the Negro National League. His last season was 1928, going 6-5 with a 3.48 ERA for Chicago.

Overall, he had gone 29-38, 4.66 (87 ERA+) in 97 games (40 complete games) against top black competition. He had a solid 71 OPS+ for a pitcher (.263/.291/.318). He battled alcoholism in later years and was found dead in an alley in Chicago in 1971.