Rip Sewell

Truett Banks Sewell

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 180 lb.
• School Vanderbilt University
• Debut June 14, 1932
• Final Game September 19, 1949
• Born May 11, 1907 in Decatur, AL USA
• Died September 3, 1989 in Plant City, FL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Luke "Rip" Sewell was a four-time National League All-Star and World War II-era pitcher who variously led the NL in Wins, Winning Percentage, and Complete Games. A workhorse, he accumulated four 15-wins seasons, two of which were of 20 wins or better, and four times logged 200 or more innings pitched.

A cousin of big league stalwarts brothers Joe and Luke Sewell, he is best known for inventing the eephus pitch. Amazingly, except Ted Williams' now famous blast off it in the 1946 All-Star Game, he never gave up a home run on the pitch.

Minor League Manager:

1950: Charleston Rebels, farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates, finished 79-72, 4th in the South Atlantic League. 1951: New Orleans Pelicans, farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates, finished 64-90, 7th in the Southern Association.

In 1952 he began the season as manager or the Lakeland Pilots in the Florida International League. The team was woeful (51-103 overall record) and he was replaced mid-season by Buddy Bates. Sewell returned to manage the Pilots in mid-season of 1954. That team finished in 4th place with a record of 71-67 but won the league championship in the playoffs.

He was a cousin of Tommy Sewell.

Notable Achievements

• 4-time NL All-Star (1943-1946)
• NL Wins Leader (1943)
• NL Winning Percentage Leader (1948)
• NL Complete Games Leader (1943)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 4 (1940 & 1942-1944)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 2 (1943 & 1944)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 4 (1941-1944)