Walter Beall

Walter Esau Beall

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 178 lb.

• Debut September 3, 1924
• Final Game June 12, 1929
• Born July 29, 1899 in Washington, DC USA
• Died January 28, 1959 in Suitland, MD USA

BR page

Biographical Information

“His curve broke down, and I’ll swear he could break it three or four inches." - Babe Ruth, naming Beall's curveball the best he had seen, in Babe Ruth's Own Book of Baseball

Though in possession of a strong curve, Walter Beall was unable to regularly hold a spot on a big league staff due to incurable wildness. In 124 big league innings, coming mostly as a teammate of Ruth's with the New York Yankees, he issued 111 bases on balls, nearly one per inning. In his most substantial action, he was 2-4 with a 3.53 ERA in 20 games (9 starts) and 81 2/3 innings in 1926. He made one appearance for the "Murderer's Row" Yanks of 1927 and wrapped his big league days with the 1929 Washington Senators.

He enjoyed some minor league success. In 1924, with the Rochester Tribe in the International League, he won 25 games, struck out 227 batters, and led the league in ERA over Lefty Grove with a mark of 2.46.

Related Sites

• Walter Beall at the SABR Bio Project