Jeff Pfeffer

This article is about the baseball player who played from 1911 to 1924. For the baseball player who played from 1905 to 1911, see Big Jeff Pfeffer.

Jeff Pfeffer
Pitcher
Born: (1888-03-04)March 4, 1888
Seymour, Illinois, U.S.
Died: August 15, 1972(1972-08-15) (aged 84)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 16, 1911, for the St. Louis Browns
Last MLB appearance
September 26, 1924, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Win–loss record158–112
Earned run average2.77
Strikeouts836
Teams

Edward Joseph Pfeffer (March 4, 1888 – August 15, 1972) was an American pitcher for the St. Louis Browns (1911), Brooklyn Dodgers/Robins (1913–1921), St. Louis Cardinals (1921–1924) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1924). His older brother Francis was known as Big Jeff Pfeffer.

He helped the Robins win the 1916 and 1920 National League pennants. In the 1916 World Series, he recorded a save in Game 3 and was the hard-luck losing pitcher of the series-ending Game 5.

On March 25, 1920 in the top of the first inning during an exhibition game against the New York Yankees Pfeffer threw a pitch that struck Yankees second baseman Chick Fewster in the temple, knocking him unconscious for approximately ten minutes. Fewster suffered a fractured skull and concussion, and temporarily lost his ability to speak.[1]

Pfeffer led the National League in hit batsmen in 1916 (17) and 1917 (16). In 1916 he gave up Rogers Hornsby's first home run.[2] In 13 seasons he had a 158–112 win–loss record with 10 saves in 347 games.

As of the end of the 2014 season, Pfeffer ranked 96th on the MLB career ERA list (2.77)[3] and tied for 73rd on the MLB career hit batsmen list (105).[4] He is the Dodgers' career leader in ERA (2.31).[5]

He died in Chicago at the age of 84, and is interred at Rock Island National Cemetery.

  1. ^ Nowlin, Bill. "Chick Fewster". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Alexander, Charles C. (1995). Rogers Hornsby: A Biography. New York City: Henry Holt and Company. p. 27. ISBN 0-8050-2002-0.
  3. ^ Career ERA leaders from Baseball-Reference
  4. ^ Career hit batsmen leaders from Baseball Reference
  5. ^ Dodgers career pitching leaders from Baseball-Reference