EWELL BLACKWELL

For a few years in the late 1940s, Blackwell was among the best pitchers in the game. For most of 1947 he was probably the best; he built up a string of 16 consecutive complete game wins. Right in the middle of the streak, he pitched a no-hitter and predicted that his next start would be another one, tying fellow Reds' legend Johnny Vander Meer. He had one going until the 8th innings, too, but the pesky Eddie Stanky spoiled it for him with a line drive single back to the box. In the All Star game that year, he pitched 3 scoreless innings, a streak that eventually reached 11. He finished the season with an NL best 22 wins, 23 complete games and 193 strikeouts. He had a 2.47 ERA.

He had first come up with the Reds in '42, then went into the service until the end of WWII. In 1946, he made the All Star team as a rookie, even though he would end the season with a losing record, 9-13. He led the NL with five shutouts, however.

But the very whip-like delivery that gave Blackwell both his success and his nickname, The Whip, also tore up his pitching arm. He had a terrible 1948 (7-9) and while building up his arm in '49 suffered kidney problems as well. He was only 5-5 that year, but so highly regarded that he made both the 1948 and '49 All Star teams. In 1950 he was back, pitching two one hitters within 10 days. He went 17-15 that year and 16-15 in 1951.

He was dealt to the Yankees in late 1952, after going 3-12 with the Reds. He was 1-0 in two starts with NY, and won Game Five of the '52 World Series. He pitched a few game for the Yanks in '53 and with the Kansas City A's in '55.

Blackwell's fame rests on his strange, impressive delivery, a few good years and that awesome 1947 season. He stood six feet six, and weighed 190, a big man today but a giant in the late forties. He tall, thin body caused columnist Red Smith to comment that "He looked like a fly rod with ears." Other columnists, including a panel of Grantland Rice, Red Smith and Frank Graham, also were suitably impressed with skill. The lanky North Carolinian, who only won 82 games (against 78 losses) was selected by that panel as the pitcher they would select to pitch for "the biggest game of their lives." No Hall of Famer, Blackwell was a true star in his time.