Hub Pruett

Hubert Shelby "Shucks" Pruett (September 1, 1900 in Malden, Missouri – January 28, 1982 in Ladue, Missouri), was a professional baseball left-handed pitcher in the Major League Baseball from 1922 to 1932. He acquired the nickname "Shucks" because that was the strongest word in his vocabulary.

Hub Pruett
Pitcher
Born: (1900-09-01)September 1, 1900
Malden, Missouri, United States
Died: January 28, 1982(1982-01-28) (aged 81)
Ladue, Missouri, United States
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 26, 1922, for the St. Louis Browns
Last MLB appearance
September 20, 1932, for the Boston Braves
MLB statistics
Win–loss record29–48
Earned run average4.63
Strikeouts357
Teams
As player

Baseball career

Pruett played for the St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants, and Boston Braves.

Pruett's claim to fame was that he had a knack for getting out Babe Ruth. However, the fame may have been overstated because he was most successful doing so in his first year in the major leagues, and it was mentioned prominently in newspapers.[1] As time went on, Ruth had more success, and even hit home runs against Pruett. Other than his statistics against Ruth, Pruett was an ordinary pitcher, with a career won-lost record of 29–48 and an earned run average of 4.63.[2] Other pitchers also had better personal records against Ruth.

Personal life

Pruett's father was a physician who died in a horse and buggy accident while making a house call, and Pruett was raised by an aunt. He became a medical student during his early years in baseball and used his baseball pay to finance his medical education. He graduated from the St. Louis University School of Medicine and became a practicing physician. His son Don and grandson Chris also became physicians.[3] In 1948, several weeks before Ruth's death, Pruett was able to personally thank Ruth for this because he felt that his success against him was one of the main reasons he was kept on by the Browns.[4]

Record vs. Babe Ruth
date results of each of Babe Ruth's at bats in games during which both Pruett and Ruth appeared
May 22, 1922 strikeout, intentional walk[5][6]
June 10, 1922 strikeout[7][8]
June 12, 1922 strikeout, walk, strikeout, strikeout[9][10]
July 12, 1922 groundout (pitcher to first), strikeout, strikeout, strikeout[11][12]
August 25, 1922 (second game) strikeout[13][14]
September 17, 1922 walk, strikeout, homerun, single[15][16]
May 16, 1923 strikeout[17][18]
May 17, 1923 either an out or a walk[19][20]
May 19, 1923 homerun, strikeout, strikeout, sacrifice[21][22]
June 14, 1923 single, strikeout, walk, walk[23][24]
July 8, 1923 walk, unknown type of out[25][26]
July 9, 1923 did not face each other[27][28]
August 7, 1923 did not face each other[29][30]
June 10, 1924 either one or two plate appearances, results not known[31][32]
August 1, 1924 bunt single[33][34]
August 2, 1924 either one two plate appearances, and at least one hit[35][36]

References
  1. "Pruett of Browns is Ruth's Nemesis - Young Southpaw Has Fanned Babe on Seven of Ten Times He Has Faced Him". New York Times. July 17, 1922. p. 9. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  2. "Hub Pruett". baseball-reference.com. Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  3. "Hubert (Hub) Pruett". New York Times. Associated Press. January 30, 1982. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  4. McDonald, Anna. "Pruett heir remembers Ruthian legacy". espn.go.com. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  5. "Ruth Scores First Home Run of Year - Babe's Clout in Eighth Helps Yanks to Beat Browns, 4-3, in Thirteen Innings - Drive Is Just In Time - Fans Begin to Rag Reinstatad Slugger After Three Fruitless Trips to Plate". New York Times. May 23, 1922. p. 13. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  6. "New York Yankees 4, St. Louis Browns 3". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  7. "Ruth Makes Homer As Yanks Win,14-5 - Babe's Sixth Circuit Clout of Season Helps in Decisive Defeat of Browns - Shocker Driven To Cover - Is Taken From Mound in Fourth Inning - St. Louis Pitcher and Mays Near Blows". New York Times. June 11, 1922. p. 25. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  8. "New York Yankees 14, St. Louis Browns 5". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  9. "Pruett's Pitching Stops The Yankees - Youthful Southpaw Holds Hugmen to Six Hits and Browns Triumph by 7 to 1 - Babe Ruth Fans Thrice - Home-Run King Has Quiet Day, but Kenneth Williams Makes Fifteenth Circuit Clout". New York Times. June 12, 1922. p. 15. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  10. "St. Louis Browns 7, New York Yankees 1". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  11. "Browns Beat Yanks And Increase Lead - New Yorkers Fumble Chance to Regain First Place by Losing, 7-4 - Fohl's Kick Delays Game - St. Louis Manager Argues Decision by Chill - Williams Hits TwentyFirst Homer". New York Times. July 13, 1922. p. 8. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  12. "St. Louis Browns 7, New York Yankees 4". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  13. "Yanks And Browns Split Double Bill - St. Louis Retains Slight Lead in Pennant Race After Two Exciting Games - 38,000 Witness Contests - Vast Throng at Polo Grounds Sees Hugmen Lose Opener, 3-1, and Win Second, 6-5 - Shocker Victor Over Hoyt - Allows Only Five Hits Until Ninth Inning of First Tilt - Bush Scores His Twenty-First Triumph". New York Times. August 26, 1922. p. 7. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  14. "New York Yankees 6, St. Louis Browns 5 (2)". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  15. "Story Of The Game Told Play By Play - Williams and Severeid Lead Attack as Browns Win Game in Sixth Inning". New York Times. September 18, 1922. p. 9. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  16. "St. Louis Browns 5, New York Yankees 1". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet.org. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  17. "Error Helps Yanks Down Browns, 4-1 Foster Loses Chance to Retire Side in Sixth and Hugmen Bunch Hits for Victory - Pruett Again Fans Ruth - Registers 12th Strike-out of 14 Times He Has Faced Babe - Sisler Sees Game". New York Times. May 17, 1923. p. 15. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  18. "New York Yankees 4, St. Louis Browns 1". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  19. "Yankees Bat Hard; Beat Browns, 9 to 2 - Meusel and Schang Lead in Heavy Attack - Ruth Hits Fifth Homer of Season - Shocker Chased to Cover - Gives Way to Pruett in Third Inning - Joe Bush Banished by Umpire Evans in Eighth". New York Times. May 18, 1923. p. 23. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  20. "New York Yankees 9, St. Louis Browns 2". retrosheet.com. Retrosheet. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  21. "Yanks Win In Tenth On Triple By Mays - Drive Scores Two Runs and Hugmen Capture Final Game of Series, 6 to 5 - Babe Ruth Makes Homer - Meusel, Ward, McManus and Williams Also Hit for Circuit - Pruett Batted Hard". New York Times. May 20, 1923. p. S1. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  22. "New York Yankees 6, St. Louis Browns 5". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  23. "Yanks Are Beaten By Browns, 3 to 1 - Pruett Yields Total of Nine Hits, but Shows Good Form in the Pinches - Hoyt Weakens In Eighth - Homer by Collins and Singles by Schllebner and Gerber Help Clinch Game". New York Times. June 15, 1923. p. 15. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  24. "St. Louis Browns 3, New York Yankees 1". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  25. "Bush Is Batted Out, But Yanks Win, 6-4 - Weakens in Seventh After Holding Browns Hitless for Six Innings - Retires in Ninth - Jones Comes to Rescue - Checks St. Louis Rally in Final Frame - Four Pitchers Fail to Stop Hugmen". New York Times. July 9, 1923. p. 9. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  26. "New York Yankees 6, St. Louis Browns 4". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  27. "Crippled Yankees Trim Browns, 9-3 - Score Five Runs in Fourth-Inning Rally and Capture the Series - Ruth Hits 19th Homer - Smith Drives for the Circuit in Eighth - Hofmann Struck on Head by Pitched Ball". New York Times. July 10, 1923. p. 16. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  28. "New York Yankees 9, St. Louis Browns 3". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  29. "Yankees Defeated By Browns, 12-10 - Eight Pitchers Used in Game at Stadium Featured by Thirty Hits - Three Homers In Contest - Schliebner, Williams, and Witt Make Circuit Drives - Shawkey Among Those Batted Out". New York Times. August 8, 1923. p. 11. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  30. "St. Louis Browns 12, New York Yankees 10". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  31. "Yanks Beat Browns, Again Tie For Lead - Hoyt Wins, 5-0, and Spoils Day for 24,000 Fans Who See Sisler Get Diploma - Johnson Hits Home Run - Utility Player Also Makes Spectacular Stop and Helps Champions Break Losing Streak". New York Times. June 11, 1924. p. 17. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  32. "New York Yankees 5, St. Louis Browns 0". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet.
  33. "Yanks Beat Browns in Exciting Battle - Police Restrain Bush When St. Louis Fans Taunt Him With Cries of "Yellow!" - Ruth Chased by Rowland - Babe Makes Three Hits in as Many Trips to Plate Before He Is Banished - Score Is 3-2". New York Times. August 2, 1924. p. 6. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  34. "New York Yankees 3, St. Louis Browns 2". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  35. "Yankees Lose Final When Pitchers Fail - Browns Bombard Four of Huggins's Hurlers to Triumph by 12 to 8 - Shawkey is First Victim - Jones, Mameaux and Gaston Follow, and the Quartet Yields 16 Hits - Ruth Gets Four Singles - Babe and Dugan Lead Attach on Five Rival Moundsmen Before Crowd of 15,000 in St. Louis". New York Times. August 3, 1924. p. 25. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  36. "St. Louis Browns 12, New York Yankees 8". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
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