A man of extremes, Tobin led the NL in innings pitched (287.2) and losses (21) in
1942. He also startled the baseball world by hitting three home runs in one game
on May 13 that year. A more than respectable hitter, he cracked 17 homers in his
nine ML seasons.
As a starter for the hapless Braves in the 1940s, he could never
get his record over .500 but he twice led the NL in complete games. He pitched a
no-hitter on April 27, 1944 against the Dodgers, and added a five-inning no-hitter
in June. (As the second game of a double-header, the game was scheduled for only
five innings.) Tobin was sold to the Tigers late in the 1945 season, reaching the
pennant-bound team in time to contribute four victories.
(JK)
Jim Tobin
