Though occasionally used as a starting pitcher, Wilcy Moore was among the first to
gain fame as a reliever. He developed a sidearm sinkerball after hurting his shoulder
in the Sally League. As a 30-year-old rookie with the 1927 Yankees, he went 19-7
and led the league with 13 relief wins and 13 saves (his 2.28 ERA would also have
led, had
he qualified with the then-necessary ten complete games). After saving the
opener of the 1927
World Series against the Pirates, he started and won the fourth
and final game. He later claimed that overwork in 1927 caused the arm problems which
sidelined him in 1928 and hampered his career. Even so, his 10 saves for the Red
Sox in 1931 were the AL high. He returned to the Yankees in 1932, his relief win
in the WS closing out another four-game sweep, this time of the Cubs.
(JK)