Books and articles about Kirby Higbe

The title of Higbe's autobiography, The High Hard One, describes his pitching style. He led the NL in walks four times (1939-41 and '47). He also led with 137 strikeouts in 1940. After he went 14-19 for the last-place Phillies in 1940, both the Giants and Dodgers were after the young flamethrower. Brooklyn's Larry MacPhail snatched Higbe by giving the financially troubled Phillies $100,000 and three players in return. Higbe was worth the price, joining teammate Whit Wyatt atop the NL with 22 wins in 1941 and leading the league with 48 games and 39 starts for the NL champs.

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Higbe was ambivalent concerning the addition of Jackie Robinson to the Dodgers. Higbe had spent many hours throwing rocks at blacks while growing up in South Carolina, and he believed in segregation, telling Branch Rickey he preferred not to have to play with a "negruh." But Higbe's competitive nature made him respect the fiery Robinson. He didn't have to worry about Robinson for long; he was traded to Pittsburgh on May 3, 1947. (ME)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 29, 1939: The Cubs get Claude Passeau from the Phillies for Kirby Higbe, Joe Marty, and Ray Harrell and $50,000. » November 11, 1940: Brooklyn's Larry MacPhail still needs a starting pitcher to make his Dodgers a threat to the Reds. He gets Kirby Higbe from the Phils for $100,000, P Vito Tamulis, and Bill Crouch. » May 22, 1946: With the score tied 1–1 in the 10th inning at Ebbets Field, Cubs SS Len Merullo and Dodger 2B Eddie Stanky start punching each other, precipitating a brawl between the two teams. Claude Passeau rips off Leo Durocher's jersey before calm is restored. The Dodgers win 2–1 in 13 innings, collecting 11 hits off Johnny Schmidt, who goes the distance. Joe Hatten gives up four hits in 12 innings, with Kirby Higbe pitching the last round. » May 30, 1946: In a play that anticipates a scene in The Natural by Brooklyn-native Bernard Malamud, the Braves' Bama Rowell smashes a double in the 7-run 2nd inning of the second game of a doubleheader at Ebbets Field. The ball shatters the Bulova clock high atop the right-field scoreboard at 4:25 P.M., showering glass down on the Dodgers' RF Dixie Walker. An hour later the clock stops. The Braves win 10–8 after being shut out 5–0 by Kirby Higbe in the opener. » March 24, 1947: In a meeting at the Sarasota Terrace Hotel, Leo Durocher admits to Commissioner Happy Chandler that he sometimes bets on card games with Kirby Higbe. » May 3, 1947: The Dodgers ship pitchers Hank Behrman, Cal McLish and Kirby Higbe, and minor leaguers Gene Mauch and C Dixie Howell to the Pirates for OF Al Gionfriddo and $100,000. Behrman, with no appearances for Brooklyn this year will go 0-2 before the Bucs send him back to Brooklyn on June 14. » July 27, 1950: Former Dodger great Kirby "Koiby" Higbe hurls a no-hitter for the Minneapolis Millers (American Association) against the Columbus Clippers.