Books and articles about Waite Hoyt

Hoyt was a mainstay on the pitching staff of the great Yankee teams of the 1920s. The righthander pitched for New York from 1921 to early 1930 and had a record of 157-98 in pinstripes. He was 23-7 in 1928 and also led the AL with eight saves. In 1927 he was 22-7, and he won 19 in 1921 and '22. In 1927 he led the AL in wins (22), ERA (2.63), and winning percentage (.759). He reached double figures in wins from 1921 to 1931 and in 1934. He spent the last seven years of his career in the NL, which he led in relief wins in 1934 (7) and 1935 (5).

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RELATED LINKS » 1923: The Haunting Eviction » 1928: One Game Features Seventeen Future Hall of Famers Book Excerpts » "[Hoyt] had one of those high, hard ones": Eddie Wells » Babe: The Legend Comes to Life by Robert W. Creamer » Breaking the Slump: Baseball in the Depression Era by Charles C. Alexander Greatest Teams » 1927 Yankees » 1931 Athletics Submissions » The 1927 Yankees Pitching Staff by Jeff Linkowski Around the Web » Waite Hoyt from baseball-reference.com » Waite Hoyt from thebaseballpage.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Hoyt appeared in seven WS (1921-23, '26-28 with the Yankees and 1931 with the A's). He was 2-0 in 1928, and 2-1 in 1921, tying Christy Mathewson's record with a 0.00 ERA in three games started. He ranks high in numerous WS lifetime categories, including wins (6 for fifth), losses (4 for seventh), strikeouts (49 for eighth), games (12 for seventh), and innings pitched (84 for fifth). In 1941 Hoyt moved to the broadcast booth. He was the voice of the Reds until his retirement in 1965. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1969. (JM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 24, 1919: Boston's Waite Hoyt pitches nine perfect innings against the Yankees, but they come in between the 4th and the 13th in which he gives up hits. He loses 2-1 in the 13th. » December 15, 1920: The Yankees' Ed Barrow pries future Hall of Fame P Waite Hoyt, C Wally Schang, lefty Harry Harper, and IF Mike McNally from his former Boston team in exchange for 2B Del Pratt, C Muddy Ruel, P Hank Thormahlen, OF Sammy Vick, and cash. » May 31, 1921: The Senators bang out 8 straight hits, including 2 triples, off Waite Hoyt in a 7-run 2nd inning, and beat New York 11-5. » September 23, 1921: Trailing by two points, the Indians come to New York for a 4-game showdown. Waite Hoyt's arm and Ruth's three doubles beat them 4–2. » September 29, 1921: With New York in 1st place by one 1/2 games over Cleveland, and facing the Indians in the 4th game of the series, Miller Huggins polls his players to find out who they'd like to see start. The team elects to go with veteran Jack Quinn, but the spitballer comes up dry giving up three runs in the 1st inning before Waite Hoyt relieves. Ruth hits a 1st inning home run, adds an RBI double in the 3rd and a 2-run home run in the 5th to give the Yankees the lead. Carl Mays, who took over in the 5th, strikes out Steve O'Neill with two on in the 9th to end it 5–4. The win increases New York's lead to two 1/2 games. The four-game series at the Polo Grounds draws a record 147,000 people. » October 6, 1921: In the opener, Johnny Rawlings and Frank Frisch collected the only Giants hits. In game two it's the same story. Waite Hoyt (19-13) surrenders two singles in another 3–0 Yankee win. Art Nehf (20-10) deserves better, allowing just three hits; but three errors and two mental lapses by the Giants, plus a steal of home by Bob Meusel, put the Giants down 2–0. The five hits are the fewest ever in a World Series game. » October 10, 1921: In game five an unearned run in the first is all the Giants can manage off Waite Hoyt, despite 10 hits and a walk. A 1–1 game is decided in the 4th when abe Ruth surprises the Giants IF with a perfect bunt, then makes it home on Meusel's double off Art Nehf. Bob Meusel scores on a sacrifice fly, and 3–1 is the result. The 35,758 spectators bring the players' pool to a record $302,522.23. » October 13, 1921: Waite Hoyt and Art Nehf come back for game eight with two days rest. With two on and two outs in the first, Giants 1B George Kelly hits a grounder to short that goes through Roger Peckinpaugh, and a run scores. Not another Giant reaches 3B the rest of the day. After Aaron Ward walks in the 9th, Frank "Home Run" Baker hits a drive toward right, but 2B Johnny Rawlings spears it and throws him out while on the ground. Ward heads for 3B and is gunned down by a throw from Kelly to Frisch to end the Series. Hoyt does not allow an earned run in three complete games. The Giants are the first to lose the first two games and come back to win the Series. » June 28, 1922: Walter Johnson wins another 1–0 battle, this one over the Yankees, for his third straight shutout and 97th in all. Johnson strikes out 9. Waite Hoyt losses a tough one, allowing just two hits in the first eight innings. Earl Smith's double in the ninth drives home the winner. » August 25, 1922: In the first of a doubleheader before a sold-out Polo Grounds, the Browns beat the Yankees, 3–1, behind Urban Shocker. Waite Hoyt is the loser, but stops Ken Williams hit streak at 28 consecutive games. George Sisler hits in his 24th straight game. In game two, the Yankee jump to a 2–0 lead on Ruth's 2-run triple, then extend it to 6–1 behind Joe Bush. The Browns close to 6–5, but that is it. » September 10, 1922: The Yankees play their farewell home game in the Polo Grounds. An estimated 40,000 overflow the stadium with another 25,000 turned away. Joe Bush beats the Philadelphia A's 10–3 in the opener, and Waite Hoyt edges the A's in the second 2–1. Plans are in the works to expand the park to 56,000 capacity, but this is the last regular season American League game at the Polo Grounds. The Yanks will play their next 18 games on the road, and then open in Yankee Stadium next spring. » September 30, 1922: The Yankees clinch their 2nd pennant by beating Boston 3–1 behind Waite Hoyt and Joe Bush. » October 6, 1922: The Giants Jack Scott (8–2 with the Giants) fires a 4-hitter as a surprise starter in game three, after Hugh McQuillan (6–5 with NY) warms up to face Waite Hoyt (19-12). Scott gets the Yanks to hit 18 grounders. Frank Frisch’s two RBIs are more than enough in the 3–0 win. With two hits in each game so far, Frisch will bat .471. Heinie Groh, hitting safely in every game, will be at .474. » December 25, 1922: On their tour of the Far East, the Herb Hunter All-Americans, with Casey Stengel and Waite Hoyt among its members, beats a team of U.S. servicemen, 12-5, in Manila. In other games, the All-Americans are the first team of major leaguers to play a Chinese team, in Shanghai, and also play a Korean all-star team in Seoul, whipping them, 21–3. The American all-star also lost a game in Japan when Zensuke Shimada hit an out-of-the-park homer against Waite Hoyt and the Mita Club defeated the All-Americans, 9-3. It was the first loss by a team of touring U.S professionals in Japan. » October 10, 1923: It's an all–New York World Series for the 3rd time. In the first World Series game at Yankee Stadium, the home team takes a quick 3–0 lead, but Heinie Groh triples in two runs in a 4-run 3rd that drives Waite Hoyt (17-9) to cover. A 4–4 tie is broken in the top of the 9th by the Giants when Casey Stengel's blast rolls to the OF wall. The sore-legged veteran hobbles around the bases to score the winning run against reliever Joe Bush (19-15) before 55,307 spectators. This is also the first World Series to be broadcast on a nationwide radio network. Graham McNamee, aided by baseball writers taking turns, is at the mike. Grantland Rice had broadcast an earlier World Series, but not nationally. » September 25, 1926: The Yankees take two from the Browns to nail down the American League flag, winning the opener 10–2 behind Herb Pennock. Ruth's grand slam is the big blow. In the nitecap, Lou Gehrig homers in the 3rd inning, off Milt Gaston, while Ruth matches him with a 2-run home run in the 6th off Win Ballou. Ruth adds a solo shot in the 9th, his 46th, off Joe Giard to seal the Waite Hoyt 10–4 victory. Despite the score, the game is played in a new AL record 55 minutes. The National League record is 51 minutes, on September 28, 1919. » October 6, 1926: In game 4, the Yankees tee off on Flint Rhem (20-7) and four other Cardinal hurlers for 10 runs and 14 hits, while Waite Hoyt (16-12) strands 10 Cardinal runners for a 10–5 win. Babe Ruth hits three home runs, to fulfill his October 1st promise to a bedridden 11-year-old, Johnny Sylvester. Ruth's 3rd clout, in the 6th, is the longest blast ever seen in St. Louis. It clears the park and goes through the window of an auto dealer across the street. In the 4th, Taylor Douthit and Chick Hafey collide in the OF as the ball drops; Douthit is sidelined for the rest of the Series. » October 10, 1926: On a drizzling New York afternoon, only 38,093 show up at the Stadium for the deciding World Series contest. Grover Alexander, possibly sleeping off a hangover in the bullpen, barely notices when Jess Haines take a 3–2 lead over Waite Hoyt into the 7th. Haines weakens in the last of the 7th; three walks put Earle Combs, Bob Meusel, and Lou Gehrig on base with two out and Tony Lazzeri at the plate. Hornsby then waves in Alexander. On a 1-1 count Lazzeri hits a line drive into the left-field seats, a few feet to the foul side of the pole, then swings and misses for strike 3. Alexander sets the Yanks down in order until Babe Ruth draws his 11th walk with two out in the 9th, and is thrown out, inexplicably trying to steal 2B. The Cards and St. Louis have their first World Championship. Each winner collects $5,584.51, the losers, $3,417.75. » May 8, 1927: The Yankees draw a record 52,000 to Comiskey Park but Waite Hoyt spoils the party by winning one of his league-leading 22 games, 9–0, the 2nd straight shutout of the Sox. Batterymate Pat Collins homers in the 7th, while Lou Gehrig adds a pair of triples. » June 12, 1927: Despite Ruth's 21st homer, the Yankees are nosed out by the Indians, 8–7. Cleveland scores seven in the first two innings to rout Waite Hoyt. His replacement George Pipgras homers and pitches well. It is Joe Hornung Day at the Stadium, as the veteran from the 1880s celebrates his 72nd birthday. He receives a testimonial and money from his friends. » June 15, 1927: At New York, St. Louis lefty Tom Zachary lasts just an inning in losing to New York, 8–1. Zachary serves up Ruth's 22nd homer, with Combs on and Lou Gehrig follows with his 15th. Waite Hoyt allows a solo homer to Schulte in winning. » October 5, 1927: Pittsburgh's Ray Kremer (19-8) opens against Waite Hoyt (22-7). In the 3rd, 2 walks and 2 Pirates errors help the Yankees to 3 runs and a 4-1 lead. With 9 hits, the Pirates come close, but the final is 5-4 New York. » May 24, 1928: In the first game of a doubleheader in Philadelphia, a major-league record 13 future Hall of Famers take the field as the first-place Yankees take on the 2nd-place A's. This number does not include non-playing Hall of Famers Herb Pennock and Stan Coveleski, managers Miller Huggins and Connie Mack, nor umpires Tom Connally and Bill McGowan. [HOFs: Earle Combs, Leo Durocher, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, and Waite Hoyt for New York; Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Mickey Cochrane, Al Simmons, Eddie Collins, Lefty Grove, and Jimmie Foxx for the A's.] Led by Lazzeri's three hits and six RBIs, the Yanks edge the A's, 9–7, handing the defeat to Lefty Grove. The A's win the nitecap, 5–2, behind rookie Ossie Orwell. » July 26, 1928: Detroit rookie righthander Vic Sorrell and the Yankees' Waite Hoyt are 1-1 after 11. Twelve hits and 2 walks in the 12th score 11 New York runs in the biggest extra-inning storm ever. » September 1, 1928: In Washington, Republican presidential candidate Herbert Hoover looks on as "approximately 99 percent of the spectators wore their straw hats, hoping the Senators would give them a chance to get excited and hurl them away" (NY Times). Alas, the Yankees win, 8–3. Waite Hoyt is the winner and beneficiary of Bob Meusel's 4-for-4 hitting. Meusel has three RBIs. Garland Braxton takes the loss. » September 7, 1928: The stumbling Yanks drop a pair to the Senators, losing 11–0 and 6–1. Bump Hadley tosses the shutout and adds three singles. Fred Marberry wins the nitecap over Waite Hoyt, for his 2nd win over New York in five days. New York, which led by 13 1/2 games on July 1st, is now tied with the A's. » September 9, 1928: A total of 85,265 jam Yankee Stadium to watch the Yankees sweep two from the A's, 3–0 and 7–3, to move back into first place to stay. George Pipgras is the winner in the first game while the Yankee star of the nitecap is Bob Meusel, who takes an Ed Rommel knuckler out of the park for a grand slam in the 8th. Waite Hoyt is the winner. » October 4, 1928: The first game is a swift execution before 61,425 at New York. Babe Ruth has a single and double and scores twice, once on Bob Meusel's 4th-inning HR, and Lou Gehrig is 2-for-4 with 2 RBI off Bill Sherdel (21-10). Waite Hoyt (23-7) sets the Cards down with 3 hits, one a solo HR by Bottomley in the 7th, for a 4-1 win. » October 9, 1928: After a rainout, Waite Hoyt and Bill Sherdel are back on the mound for game 4. After 6 innings, the Cards hold a 2-1 lead. With one out in the 7th, Ruth hits a HR, his 2nd of the game, and Gehrig follows suit. When Meusel singles, in comes Alexander to face Tony Lazzeri. Lazzeri doubles and later scores the 4th run of the inning. In the 8th, Cedric Durst, subbing for Earle Combs, hits one out of the park, and Ruth follows with his 3rd HR of the game. Final score is 7-3 and the Yanks sweep their 2nd straight WS. Ruth's World Series BA of .625 is still unmatched; with Gehrig's .545 and a record 9 RBI, they also set individual and team offensive records for hits, HRs, total bases, and at bats in a game. » July 6, 1929: After watching the Tigers belt eight HRs on the second, third, and fourth, the Browns use the off day to erect a screen in front of the RF pavilion. The screen stretches 156 feet from the foul pole toward CF, 310 feet down the line from home. In the next day's game, Heinie Manush will hit three balls off the screen against the Yankees' Waite Hoyt, while Ruth will hit two off it in the series. This screen will remain in place into the 1940s, the only stadium with extended OF seating where it is impossible to catch a HR ball. » May 30, 1930: The Yankees trade two stars of the 1927 team, Waite Hoyt and Mark Koenig, to the Tigers for Ownie Carroll (0–5) and Harry Rice. Hoyt's departure follows an argument with manager Bob Shawkey. » June 30, 1931: The Athletics buy veteran Waite Hoyt from Detroit. » August 23, 1931: Lefty Grove is frustrated in his effort to win a record-breaking 17th game in a row, as Jimmy Moore misjudges a routine fly ball by Ski Melillo, turning it into a 2-out double, to allow the game's lone run. The volatile Grove is outraged and unforgiving, not at Moore, but that Al Simmons, the regular OF, missed the game. Dick Coffman of the Browns allows just three hits to win, 1–0. The A's win the nightcap, 10–0, behind Waite Hoyt's 6-hitter. » September 7, 1931: In the morning game of a doubleheader in Philadelphia, the Yankees begin with eight walks and score eight times in the first inning on only two hits. Rommel, the 4th pitcher in the frame, retires Ruth, Gehrig, and Chapman on strikes. The Yanks win 15–3. In the 2nd game, Ruth and Gehrig bang 6th-inning homers off Waite Hoyt, and Ruth adds another Hoyt blow in the 9th, his 40th. The Yanks roll 9–4 over the first-place A's. » October 7, 1931: Connie Mack, who surprised everyone in 1929 by starting veteran Howard Ehmke in the WS opener, tries the ploy with Waite Hoyt. Pitching in his 7th WS, Hoyt falls victim to Pepper Martin, who homers and drives in 4 runs with 3 hits. Hallahan wins for the Cards 5-1. » February 8, 1932: Waite Hoyt is released by the Philadelphia Athletics and will sign with Brooklyn. » June 7, 1932: Waite Hoyt is unconditionally released by the Dodgers. » June 23, 1932: Waite Hoyt signs with the Giants. » August 13, 1932: Bill Terry, Mel Ott, and Fred Lindstrom hit HRs on consecutive pitches in the fourth inning, but the Giants lose 18-9 to Brooklyn. In game 2 the Dodgers' Joe Stripp, Lefty O'Doul, and Tony Cuccinello hit first-inning HRs off Waite Hoyt. Brooklyn wins 5-4. » November 29, 1932: The New York Giants release pitchers Waite Hoyt and Clarence Mitchell. » January 21, 1933: Pittsburgh signs veteran Waite Hoyt. » September 12, 1933: The Dodgers are zero for the afternoon against the Pirates, as Heine Meine tops them 1–0 in the opener and Waite Hoyt wins the nitecap 2–0. » July 15, 1934: Waite Hoyt, now with the Pirates, has a one-hitter against the Braves, winning 5-0. » July 28, 1934: The veteran Waite Hoyt stops Dizzy Dean's win streak at 10 with a 5-4 win in Pittsburgh. » May 25, 1935: Babe Ruth has a last hurrah, hitting three home runs at Pittsburgh. The first shot is hit off Red Lucas, while the last two homers come off veteran Guy Bush. The final one, the last of his 714 career home runs, is the first to clear the RF grandstand at Forbes Field and is measured at 600 feet. With that, Ruth sits down in the dugout—Pittsburgh's—next to rookie Mace Brown. Ruth, who hit three homers in a game just once in the American League (May 21, 1930), is the first player to turn this hat trick in both leagues. Ruth lifts himself in the 7th inning, finishing the day at 4-for-4 and six RBIs. But Ruth's old teammate Waite Hoyt, in relief of Bush, is the winner as Pittsburgh defeats the hapless Braves, 11–7. » May 16, 1936: Pittsburgh P Waite Hoyt has an emergency appendectomy. » July 20, 1936: In an exhibition game in Pittsburgh, former Yankee Waite Hoyt stops his old teammates, 7–2. Lou Gehrig's 6th inning homer is the first score for New York. Ted Kleinhaus is cuffed in his eight innings. While Hoyt wins, another old pitcher loses as the Pirates hand Guy Bush his release. The Bees will sign him. » May 13, 1937: Carl Hubbell wins his 5th straight, and 21st over two seasons, stopping the National League-leading Pirates, 5–2. Arky Vaughan's two homers account for all the Pittsburgh scoring. Leading off, Dick Bartell hits his 4th homer in five days to continue his 12-game hitting streak, as the Giants hand reliever Waite Hoyt the loss. » February 2, 1969: Pitchers Stan Coveleski and Waite Hoyt are voted into the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee. » August 7, 1984: The White Sox and Yankees split a doubleheader with Chicago's 6–3 triumph in Game One stopping New York's 8-game win streak. Waite Hoyt is the winner. Ron Guidry strikes out 13 t win the nitecap, 7–0. He finishes with a flourish, striking out the side on nine pitches in the 9th.