Hudlin and his sidearm sinker accounted for the seventh-most wins (157) and third-most losses (151) in Indian history. His work was overshadowed by teammates Mel Harder and Bob Feller, the only pitchers to work more games for Cleveland than Hudlin's 475. For three years, he was Cleveland's Yankee-killer, with 14 wins against New York from 1927 to 1929. During one of those victories, on August 11, 1929, he surrendered Babe Ruth's 500th home run. The scholarly-looking Hudlin was a Detroit coach from 1957 to 1959 and later scouted for the Yankees. (ME)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»September 9, 1928:
Chicago's Alex Metzler breaks up a pitching duel Ted Lyons and Willis Hudlin by cracking an 8th inning pinch homer off tie Cleveland, 1–1. The Sox get one more, then explode for eight runs in the 9th inning to coast, 10–1. This is Metzler's 3rd and last roundtripper of the year and he will tie Bill Barrett for the team lead. His 55 RBIs will be 2nd on the Sox.
»May 13, 1929: In Cleveland, fans have no trouble telling the players apart, as both teams wear numbers on their uniform backs. This is a first in the majors. The Indians beat the Yanks 4–3, despite a homer by New York's Mark Koenig off Willis Hudlin in the 6th inning. Also in the 6th, Yankee catcher Bill Dickey records three assists. For New York, it is their 3rd loss after six straight wins.
»August 11, 1929: Babe Ruth hits home run No. 500, in the 2nd inning off Willis Hudlin of Cleveland, but the Yankees lose, 6–5. Ruth has gone deep six times in his last seven games.
»August 4, 2000: The Blue Jays obtain OF Dave Martinez from the Rangers for a player to be named later. Martinez becomes the 9th major leaguer to play for four teams in a season. He began the year with Tampa Bay and also played with the Cubs, in addition to Texas and Toronto. The last to do so was Dave Kingman, in 1977: before him, according to historian Scott Flatow, the four-in-one players were Frank Huelsman, 1904; Willis Hudlin, 1940; Paul Lehner, 1951; Ted Gray, 1955; Wes Covington, 1961; and Mike Kilkenny, 1972.
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