Books and articles about Ken Raffensberger

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After a shoulder injury slowed his fastball, Raffensberger became a top control pitcher; over one four-year stretch he threw just two wild pitches. Representing the last-place Phillies in the 1944 All-Star Game, he was credited with the victory, but finished the season with a league-high 20 losses. With the Reds, he shared the league lead in shutouts in 1949 and 1952 (his only two winning seasons) and led with 38 starts in '49. But in 1951, no NL pitcher lost more than Raffensberger's 17. He threw four career one-hitters, two against the Cardinals in 1948. (NLM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 6, 1945: Phils P Ken Raffensberger is inducted into the Navy, while Card C Walker Cooper joined the Navy on May 1. » May 18, 1947: In St. Louis, the Cards drop a pair to Philadelphia, losing 6–3 and 1–0. Ken Raffensberger wins the nitecap for the Blue Jays with a brilliant complete-game shutout. Ken Heintzelman wins the opener for the Phils. Harry Walker is 5-for-10 in the two games, while Emil Verban (.337) knocks in the winning run in the 12th. » June 14, 1947: The Reds swipe pitcher Ken Raffensberger and C Hugh Poland from the Phillies for C Al Lakeman. Lakeman won't hit his weight (195 pounds) in two seasons in Philadelphia while Raffensberger will win 89 games in a Reds uniform. » May 31, 1948: In Cincinnati, the Reds sweep a Memorial Day doubleheader from the Cards, 4–3 and 7–0. In the nitecap, Ken Raffensberger tosses a one-hitter, allowing just an 8th inning single by Nipsy Jones. Hank Sauer's homer in the opener breaks a tie. The Reds scoring in the nitecap is paced by homers from Augie Galan and Ted Kluszewski. The twin loss drops the Cards to second place as the Giants split a pair with the Dodgers. » July 11, 1948: The Reds Ken Raffensberger allows just one hit—a single by Marty Marion in the 4th—in shutting out the Cardinals, 1–0, in St. Louis. It's his 2nd one-hitter against St. Louis this year. » July 29, 1948: The Giants win their 3rd straight shutout, stopping the Reds, 5–0, behind Dave Koslo. Jansen and Hartung threw the other two shutouts. Walker Cooper's grand slam, off Ken Raffensberger, is the big blow. » May 22, 1949: Brooklyn's Don Newcombe makes his first ML start a dandy, shutting out the Reds, 3–0 in Cincinnati. It's the first shut out in a National League debut in eleven years and extends Brooklyn's win streak at Cincinnati to 19 games going back to June 1947. Newk gives up hits to the first two batters, then allows just three more hits while walking none. He drives in two runs as well. Ken Raffensberger then matches Newk by firing a one-hitter to beat Brooklyn, 2–0, tossing only 83 pitches. The only hit is a leadoff single by Gil Hodges in the 8th. Raffensberger pitched two one-hitters against the Dodgers in 1948. » April 24, 1950: In a pitching duel with vet Ken Raffensberger, Max Lanier drives in the only run to give the Cards a 1–0 win over the Reds. » April 18, 1951: In the pregame ceremonies at Wrigley Field, Sam Snead tees off from home plate and hits a golf ball off the CF scoreboard, the only ball ever to reach the structure. The Cubs follow suit in their home opener, slamming the Reds 8–3 and beating Cub nemesis Ken Raffensberger. Rookie 1B Dee Fondy hits a 2nd-inning bases-loaded triple, off Ken Raffensberger, in his first ML at bat, one of his three hits. » August 15, 1951: At Crosley, the Reds Ken Raffensberger tops the Cubs, 1–0, on Ted Kluszewski's home run in the 4th off Cal McLish. » August 27, 1951: At Shibe Park, light-hitting reserve C Del Wilber of the Phillies hits three home runs in three at bats to provide Ken Johnson with all his support. Johnson beats the Reds Ken Raffensberger 3–0 in the nightcap after Jocko Thompson shuts out Cincinnati 2–0 in the first game. Wilber went back to the minors in 1949 to manage in the Texas League. » September 2, 1951: Ken Raffensberger fires a one-hitter at the Cubs to win 7–0 and gain a split for the Reds. The only hit is a 3rd-inning scratch single by Eddie Miksis that arguably would have rolled foul. Bob Rush shuts out the Reds in the nitecap to top Howie Fox, 3–0. » September 20, 1951: Following a day off in Cincinnati, Ken Raffensberger beats the Giants, 3–1, with reliever Blackwell striking out Westrum and Hank Thompson in the 9th with two runners on base. Jim Hearn is the loser.