The late-blooming Vance was the dominant strikeout pitcher of the 1920s, leading
the National League a record seven consecutive times (1922-28). His nickname was
fitting; a charter member of the carousing "Daffiness Boys," he led his Dodger teammates
virtually everywhere but to a pennant. Vance was one of the three Dodger runners
to wind up on third base at the same time when Babe Herman "tripled" into a double
play (it was actually scored a double). Vance, starting from second base, ran much
more cautiously than the runners behind him expected, returning to third base after
rounding the bag.
A 6'2" 200-lb fireballer, Vance burned out his arm pitching ten
years in the minors. He would break in impressively with one club after another,
only to have his arm tire by mid-season. His great starts earned him one game with
the Pirates in 1915, and trials with the Yankees in 1915 and 1918. He pitched poorly
each time and was returned to the minors. An arm operation, and a manager in New
Orleans who allowed him to start on four days' rest instead of three, proved the
cure. Vance went 21-11 in the Southern League in 1921 and was bought by the Dodgers
at the insistence of scout Larry Sutton. Owner Charlie Ebbets actually wanted Vance's
New Orleans batterymate, defensive catcher Hank DeBerry, and had to take Vance as
part of a package.
Vance, starting every fifth day, won the first of his seven
strikeout titles as a 31-year-old rookie in 1922. He often led by wide margins; in
1924, he fanned nearly twice as many as his nearest competitor. His style was unique
and fearsome. He would rear back - the ball tiny in his huge, red-flecked hand -
kick his leg high, waggle his foot, and catapult the ball toward the intimidated
hitter. After living and dying by the fastball for a decade in the minors, he added
an outstanding curveball. In a flamboyant touch of distracting showmanship, he wore
a red undershirt with the sleeves sliced into twirling ribbons, making his delivery
even more disconcerting. The tatters were subsequently outlawed.
In 1924, Vance
topped the league with a 2.16 ERA and career highs of 28 wins, 262 strikeouts, and
30
complete games. He had only six losses. The Dodgers fell one win short of the
first-place Giants, the closest Vance ever came to a pennant in Brooklyn. He was
named NL MVP over Rogers Hornsby, who batted .424.
Vance led the league in wins
a second time in 1925, with 22. That September 13, he no-hit Philadelphia 10-1, walking
one and striking out nine. The Dodgers committed three errors. He won 22 again in
1928 with a league-best 2.09 ERA, and he earned a final ERA title in 1930 (2.61).
After going 12-11 at age forty-one, he was traded to the Cardinals in 1933, where
Dazzy joined Dizzy and Daffy Dean. Though sold to the Reds in 1934, Vance was waived
back to St. Louis in time to earn a World Series ring. He finished up with Brooklyn
as a reliever in 1935.
During his career, Vance tied for the NL lead in shutouts
four times, compiling a total of 30. He struck out 2,045 batters and walked only
840. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1955 by the BBWAA.
(JK)