As a 15-year pitching phenom with a nasty curveball, Walter Beall was considered one of the best players to come out of the sandlots of Washington, D.C..
With a stocky build, and a serious arm, Beall's size was deceiving, making him look much older than he actually was. According to some reports, it is said as a 15-year old, Beall pitched one game for the Frederick-MD Hustlers of the Class D, Blue Ridge League, before being released after the game after the manager found out how old he was.
After more success on the amateur circuit, Beall returned to the professional ranks in the Blue Ridge League in 1918, pitching for the Martinsburg-WV Mountaineers, until the league disbanded in mid-June.
Beall continued his success pitching amateur ball in the Washington, D.C. area for the few years before joining the Norfolk-VA club in the Class Virginia League in 1921, where he went 23-8. A season with Greenville-SC in the Class B, South Atlantic League, and another 20-win season followed, including two no-hitters. Soon, Beall was becoming known in baseball circles for his nasty curve ball, that left batters standing at the plate.
Beall spent a couple seasons with Rochester-NY in the Class AA, International League, before his contract was sold to the American League's New York Yankees in 1925.
His curve ball caught the attention of Yankees Manager Miller Huggins, and of teammate, Babe Ruth. Though his overall Major League record amounted to 5 wins and 5 losses, Beall spent almost four seasons with the Yankees, and was a member of the 1927 World Series champions.
Ironically, Beall spent most of the season warming on the Yankees bench that season, pitching in one inning of one game all season. Beall did pitch 9 games for St. Paul-MN of the American Association, early in the 1927 season, but was kept on the Yankees roster, mainly because of his curve ball.
The season of inactivity didn't help his arm, and Beall was released in spring training of 1928. He toiled in the minors for four more seasons. He did return to his hometown in June of 1929, after getting a tryout with Clark Griffith's Washington Senators, but after winning his only decision in three relief appearances, Beall was released.
Beall continued to pitch on a regular basis on the semi-pro level until 1935, and also pitched with Walter Johnson in several Old Timers games in the Washington, D.C. area.
Beall died in 1959 at the age of 59 years.
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Copyright © 2005 by Boys of the Blue Ridge. Posted February 21, 2005.
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