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29. Rube Walberg

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29. Rube Walberg
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: July 27, 1896 in Pine City, MN USA
  • Weight: 190 lbs.
  • Height: 6'1"
  • Bats: L
  • Throws: L
  • Debut: April 29, 1923
  • Final Game: October 02, 1937
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1931
 
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Rube Walberg holds the dubious distinction of serving up the most home runs to Babe Ruth with 17.  That might seem like a strange way to open, but remember the Athletics thought enough of him to keep putting him on the mound.

Walberg was not the ace of the Philadelphia Athletics, but he was an active component of a starting rotation and team that would form a mini-dynasty that won three straight American League Pennants (1929-31).  The Minnesota native debuted for the Athletics in 1923, and by 1927, he came into his own with a 16-12 season.  Walberg would win 17 Games in four of the next five years, peaking with 20 Wins in 1931, the same season he led the AL in Innings Pitched (291.0).  He would also help the Athletics win the 1929 and 1930 World Series.

He would decline after the 1931 season and be traded to the Boston Red Sox after 1933.  Walberg would have a 134-114 record for the Athletics, and in 2002 was selected for the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Pitcher
  • Acquired: Purchased from Portland (PCL) for $10,000 5/17/23.
  • Departed: Traded to the Boston Red Sox with Max Bishop and Lefty Grove for Bob Kline, Rabbit Warstler, and $125,000 12/12/33.
  • Games Played: 412
  • Notable Statistics: 134 Wins
    114 Losses
    4.11 ERA
    266 Games Started
    125 Complete Games
    15 Shutouts
    98 Games Finished
    29 Saves
    2,186.2 Innings Pitched
    907 Strikeouts
    4.22 FIP
    1.433 WHIP
    1.06 SO/BB
    29.2 bWAR

    5 Playoff Games
    1 Win
    1 Loss
    1.93 ERA
    1 Game Started
    2 Games Finished
    14 Innings Pitched
    15 Strikeouts
    0.93 WHIP
    5.00 SO/BB
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Champion (1929 & 1930)
    Most Innings Pitched (1931)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Pitcher (1929 & 1931)
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