Not much was expected of Alexander, a lanky kid from Nebraska who didn’t look particularly athletic but he would post one of the greatest rookie seasons the game had ever seen. He went 28 and 13 (leading the NL in Wins), while finishing 5th in ERA and 2nd in bWAR for Pitchers. Two more good seasons would follow but from 1914 to 1917, Alexander would post 27, 31, 33 and 27 Wins respectively all of which were National League leading. He would also finish first in bWAR for Pitchers each year, win two ERA Titles, 2 WHIP Titles and also the Strikeouts Title each of those four campaigns. Essentially, he was near untouchable as the undisputed greatest hurler in that era in the National League.
Fearing that he would be called to duty for the war (he was) Phillies management traded him and he would not throw for Philadelphia with the exception of an ineffectual final year in the game.
Sadly he would begin to suffer from epilepsy following World War I (which also caused deafness in his left ear) would also lead him to alcoholism. He would still win many more games in Baseball but was never the same again.The Philadelpha Baseball Wall of Fame added him in 1980. As he was not wearing a number at the time, the Phillies could not retire one, but a "P" was honored for him in 2001
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