gold star for USAHOF

6. Babe Adams

6. Babe Adams
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: May 18, 1882 in Tipton, IN USA
  • Weight: 185 lbs.
  • Height: 5'11"
  • Bats: L
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: April 18, 1906
  • Final Game: August 11, 1926
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1909
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1909
  • MVP - 1911
  • MVP - 1913
 
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Playing all but one game of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Babe Adams was one of the best control Pitchers of his day.

Adams played in one game for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1906, and his contract would be traded to the Pirates shortly after.  1909 was the year he stuck, and in that year's World Series, he was their shining star, where he won three Games, posting a 1.33 ERA and a 0.889 WHIP.   

Over the next few years, Adams was a high-end starter for the Pirates, and he would lead the NL in WHIP in 1911 and 1914, and he was a 20 game-winner in both 1911 and 1913.  Sadly for Adams, shoulder trouble resulted in a subpar 1916 season, and he spent 1917 in the minors and most of 1918.  It looked like it was over for Adams, but he got healthy and had there been a Comeback Player of the Year Award, he likely would have won it (although the players coming back from World War I might have had something to say about that). 

From 1919 to 1921, he led the National League in WHIP, and from '19 to '22, he was the first place finisher in BB/9 and SO/BB.  Adams would also lead the NL in FIP four times in his career.  

His play fell off by 1924, but he was in his 40s by this time.  Adams did play in the 1925 World Series, and although he did not play much, he was a member of that championship team, making him the only player on both Pittsburgh's 1909 and 1925 World Series Titles.  His last season was 1926, and he retired with a record of 194-139 and a WHIP of 1.090.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Pitcher
  • Acquired: Purchased from Denver (Western) 8/13/07.
  • Departed:

    Released 8/13/16.

    Acquired (2):  Signed before the 1918 Season.

    Departed (2):  Released 8/13/26.

  • Games Played: 481
  • Notable Statistics:

    194 Wins
    139 Losses
    2.74 ERA
    353 Games Started
    205 Complete Games
    90 Games Finished
    16 Saves
    2,991.1 Innings Pitched
    1,036 Strikeouts
    2.70 FIP
    1.090 WHIP
    2.42 SO/BB
    53.1 bWAR                     

    4 Playoff Games
    3 Wins
    0 Losses
    1.29 ERA
    28 Innings Pitched
    11 Strikeouts
    0.93 WHIP

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Champion (1909 & 1925)
    Highest bWAR for Pitchers (1913)
    Lowest WHIP (1911, 1914, 1919, 1920 & 1921)
    Lowest BB/9 (1919, 1920, 1921 & 1922)
    Most Shutouts (1920)
    Highest SO/BB (1919, 1920, 1921 & 1922)
    Highest ERA+ (1921)
    Lowest FIP (1913, 1920, 1921 & 1922)
    Highest Championship Win Probability Added (1921)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Pitcher (1912, 1914, 1915, 1919 & 1921)

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