Rip Sewell
Born: 5/11/1907 in Decatur, AL, USA
Died: 9/3/1989 in Plant City, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 1932-06-14 | Final Game: 1949-09-19
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Truett Banks Sewell
Biography
Rip Sewell was a prominent pitcher in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1932 to 1949. Born in 1907, Sewell made a name for himself during an era that witnessed the transition from the deadball era to the more offensive-minded approaches of the mid-20th century. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 143 wins and 97 losses, with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.48. His striking ability was highlighted by 636 strikeouts and 15 saves, showcasing his versatility and effectiveness on the mound.
Sewell was selected to the All-Star team four times, a testament to his skill and consistency as a pitcher. Known for his unique pitching style, he often utilized a famous "eephus pitch," which was a slow, high-arching delivery that baffled many hitters. His contributions to the game extended beyond his statistics; he became a respected figure in baseball for his strategic approach and ability to outthink opposing batters. Rip Sewell's legacy remains significant in the history of the sport, as he played an integral role during a transformative period in baseball.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 143 | 97 | 390 | 243 | 137 | 20 | 15 | 2119.3 | 2101 | 819 | 116 | 748 | 636 | 3.48 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | DET | AL | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.7 | 19 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 12.66 | -842.7 |
| 1938 | PIT | NL | 0 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 38.3 | 41 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 4.23 | -552.7 |
| 1939 | PIT | NL | 10 | 9 | 52 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 176.3 | 177 | 80 | 73 | 69 | 4.08 | 362.1 |
| 1940 | PIT | NL | 16 | 5 | 33 | 23 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 189.7 | 169 | 59 | 67 | 60 | 2.80 | 1931.7 |
| 1941 | PIT | NL | 14 | 17 | 39 | 32 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 249.0 | 225 | 103 | 84 | 76 | 3.72 | -988.8 |
| 1942 | PIT | NL | 17 | 15 | 40 | 33 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 248.0 | 259 | 94 | 72 | 69 | 3.41 | 305.5 |
| 1943 | PIT | NL | 21 | 9 | 35 | 31 | 25 | 2 | 3 | 265.3 | 267 | 75 | 75 | 65 | 2.54 | 1742.3 |
| 1944 | PIT | NL | 21 | 12 | 38 | 33 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 286.0 | 263 | 101 | 99 | 87 | 3.18 | -1231.5 |
| 1945 | PIT | NL | 11 | 9 | 33 | 24 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 188.0 | 212 | 85 | 91 | 60 | 4.07 | -2076.6 |
| 1946 | PIT | NL | 8 | 12 | 25 | 20 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 149.3 | 140 | 61 | 53 | 33 | 3.68 | -355.8 |
| 1947 | PIT | NL | 6 | 4 | 24 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 121.0 | 121 | 48 | 36 | 36 | 3.57 | -510.5 |
| 1948 | PIT | NL | 13 | 3 | 21 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 121.7 | 126 | 47 | 37 | 36 | 3.48 | 483.6 |
| 1949 | PIT | NL | 6 | 1 | 28 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 76.0 | 82 | 33 | 32 | 26 | 3.91 | -657.5 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 423 | 750 | 81 | 152 | 22 | 3 | 6 | 59 | 12 | 37 | 154 | 0.203 | 0.241 | 0.264 | 0.505 | -2696.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | DET | AL | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.500 | 0.0 |
| 1938 | PIT | NL | 17 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.083 | 0.0 |
| 1939 | PIT | NL | 52 | 55 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 0.200 | -307.2 |
| 1940 | PIT | NL | 47 | 73 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 0.192 | -396.5 |
| 1941 | PIT | NL | 42 | 92 | 12 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 0.174 | -633.3 |
| 1942 | PIT | NL | 41 | 87 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 0.149 | -668.0 |
| 1943 | PIT | NL | 41 | 105 | 9 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 21 | 0.286 | -101.9 |
| 1944 | PIT | NL | 44 | 112 | 10 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 0.223 | -425.3 |
| 1945 | PIT | NL | 35 | 64 | 10 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 0.312 | 103.5 |
| 1946 | PIT | NL | 26 | 50 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 0.180 | -267.7 |
| 1947 | PIT | NL | 24 | 40 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0.125 | 0.0 |
| 1948 | PIT | NL | 21 | 42 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 0.143 | 0.0 |
| 1949 | PIT | NL | 28 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.062 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 390 | 0 | 142 | 445 | 28 | 27 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | DET | P | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1938 | PIT | P | 17 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 3 |
| 1939 | PIT | P | 52 | 0 | 9 | 47 | 1 | 3 |
| 1940 | PIT | P | 33 | 0 | 17 | 46 | 5 | 0 |
| 1941 | PIT | P | 39 | 0 | 21 | 56 | 2 | 6 |
| 1942 | PIT | P | 40 | 0 | 19 | 51 | 2 | 3 |
| 1943 | PIT | P | 35 | 0 | 13 | 60 | 4 | 4 |
| 1944 | PIT | P | 38 | 0 | 21 | 49 | 4 | 1 |
| 1945 | PIT | P | 33 | 0 | 10 | 35 | 1 | 2 |
| 1946 | PIT | P | 25 | 0 | 8 | 26 | 2 | 1 |
| 1947 | PIT | P | 24 | 0 | 10 | 26 | 1 | 3 |
| 1948 | PIT | P | 21 | 0 | 10 | 21 | 3 | 1 |
| 1949 | PIT | P | 28 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 390 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1943 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | P3 |
| 1943 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | P2 |
| 1943 | TSN All-Star | P |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Military Institute | Marion | AL | 1927, 1928, 1929 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | TN | 1930, 1931 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 11th | 49.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 6th | 127.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1940 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 25th | 7.0 | 336 | 0 |