It was 100 years ago this month when Ray Caldwell joined the Cleveland Indians.
The 12-year major leaguer was known for a lot of things, including some off field antics usually involving alcohol.
On the field when Caldwell wasn’t hurt or suspended, he was a prominent pitcher during the Deadball Era. He began his career with the New York Highlanders/Yankees in 1910.
After posting a 96-99 record in nine years with New York, Caldwell was a part of a seven-player trade prior to the 1919 season that had him headed to the Boston Red Sox.
Although he was 7-4, the Red Sox released him in early August.
Caldwell must have made quite an impression on his new Cleveland teammates during his first appearance.
The Indians beat the Philadelphia A’s 2-1 in League Park on Aug. 24, 1919.
Caldwell went the distance in the win as he gave up four hits with three strikeouts, but he nearly didn’t get the complete game.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Caldwell was struck by a bolt of lightning and was unconscious on the mound.
After refusing to leave the game, Caldwell got back up a retired the final hitter to earn the victory.
Historic Moment
Ironically while with the Red Sox, Caldwell had not pitched against the Yankees.
In his fourth start with the Indians, Caldwell made the most of his chance by tossing a no-hitter against his old teammates in the opener of a doubleheader in New York at the Polo Grounds.
The Yankees managed just two base runners. Bill Wambsganss made an error, while Caldwell walked New York catcher Truck Hannah.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Aug. 25) had a few paragraphs that described the game, in which Caldwell also hit a double.
Here’s the final line of the story … “Some performance for a gent supposed to have outlived his usefulness.”
Joe Harris was the offensive star for Cleveland that day with two hits that drove in all of the runs for the Indians in the 3-0 victory.
Caldwell finished the 1919 season at 12-5 with a ERA of 3.06, but with the Indians he was 5-1 and posted a 1.71 ERA.
The World Series
A spitballer, Caldwell was the big part of the Indians making it to the World Series in 1920 as he posted a 20-10 mark with an ERA of 3.86.
However, in the series he made one start and lasted four batters. He got one out, gave up two hits with a walk as the Indians went on to drop the third contest 2-1 as Brooklyn scored twice in the opening frame.
Cleveland would win the next four contests to take the championship five games to one without Caldwell throwing another pitch.
After the 1921 season when he was 6-6, Caldwell’s time in the big leagues was over. He finished with a career record of 134-120.
At the Plate
Like many pitchers during the Deadball Era, Caldwell spent some time in the outfield and had some offensive success.
Probably his best season was in 1918 with the Yankees as he had 44 hits with a .291 average. In his career, he had eight homers and 114 RBI with four long balls in 1915. He also stole 23 bases in his 12 years.