Grover Alexander

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Lore & Background

Alexander's career was defined by a stark contrast between on-field dominance and personal struggle. While he secured three pitching Triple Crowns (1915, 1916, 1920) and set a single-season record with 16 shutouts in 1916, his life off the mound was plagued by alcoholism. This issue began during the 1915 season and worsened after World War I. Serving as a sergeant in France with the 342nd Field Artillery Regiment, he was exposed to German mustard gas and an exploding shell that caused partial hearing loss and triggered epilepsy. Upon returning to the United States on April 1919 via the SS Rochambeau, his seizures were frequently misinterpreted as drunkenness, exacerbating his drinking problem. These struggles led the Chicago Cubs to sell him to the St. Louis Cardinals mid-season in 1926 for the waiver price; Cubs manager Joe McCarthy reportedly stated he would rather finish last without Alexander than with him. Despite these challenges, Alexander delivered one of baseball's most legendary performances in the 1926 World Series Game 7. Sent to the mound drunk and still feeling the effects after a night of celebration, he entered in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and two outs against Tony Lazzeri. He struck out Lazzeri and held the Yankees scoreless for two more innings, preserving the win even as Babe Ruth was thrown out attempting to steal second base.

In Their Own Story

The journey from a posthole digger in Howard County to baseball immortality began with a recommendation by future scout Patsy O'Rourke. In 1909, Alexander played for the Galesburg Boosters, posting a 15–8 record with a 1.36 ERA before a baserunning injury struck him down. He recovered by 1910 to post a 29–11 record for the Syracuse Stars, leading to his sale to the Philadelphia Phillies for $750 ($25,915 in current terms). O'Rourke received a $100 bonus and two tickets to the 1915 World Series as a reward. Alexander's debut on March 11, 1911, was a pre-season loss to the Birmingham Barons, but he quickly showcased his power by no-hitting the Athletics for five innings in the City Series on April 6 before his official April 15 debut. His rookie campaign shattered records with 28 wins and 367 innings pitched. The 1915 season marked a high point where he led the Phillies to their first pennant, pitching a record five one-hitters. However, the glory was shadowed by personal demons; the same year he won his first World Series game (the opener), he began battling alcohol that would haunt him for life. Later, after being traded to the Cubs and serving in WWI, he returned to baseball with physical scars from mustard gas and shell shock. His final major league victory came in August 1929, a moment the media initially celebrated as breaking Christy Mathewson's record, until it was later discovered Mathewson had an additional qualified win, resulting in a tie at 373.

Reader's Guide

Grover Cleveland Alexander played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1911 through 1926 and returned briefly in 1930. During his tenure, he established himself as one of the greatest pitchers in National League history. His statistical achievements with the franchise include leading the league in wins five times (1914–17, 1920), innings pitched six times (1912, 1914–17, 1920), and strikeouts six times (1912, 1914–1917, 1920). He also led the league in shutouts five times, including the single-season record of 16 in 1916. Alexander holds the National League record with 90 career shutouts and is tied for first in NL wins with Christy Mathewson at 373. His fielding was exceptional for his era, committing only 25 errors in 1,633 chances for a .985 percentage. As a hitter, he accumulated 378 hits in 1,810 at-bats for a .209 average with 11 home runs and 163 RBIs over his 20-year career. Notably, Alexander holds the distinction of having the most career wins of any pitcher who never threw a no-hitter. In recognition of his contributions, the Phillies retired the block-letter "P" from their 1915 uniforms in 2001 to honor him, as he played before the team adopted uniform numbers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938, becoming the only player elected that year.

Did You Know?

• Alexander was named after President Grover Cleveland because his parents were Democrats and he was born during the president's first term.
• He is the only pitcher in history to record the most career wins without ever throwing a no-hitter.
• In the 1926 World Series Game 7, Alexander struck out Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded while still drunk from celebrating the previous night's victory.
• Alexander served as a sergeant in France during WWI, where exposure to mustard gas and an exploding shell caused partial hearing loss and epilepsy.
• The nickname 'Old Pete' originated as 'Alkali Pete,' given by Bill Killefer after a hunting trip in Texas due to Alexander's dusty appearance.