Player Profile

Biography / Info

• Big Ed Walsh played baseball from 1904 to 1917. Besides being one of the best pitchers during his era, he was a very confident man, a flashy dresser and liked to burst into song.
• As a young man, Ed worked in the local coal mine and played on the company's team. While working there, he developed strong shoulders and arms to throw on his 6'1" frame.
• In 1902, he pitched for the Wilkes-Barre club of the Pennsylvania League. When the league folded, he moved up to the Meriden club of the Connecticut League where he went 15-5. The next season he won 11 games for Meriden and after being purchased in July by Newark of the Eastern League, he went on to win another 9 games. 
• The 20 win season got the attention of White Sox owner Charles Comiskey, who purchased his contract for a mere $750. Comiskey liked his solid fastball and his good work ethic. Walsh was invited to the clubs spring training in 1904. He roomed with Elmer Stricklett, a minor league pitcher who threw a spitball and passed on his knowledge to Walsh. Ed didn't use the pitch until he mastered it a couple of years down the line, instead he focused on improving his fielding and pickoffs to first base.

His Playing Days

• 1906: Ed led the league in shutouts and was third in strikeouts, but more importantly led the White Sox, also known that season as the "Hitless Wonders", to a World Series title. The Series, as it turned out would be the only one he'd participate in as he won both games he pitched in.
• 1907: Walsh led the league in games, games started, innings pitched, complete games and earned run average.
• 1908: Ed worked 7 of the teams final 9 games during a wild 4 team pennant chase. He went 4-1 during the stretch only losing to Cleveland's Addie Joss, who threw a prefect game. The season was Ed's best as he led the league in wins, games, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched and strikeouts. The glorious season earned him a $3500 bonus from the especially frugal Comiskey. 
• 1910: Despite a below .500 record, he still led the league in games, shutouts and earned run average.
• 1911: Walsh tossed the only no hitter of his career in a game versus the Boston Red Sox.  Once again he led the league in games, innings pitched, shutouts and strikeouts.
• 1912: Led the league in games, innings pitched and shutouts. This was the last year Walsh would lead the league in any pitching categories.
• 1913: The overwork caught up with Walsh and his arm went bad.
• 1916: After seeing only limited action the previous 4 seasons, Ed asked Comiskey for a year off to rest his arm. Instead he gave Walsh his release. 
• 1917: Picked up by the Boston Braves, he pitched in only 4 games while his old club went on to a 6 game World Series triumph over the New York Giants.

Post Major League

• 1919: With his major league playing days behind him, Walsh briefly returned to organized baseball pitching in 4 games with the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association.
• 1920: Managed the Bridgeport team of the Eastern League. Took the hill three times and went 1-1.
• 1922: Late in the season, American League President Ban Johnson got Walsh a job as an AL umpire. After only a few weeks, Walsh quit the job saying it was 'all jeers and no cheers".
• 1923-1925: Walsh returned to the White Sox, this time as coach.
• 1926: Served as coach for the Notre Dame baseball team.
• 1928-1930: Coached again in Chicago, this time his son Ed Jr. was on the club. His son, however, never turned into a legend and was out of baseball in 1932.

Hall of Fame

• Big Ed Walsh was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1946.

Career Statistics