Head was notable for a number of reasons, one of them was the physical challenges he overcame to become a major league baseball player. A natural left-handed pitcher, at the age of 15, Head was involved in a vehicle accident that killed his girlfriend and almost resulted in the amputation of his left arm. After hours of surgery, Head's arm was saved but he could no longer use it to pitch, so he switched and became a right handed pitcher.[2][3]
Head joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940 and after compiling a record of 1–2, was sent back to the minor leagues for additional development.[4] He returned in 1942 and was promoted to the team's starting rotation where he went 10–6 for the season. In 1943, he was not as effective, his record was 9–10, but he recovered in 1944 starting the season 4–3 with a career low ERA of 2.70 before he entered the Army to fulfill his service obligation.[1]
Ed Head (left) with Lew Riggs(right) in Montreal, 1946
After serving in the Army and not pitching in the majors for most of 1944 and all of 1945,[5] Head no-hit the Boston Braves 5–0 at Ebbets Field on April 23, 1946, in his first start of the season.[6] Several weeks later, Head injured his right arm and did not pitch for the remainder of the season. He failed to make the major league club in spring training of 1947, and never pitched in the majors again, his no-hitter being one of the last games he ever pitched.[7]
^ abDavid Finoli (2002) For the Good of the Country: World War II Baseball in the Major and Minor Leagues. Jefferson, N.C.: MacFarland & Company Publishers, p. 266.
^Weintraub, Robert (2013) The Victory Season: The End of World War II and the Birth of Baseball's Golden Age. New York: Little Brown and Company, pp. 112-113.
^McNeil, William F. (2003) The Dodgers Encyclopedia. Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC, pp. 327-328.
^"Baseball in Wartime – Ed Head". BaseballinWartime.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
^Hand, Jack (April 4, 1946) "Ed Head Throws No-Hitter in First Start Since July, 1944" Moberly Monitor-Index, p. 6.
^"Ed (No-Hit) Head Released by Flock" (April 15, 1947) The Stars and Stripes.
^Ballew, Bill (2007). A History of Professional Baseball in Asheville. The History Press. ISBN9781596291768 – via Google Books.
^"Ex-Dodger pitcher, Ed Head, dies at 62". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Sarasota, Florida. Associated Press (AP). February 1, 1980. p. 4-E. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
head, edward, marvin, head, january, 1918, january, 1980, professional, baseball, player, pitched, major, leagues, from, 1940, 1946, pitcherborn, 1918, january, 1918grant, parish, louisiana, died, january, 1980, 1980, aged, bastrop, louisiana, batted, rightthr. Edward Marvin Head January 25 1918 January 31 1980 was a professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1940 to 1946 1 Ed HeadPitcherBorn 1918 01 25 January 25 1918Grant Parish Louisiana U S Died January 31 1980 1980 01 31 aged 62 Bastrop Louisiana U S Batted RightThrew RightMLB debutJuly 27 1940 for the Brooklyn DodgersLast MLB appearanceAugust 25 1946 for the Brooklyn DodgersMLB statisticsWin loss record27 23Earned run average3 48Strikeouts208TeamsBrooklyn Dodgers 1940 1942 1944 1946 Career highlights and awardsPitched a no hitter on April 23 1946Head was notable for a number of reasons one of them was the physical challenges he overcame to become a major league baseball player A natural left handed pitcher at the age of 15 Head was involved in a vehicle accident that killed his girlfriend and almost resulted in the amputation of his left arm After hours of surgery Head s arm was saved but he could no longer use it to pitch so he switched and became a right handed pitcher 2 3 Head joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940 and after compiling a record of 1 2 was sent back to the minor leagues for additional development 4 He returned in 1942 and was promoted to the team s starting rotation where he went 10 6 for the season In 1943 he was not as effective his record was 9 10 but he recovered in 1944 starting the season 4 3 with a career low ERA of 2 70 before he entered the Army to fulfill his service obligation 1 Ed Head left with Lew Riggs right in Montreal 1946After serving in the Army and not pitching in the majors for most of 1944 and all of 1945 5 Head no hit the Boston Braves 5 0 at Ebbets Field on April 23 1946 in his first start of the season 6 Several weeks later Head injured his right arm and did not pitch for the remainder of the season He failed to make the major league club in spring training of 1947 and never pitched in the majors again his no hitter being one of the last games he ever pitched 7 Head managed the Asheville Tourists minor league baseball club in 1949 8 Head died on January 31 1980 at age 62 9 See also editList of Major League Baseball no hittersReferences edit a b David Finoli 2002 For the Good of the Country World War II Baseball in the Major and Minor Leagues Jefferson N C MacFarland amp Company Publishers p 266 Weintraub Robert 2013 The Victory Season The End of World War II and the Birth of Baseball s Golden Age New York Little Brown and Company pp 112 113 Spatz Lyle Ed Head sabr org Society for American Baseball Research Retrieved January 30 2019 McNeil William F 2003 The Dodgers Encyclopedia Champaign Illinois Sports Publishing LLC pp 327 328 Baseball in Wartime Ed Head BaseballinWartime com Retrieved January 30 2019 Hand Jack April 4 1946 Ed Head Throws No Hitter in First Start Since July 1944 Moberly Monitor Index p 6 Ed No Hit Head Released by Flock April 15 1947 The Stars and Stripes Ballew Bill 2007 A History of Professional Baseball in Asheville The History Press ISBN 9781596291768 via Google Books Ex Dodger pitcher Ed Head dies at 62 Sarasota Herald Tribune Sarasota Florida Associated Press AP February 1 1980 p 4 E Retrieved December 25 2017 External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet Ed Head at Find a Grave nbsp AchievementsPreceded byDick Fowler No hitter pitcherApril 23 1946 Succeeded byBob FellerSporting positionsPreceded byCurt Davis Brooklyn Dodgers Opening Day Starting pitcher1943 Succeeded byHal Gregg Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ed Head amp oldid 1161306325, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
