College and Major League Career
Ferriss became the first baseball player to receive a full scholarship to Mississippi State University, and pitched there on the 1941 and 1942 teams. While at Mississippi State he joined the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He was drafted by the Red Sox in 1942, but was then called up for military duty during World War II. After being discharged early from the military because of asthma, he was sent to the Red Sox' minor league team in Louisville, Kentucky. When the Sox made a slow start, Boo was called up, and made his debut for the Sox on April 29, 1945, pitching a two-hitter. He went on to set the American League record for scoreless innings to start a career, with 22. The record was broken by Brad Ziegler of the Oakland Athletics on July 22, 2008.
He compiled a creditable 21-10 record in his rookie season, and followed it with another excellent season in 1946, going 25-6 on the Sox team that won the American League pennant. Ferris started two games for the Sox in the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, winning one of them, but the Sox lost the series 4-3, Ferris getting a no-decision in the deciding game. His record in 1947 was a more workmanlike 12-11. Arm troubles and asthma restricted him to 9 games started in 31 appearances in 1948; by 1950, his playing career was over.
Read more about this topic: Dave Ferriss
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