Major League Career
Ruffing made his major league debut in 1924 with the Boston Red Sox, pitching without a decision over 23 innings of work. He saw regular playing time with the Sox over the next few years but had limited success, garnering a 39–96 record in five-and-a-half years with Boston. However, the Red Sox were in the midst of the darkest period in their history, and Ruffing usually got abysmal run support. His best year, in terms of earned run performance, came in 1928, when he posted a 3.89 ERA. However, even in that year, he only had a 10–25 record.
Ruffing's career was revived by a mid-season trade in 1930 which sent him to the New York Yankees for Cedric Durst. This deal is now reckoned as one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history; 1930 proved to be Durst's last year in the majors. Buoyed by the offensive production of greats Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, Ruffing won 15 games after the trade with a 4.14 ERA. Ruffing eventually turned into an ace, winning 20 games or more four times in a row from 1936 to 1939, and striking out a league high 190 batters in 1932. He regularly contended for the ERA crown, twice posting ERAs under 3.00, and appeared in seven World Series, won six (1932, 1936–1939 and 1941), and posted a 7-2 career post-season record with a 2.63 ERA.
On August 13, 1932, Ruffing threw a complete game shutout and hit a 10th inning home run off Washington Senators pitcher Tommy Thomas to give the New York Yankees a 1-0 victory. Ruffing is one of only three pitchers in major league history to win a game 1-0, hit a home run in the game, and strike out ten or more batters. The others are Early Wynn, who achieved the feat in 1957, and Yovani Gallardo, who did it in 2009.
After missing the 1943 and 1944 seasons due to the war, Ruffing was forty, and nearing the end of his career, upon returning in 1945. After moving to the Chicago White Sox in 1947, he retired. He finished his career with 273 wins, 225 losses, 1987 strikeouts and a 3.80 ERA. Ruffing could also handle the bat fairly well compared to other pitchers, hitting 36 home runs and batting .269 in 1937 career at-bats.
Ruffing holds the American League record for most runs and earned runs allowed.
Read more about this topic: Red Ruffing
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