Jack Chesbro

John Dwight Chesbro (June 5, 1874 - November 6, 1931) was a Major League Baseball pitcher at the turn of the 20th century. He was nicknamed "Happy Jack".

Chesbro, a spitballer (spitballs were legal until 1920), broke into the majors in 1899 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He pitched for the Pirates until 1902 and in his final year went an astonishing 28-6 with a 2.17 ERA.

In 1903 Chesbro moved to the newly formed New York Highlanders (soon to be New York Yankees) and pitched the franchise's first game. In 1904 he had one of the finest years in the history of pitching, starting 51 games and finishing 48 while posting a 1.82 ERA and 41 wins over 454.7 innings pitched.

Chesbro retired in 1909, having accumulated a 198-132 career record and been part of two pennant-winning teams (in 1901 and 1902).

Chesbro was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.

External links

• Baseball Hall of Fame biography