Bill Doak

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Bill Doak
Bill Doak
Pitcher
Born: January 28, 1891
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Died: November 26, 1954 (aged 63)
Bradenton, Florida
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 1912
for the Cincinnati Reds
Final game
May 13, 1929
for the St. Louis Cardinals
Career statistics
Pitching Record     169-157
Earned run average     2.98
Strikeouts     1014
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Bill Doak was born January 28, 1891, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He played 11 years with the St. Louis Cardinals teams. In 1914, he went 20-6 with a league leading 1.72 ERA. Doak won 20 games in 1920. Doak led the NL in ERA again in 1921. Doak was traded to the Brooklyn Robins in mid-1924.

He returned to St. Louis for a short stint in 1929 before retiring. His lifetime record is 169-157, with an ERA of 2.98 and 1014 strikouts. Even though Doak played with many unremarkable teams, he is among the Cardinals' top ten in eight pitching categories, with his 32 shutouts second behind Bob Gibson.

Doak's main pitch was the spitball. When the pitch was outlawed in 1920, Doak was one of seventeen pitchers allowed to continue throwing the spitball.

His most lasting contribution to the sport was for an improved baseball glove. In 1920, he suggested to Rawlings that a web should be laced between the first finger and thumb. He said it would create a natural pocket. The Bill Doak glove soon replaced all other baseball gloves and is the standard to this day.

He died November 26, 1954 in Bradenton, Florida.

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Preceded by
Christy Mathewson
National League ERA Champion
1914
Succeeded by
Pete Alexander
Preceded by
Pete Alexander
National League ERA Champion
1921
Succeeded by
Phil Douglas