George Caster

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George Jasper Caster (August 4, 1907 - December 18, 1955), nicknamed "Ug," was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics (1934-35. 1937-40), St. Louis Browns (1941-45), and Detroit Tigers (1945-46). Born in Colton, California, Ug appeared in 376 major league games and compiled a record of 76-100 in 1377-2/3 innings pitched. In 1936, he led the Pacific Coast League with 25 wins and 234 strikeouts for the Portland Beavers.[1] He later led the American League in games lost 1938 (20) and 1940 (19) and was #2 in losses in 1937 (19). In 1941, Luke Sewell converted Caster into a relief pitcher, and he had the best seasons of his career as the Browns' lead reliever from 1942-1944. (David Alan, "As Good as it Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns" (Arcadia 2003), p. 28.) He led the American League with 12 saves in 1944 and had career-high Adjusted ERA+ ratings of 131, 157, and 147 between 1942 and 1944. In 1945, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers and went 5-1 in 22 relief appearances to help them win the American League pennant. Caster pitched 2/3 of an inning in the 1945 World Series and did not allow a hit. Caster is also remembered as the pitcher who gave up Jimmie Foxx's 500th Home Run.[2] Caster died in 1955 at age 48 in Lakewood, California.

[edit] See also

• 1945 Detroit Tigers season
• List of Major League Baseball saves champions

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference