Jack Pfiester

John Albert Pfiester (May 24, 1878 – September 3, 1953), was a professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1903 to 1911.

Jack Pfiester
Pitcher
Born: (1878-05-24)May 24, 1878 Cincinnati, Ohio
Died: October 3, 1953(1953-10-03) (aged 75) Loveland, Ohio
Batted: Right Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 8, 1903, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last MLB appearance
May 10, 1911, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	71–44
Earned run average	2.02
Strikeouts	503
Teams
Pittsburgh Pirates (1903–1904) Chicago Cubs (1906–1911)
Career highlights and awards
2× World Series champion (1907, 1908) NL ERA leader (1907)

Pfiester was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. In his rookie season in 1906, Pfiester finished with a 1.51 ERA (one of the best rookie seasons by any pitcher ever), and he went on to finish with a 1.15 ERA in 1907. His career ERA was 2.02, the 3rd lowest among pitchers with 1,000+ innings thrown, and he had a .617 winning percentage. On September 23, 1908 against the New York Giants he pitched a complete game (which involved Giant first baseman Fred Merkle’s infamous boner, which resulted in the game ending in a tie), allowing five hits, all with a dislocated tendon in his pitching forearm. He had to be assisted off the field a few times after throwing curve balls. As soon as the game ended he went to Ohio to be treated, and his tendon was snapped back into place by trainer Bonesetter Reese.

Although Bonesetter got Pfiester throwing again, it would prove to be only a matter of time before the wear and tear got to Pfiester. In 1909, Pfiester posted 17 wins and a 2.43 ERA in his last full season. Over the next two years he would make 20 more appearances as a major league pitcher, and by the age of 33 he was done. After Pfiester's playing career ended, he and his wife settled in Ohio with their son, Jack Jr. Pfiester died in Loveland, Ohio, at the age of 75.[1]

Pfiester was the starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of the 1908 World Series, the team's last championship until 2016. He was also the winning pitcher of Game 2 of the 1907 World Series.