Herb Pennock

Herbert Jefferis Pennock won 241 games over 22 major league seasons, pitched in five World Series, and did it all with a slow curveball, impeccable control, and a temperament so cool that sportswriters called him "The Squire of Kennett Square." He never threw hard. He never needed to.

Kennett Square

Pennock was born on February 10, 1894, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, a small town in Chester County. His family's wealth came from a road and farm equipment business. He attended prep school and signed with Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics at age 17, debuting in the major leagues in 1912 at age 18.

He pitched sparingly for the Athletics through 1914, appearing mostly in relief. After the 1914 season, Mack broke up his championship team, and Pennock was claimed on waivers by the Boston Red Sox in June 1915. He spent seven seasons in Boston, developing into a reliable left-handed starter. He went 16-8 in 1919 and 12-14 in 1921, but the Red Sox were a declining franchise after selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees, and Pennock's talents were largely wasted on losing teams.

New York

The Yankees acquired Pennock in January 1923, and his career took off. He went 19-6 in his first season in New York, helping the Yankees win their first World Series championship. He went 21-9 in 1924 and 23-11 in 1926, becoming the left-handed complement to Waite Hoyt and the rest of a pitching staff that supported the most powerful lineup in baseball.

Pennock's best postseason performance came in the 1927 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He threw a complete-game victory in Game 3, carrying a perfect game into the eighth inning before Pie Traynor singled. The Yankees swept the Pirates in four games, and Pennock's near-perfect game was the signature pitching performance of the series.

He pitched in five World Series across his career, one with the Athletics (1914) and four with the Yankees (1923, 1926, 1927, and 1932), compiling a 5-0 record with a 1.95 ERA in postseason play. His control was his defining trait. He rarely walked batters, never tried to overpower hitters, and relied on location and movement to get outs. His curveball broke slowly and widely, and batters who sat on it found themselves ahead in the count and behind in the at-bat.

The Front Office

Pennock's playing career ended after the 1934 season. He finished with a career record of 241-162 and a 3.60 ERA. He transitioned into the front office, serving as a coach for the Red Sox and then as general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies beginning in 1943.

He died on January 30, 1948, in New York City, at age 53, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage during the National League meetings. He was elected to the Hall of Fame later that year by the BBWAA.