Ed Baecht

From BR Bullpen

Edward Joseph Baecht

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 3", Weight 195 lb.

Debut April 24, 1926
Final Game September 3, 1937
Born May 15, 1907 in Paden, OK USA
Died August 15, 1957 in Grafton, IL USA

[edit] Biographical Information

In 1926 the Philadelphia Phillies signed right handed pitcher Ed Baecht to his first contract to pitch professional baseball. At the age of 19 he became the second youngest pitcher to appear in a Major League game that year.

He stayed with the Phillies his entire rookie season, posting a 2-0 record and completed the only start he made that season. He was used primarily as a reliever, getting into 28 games and pitching 56 innings. The Phillies gave Baecht a chance as a starter again in 1927 but after giving up twelve hits and eight runs in only six innings he was sent to the minor leagues. 1928 was much of the same. Baecht pitched 24 innings in 9 games had a 1-1 record with a 6.00 ERA and was sent back to the minors for more seasoning.

Baecht did not return to the majors until 1931, this time as a member of the Chicago Cubs. He wound up with a 2-4 record, pitching 67 innings in 22 games for a 3.76 ERA. He stayed with the Cubs for one inning in 1932 and he was shipped back to the minors again.

He was absent from major league play until 1937 when he resurfaced with the St. Louis Browns. He appeared in three games, giving up 15 runs and 13 hits in 6 1/3 innings for a 12.79 ERA. This was to be his last appearance in major league baseball. His 6 year totals in the majors showed a 5 win, 6 loss count, pitching 160 innings in 64 games and winding up with a 5.56 ERA.

Baecht did spend parts of seven years in the minor leagues where he pitched for seven different teams in five different leagues. His best year was with the 1930 Los Angeles Angels Pacific Coast League team where he won 26 games against 12 losses and a .323 ERA. His ERA figure led the league and his 26 wins tied him for the league lead with Jimmy Zinn of the San Francisco Seals.

Baecht's minor league record was totally different from his major league performance. He finished with a 66 win, 46 loss, count, pitching 1,054 innings in 178 games. he gave up 1,056 base hits, 375 base on balls and 428 earned runs for a decent 3.46 ERA.

Baecht was not in baseball during the 1935 and 1936 years.