Elmer Steele

Elmer Rae Steele

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 200 lb.

• Debut September 12, 1907
• Final Game October 9, 1911
• Born May 17, 1884 in Muitzes Kill, NY USA
• Died March 9, 1966 in Poughkeepsie, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Elmer Steele pitched in 75 major league games over 5 seasons (1907-1911), mostly with the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates. His career marks of 2.41 ERA, 2.50 FIP and 1.041 WHIP all rank among the ten best results for modern era pitchers with careers including 40 or more starts and fewer than 1,000 IP. Steele's 0.831 WHIP in 1908 remains the modern era record for rookie starting pitchers.

Elmer took a perfect game into the 9th inning in his one-hit shutout of the Brooklyn Dodgers while pitching for the Pirates on August 16, 1911. Exactly a month later, Brooklyn purchased his contract from the Pirates, and he pitched the final 5 games of his career for them, without a decision.

In 1909, Steele (listed on his BR page only as "Steele") had a very full year, playing for both the Boston Red Sox (16 games) and the American Association's St. Paul Saints. In 18 games for St. Paul he posted 10 wins against 6 losses. In addition, he registered the club's best batting record for pitchers that year with his .235 average.

Career Highlights

• 0.831 WHIP (1908), lowest by a rookie starting pitcher (min. 100 IP) since 1900
• Pitched a one-hit complete game shutout on August 16, 1911
• 100 IP seasons averaging 2 WAR per 100 IP: 1 (1908)
• 100 IP seasons averaging 1 WAR per 100 IP: 2 (1908, 1911)

Related Sites

• Elmer Steele at the SABR Bio Project