Jesse Haines

Jesse Joseph Haines
(Pop)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.

• Debut July 20, 1918
• Final Game September 10, 1937
• Born July 22, 1893 in Clayton, OH USA
• Died August 5, 1978 in Dayton, OH USA

Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1970

BR page

Biographical Information

Jesse Haines debuted with the Cincinnati Reds in 1918, making one relief appearance. The St. Louis Cardinals purchased his contract before the 1920 season, and Haines remained a Cardinal for the rest of his 19-year career. Haines posted eleven consecutive seasons (1920-1930) in which he qualified for the ERA title, recording 10 or more complete games each of those seasons, and winning 10 or more games in all but one of those campaigns. Included were three 20-win seasons, and a world championship season in 1926. Haines pitched a no-hitter against the Boston Braves on July 17th, 1924. Haines lost significant time to injury in 1931 but was still effective when healthy as the Cardinals won their second world championship during his tenure.

In his rookie season in 1920, Haines compiled a streak of 20 consecutive games as a starting pitcher without allowing a home run, the longest such streak to begin a live ball era career (Clay Bryant would match Haines's feat in 1938). Haines pitched effectively well into his forties, transitioning late in his career to a swingman role, pitching mainly in relief but also starting occasionally. Haines pitched in this new role in his third world championship season in 1934. He hit a home run while pitching a complete game shutout in the 1926 World Series; Bucky Walters is the only other pitcher to do this.

Haines is the Cardinal franchise leader in Games Pitched, and ranks second (to Bob Gibson) in career Wins, CG and IP for the Cardinals.

After his playing career ended, he was a Brooklyn Dodgers coach in 1938.

His first baseball card appearance was in the 1921 Exhibit set.

"When I saw how hard a nice old man like Pop took losing a game, I realized why he'd been a consistent winner. I never forgot how much Haines expected of himself and others." Terry Moore.

Notable Achievements

• NL Winning Percentage Leader (1931)
• NL Games Pitched Leader (1920)
• NL Complete Games Leader (1927)
• 2-time NL Shutouts Leader (1921 & 1927)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 4 (1921, 1923, 1927 & 1928)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 3 (1923, 1927 & 1928)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 7 (1920, 1921, 1923-1925, 1927 & 1928)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1920 & 1927)
• Won three World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals (1926, 1931 & 1934) (he did not play in the 1931 World Series)
• Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1970

Career Highlights

• pitched 20 consecutive games as starting pitcher (April 17, 1920 to July 12, 1920) not allowing a home run, tied for the longest streak to begin a live ball era career
• pitcher no-hit shutout against Boston Braves on July 17, 1924

Further Reading

• Gregory H. Wolf: "Jesse Haines", in Charles F. Faber, ed.: The 1934 St. Louis Cardinals: The World Champion Gas House Gang, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2014, pp. 131-137. ISBN 978-1-933599-731

Related Sites

• Jesse Haines at the SABR Bio Project