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Carl Hubbell Photo Gallery
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The Record Winning Streak of “King Carl” Hubbell!
“Carl Hubbell was the toughest pitcher I ever faced.” –Joe DiMaggio
Eighty years ago yesterday, May 27, 1937 was the anniversary of Carl Hubbell’s major league record 24-game consecutive winning streak. On that day. Hubbell worked two innings in relief at Crosley Field, as the Giants beat the Reds, 3-2. The streak ended a few days later in a 10-3 loss to the Dodgers on May 31. Hubbell’s last loss prior to this one was on July 13, 1936, a 1-0 loss to the Cubs.
In the featured photo below, we see two Hall-of-Fame teammates, Carl Hubbell and Mel Ott. Unfortunately, there is something very tragic associated with this photo.* Read what it is at the bottom of the post.
But first, a few words about the career of the great Giant pitcher, Carl Hubbell:
“King Carl” Hubbell played 16 years in the major leagues (1928-’43), all with the Giants. Famed for his legendary screwball, he was a nine-time All-Star, and two-time MVP. Hubbell is best remembered for his performance in the 1934 All-Star Game where he set a record by striking out five future Hall of Famers in succession: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin.
Over his 16-year career, Hubbell posted a 253–154 record (.622), with a 2.97 ERA, 1678 strikeouts, 260 complete games, and 36 shutouts. Hubbell recorded five consecutive 20-win seasons (1933–37) and helped the Giants win three pennants and the 1933 World Series. In six career World Series starts, he was 4–2 with 32 strikeouts and a 1.79 ERA.
Hubbell led the National League three times in wins and earned run average. In 1933, he led the league in innings pitched (308) and shutouts (10). He led the league in strikeouts in 1937 (159), and strikeouts per nine innings pitched in 1938 (5.23). Hubbell compiled a streak of 46 1⁄3 scoreless innings in 1933. He pitched a no-hitter against the Pirates in 1929, and recorded an 18-inning 1-0 shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 2, 1933.
Upon his retirement in 1943, Giants’ owner Horace Stoneham immediately appointed him as director of player development, a post he held for 35 years. The 1984 All-Star game played at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, marked the 50th anniversary of Hubbell’s legendary 1934 All-Star game performance. Hubbell himself was on hand to throw out the first pitch, a screwball.
Hubbell was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1947. In 1999, he ranked #45 on the Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players. His # 11 has been retired.
*The tragedy associated with the photo: Hubbell died due to injuries suffered in an auto accident in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1988, thirty years to the day after teammate and fellow Hall-of-Famer Mel Ott died of the same cause.
-Gary Livacari
Photo Credits: Leslie Jones Boston Public Library collection; The George Brace Baseball Photo collection; and the Charles Conlon Baseball Photo collection.
Information: Excerpts edited from the Carl Hubbell Wikipedia page.
Statistics from the Carl Hubbell Baseball Reference page
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