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{{Short description|American baseball player (1892–1986)}}
{{Infobox MLB retired
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Joe Oeschger
|name=Joe Oeschger
|image=Joe Oeschger baseball card for Boston Nationals Uniform 1922.JPG
|caption=1922 baseball card of Oeschger
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|image=
|bgcolor1=#263473
|bgcolor2=#A50024
|textcolor1=white
|textcolor2=white
|bats=Right
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date|1892|5|24}}
|birthdate=[[May 24]], [[1892]]<br>{{city-state|Chicago|Illinois}}
|birth_place=[[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
|deathdate={{death date and age|1986|7|28|1892|5|24}}<br>{{city-state|Rohnert Park|California}}
|death_date={{death date and age|1986|7|28|1892|5|24}}
⚫
|debutdate= [[April 21]]
|death_place=[[Rohnert Park, California]], U.S.
⚫
|debutyear= 1914
|debutleague = MLB
⚫
|debutteam= [[Philadelphia Phillies]]
⚫
|debutdate=April 21
⚫
|finaldate=[[September 6]]
⚫
|debutyear=1914
⚫
|debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies
|finalleague = MLB
⚫
|finaldate=September 6
|finalyear=1925
|finalyear=1925
|finalteam= [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Brooklyn Robins]]
|finalteam=Brooklyn Robins
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win (baseball)|Pitching record]]
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=82-116
|stat1value=82–116
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=3.81
|stat2value=3.81
|stat3label=[[Strikeouts]]
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=535
|stat3value=535
|teams=<nowiki></nowiki>
|teams=
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] (1914-1919, 1924)
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{baseball year|1914}}–{{baseball year|1919}})
* [[San Francisco Giants|New York Giants]] (1919, 1924)
* [[New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]] ({{baseball year|1919}})
* [[Atlanta Braves|Boston Braves]] (1919-1923)
* [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] ({{baseball year|1919}}–{{baseball year|1923}})
* [[New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]] ({{baseball year|1924}})
⚫
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Brooklyn Robins]] (1925)
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{baseball year|1924}})
|highlights=<nowiki></nowiki>
⚫
* [[Brooklyn Robins]] ({{baseball year|1925}})
}}
}}


'''Joseph Carl Oeschger''' (May 24, 1892 – July 28, 1986) was an American [[pitcher]] in [[Major League Baseball]]. He played for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]], [[New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]], [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]], and [[Brooklyn Robins]] from 1914 to 1925. Oeschger is best known for holding the Major League Baseball (MLB) record for the most innings pitched in a single game. In 1920, both Oeschger and [[Leon Cadore]] pitched 26 innings for their respective teams in [[Brooklyn Dodgers 1, Boston Braves 1 (26 innings)|a game]] that was eventually called a tie due to darkness.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2013 |title=The day the pitchers went 26 innings |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/35687/the-day-the-pitchers-went-26-innings |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Brooklyn Robins vs Boston Braves Box Score: May 1, 1920 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN192005010.shtml |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> After his baseball career ended, Oeschger was a teacher for the [[San Francisco Board of Education]] for 27 years.
'''Joseph Carl Oeschger''' ([[May 24]], [[1892]] &mdash; [[July 28]], [[1986]]; born in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] and died in [[Rohnert Park, California]]) was a [[starting pitcher]] in [[Major League Baseball]].


== Early life ==
On [[September 8]], [[1921]], Oeschger struck out three batters on nine pitches in the fourth inning of an 8-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Oeschger became the fourth National League pitcher and the fifth pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the [[Pitchers who struck out three batters on nine pitches|nine-strike/three-strikeout half-inning]]. Oeschger shares a [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] record for the most innings pitched in a single game (26). In 1920, both Oeschger and [[Leon Cadore]] pitched 26-innings for their respective teams in a game that was eventually called a tie due to darkness.
Oeschger was born in [[Chicago]], one of six children of immigrants from Switzerland. In 1900 his family moved to [[Ferndale, California]], where Joe's father bought {{convert|100|acre|km2}} of land and established a [[dairy farming|dairy ranch]].<ref name="SABR">{{cite web
| last =Green | first =John | title =Joe Oeschger | work =SABR Baseball Biography Project | publisher =Society for American Baseball Research | date =
| url =http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/69bc1732 | format = | doi = | access-date = November 6, 2012 }}</ref> Joe and his three brothers all attended [[Ferndale Unified School District#Ferndale High School|Ferndale High School]], where they played baseball. After high school, Joe attended and played baseball at [[Saint Mary's College of California]], graduating in 1914, seven years after fellow major leaguer [[Harry Hooper]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joe Oeschger Remembers |url=http://research.sabr.org/journals/joe-oeschger |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=research.sabr.org}}</ref>

== MLB career ==
=== Early career ===
Oeschger began his MLB career with the Philadelphia Phillies in the [[1914 Philadelphia Phillies season|1914 season]]. He won four games, while losing eight, and posting a 3.77 [[earned run average]].<ref name=stats>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/oeschjo01.shtml|access-date=February 11, 2009|title=Joe Oeschger|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He pitched in a handful of games during the 1915 and 1916 seasons before becoming a full-time starter in 1917. That season he had 15 wins against 14 losses and a 2.75 earned run average.<ref name=stats/> Oeschger then led the league in losses during the 1918 season with 18 and had an earned run average of 3.03.<ref name=stats/> One of the few highlights of his season was his [[shutouts in baseball|shutout]] against the Brooklyn Robins on April 22.<ref name=onlythree>{{cite news |title=ROBINS' SONG IS A DIRGE.; Phillies Again Send Them to Defeat, with Score 3 to 0.|page=14|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=New York Times|date=September 20, 1924}}</ref> He also tied for the league lead in [[save (baseball)|saves]], with three.<ref name=stats/> On May 27, 1919, Oeschger was traded from the Phillies to the New York Giants for [[Ed Sicking]] and [[George Smith (National League pitcher)|George Smith]].<ref name=stats/> He only pitched in five games for the Giants before being included in a trade to the Braves for [[Art Nehf]].<ref name=stats/>

=== Longest game ===
{{further|Brooklyn Dodgers 1, Boston Braves 1 (26 innings)}}
[[File:Ferndale CA JC Oeschger Field NSGW.JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|A baseball field is named for Oeschger in Ferndale, California. The plaque commemorates the longest game of baseball ever played.]]
On May 1, 1920, the Braves and Robins played at Boston in front of a crowd of 4500 spectators.<ref name=longestgame>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YisDAAAAMBAJ&q=Joe+Oeschger&pg=PA78|access-date=February 11, 2009|date=November 2000|pages=78–80|title=Marathon Games for Starting Hurlers Are Ancient History|author=Jerome Holtzman|author-link=Jerome Holtzman|publisher=Baseball Digest}}</ref> Oeschger started for the Braves, and Leon Cadore started for the Robins. The game was held scoreless until the top of the fifth inning, when [[Ernie Krueger]] scored on an [[Ivy Olson]] single.<ref name=longestgame/> In the sixth inning [[Walton Cruise]] tripled, then scored on a [[Tony Boeckel]] single.<ref name=longestgame/> The game was eventually ruled a tie after 26 innings because of darkness.<ref name=longestgame/> Oescheger only gave up 9 hits the entire game, while Cadore allowed 15. Oeschger had one hit in nine trips to the plate, a double.<ref name=hitsallowed>{{cite news |title=Brooklyn and Boston Battle for 26 innings|page=5|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=St. Petersburg Evening Independent|date=May 2, 1920}}</ref> If they had played one more inning the pitchers would have played the equivalent of three games.<ref name=longestgame/>

For the rest of the 1920 season Oescheger won 15 games with a 3.46 earned run average.<ref name=stats/>

=== Later career ===
On September 8, 1921, Oeschger became the fourth pitcher in major league history to throw an [[List of Major League Baseball pitchers who have thrown an immaculate inning|immaculate inning]], striking out all three batters on a total of nine pitches in the fourth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats17.shtml|title=Immaculate Innings: 9 Pitches – 9 Strikes – 3 Outs|work=Baseball-Almanac.com|publisher=Baseball Almanac|access-date=April 28, 2013}}</ref> He had his only 20-win season that year, which was the third-best in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]].<ref name=stats/> He also had a lack of control, leading the league in [[walk (baseball)|walks]] with 97, and [[hit by pitch]]es with 10.<ref name=stats/>

Oeschger then collapsed the next two seasons, having a combined total of 36 losses with only 11 wins, and an earned run average over 5.<ref name=stats/>

On November 11, 1923, Oeschger and [[Billy Southworth]] were traded from Boston to the New York Giants for [[Dave Bancroft]] and [[Casey Stengel]].<ref name=trade>{{cite news |title=Dave Bancroft Named Leader of Braves|page=16|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Schenectady Gazette|date=November 12, 1923}}</ref> Oeschger played for the Giants and Phillies in 1924, and he finished his MLB career with the Robins in 1925. For his career he had 83 wins and 116 defeats and never appeared in a [[World Series]].<ref name=retired/>

==Later life==
Oeschger later moved to San Francisco, where he taught [[physical education]] for the San Francisco Board of Education for 27&nbsp;years.<ref name=retired>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yjMDAAAAMBAJ&q=Joe+Oeschger&pg=PA77|access-date=February 11, 2009|date=July 1970|page=77|title=What Ever Became of Joe Oeschger|author=Bob Duvall|publisher=Baseball Digest}}</ref> Throughout his life, Oeschger continued to receive autograph requests for pitching the 26-inning game. He had copies of the [[box score]] made and sent them out with his signature.<ref>{{cite book | last = Macht | first = Norman | editor-last = Charlton | editor-first = James | contribution = The 26-Inning Duel | title = Road Trips | year = 2004 | page = 107 | publisher = [[Society for American Baseball Research]] | isbn = 978-0-910137-96-6}}</ref> He was invited to throw out the first pitch of game three of the [[1983 World Series]] that pitted the Philadelphia Phillies against the [[Baltimore Orioles]]. He died in [[Rohnert Park, California]], at age 94.<ref name="latimes">{{cite news|title=Baseball's longest game: Duel till dusk|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/131980395/|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=May 1, 2003|first=Howie|last=Stalwick|page=117|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 18, 2023|archive-date=October 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002065459/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/131980395/|url-status=live}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
⚫
* [[List of Major League Baseball saves champions]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual shutout leaders]]
* [[Pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches]]
⚫
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{baseballstats|br=o/oeschjo01}}
{{Baseballstats|mlb=119945|br=o/oeschjo01|brm=oeschg001jos}}
*{{Find a Grave}}


{{Atlanta Braves Opening Day starting pitchers}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Oeschger, Joe}}


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Oeschger, Joe}}
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[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:1892 births]]
[[Category:1892 births]]
[[Category:1986 deaths]]
[[Category:1986 deaths]]
⚫
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Phillies players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Phillies players]]
[[Category:New York Giants baseball players]]
[[Category:New York Giants (baseball) players]]
[[Category:Boston Braves players]]
[[Category:Boston Braves players]]
[[Category:Brooklyn Robins players]]
[[Category:Brooklyn Robins players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from Illinois]]
[[Category:Providence Grays (minor league) players]]
[[Category:Mission Bells players]]

[[Category:Oakland Oaks (baseball) players]]

[[Category:Mobile Bears players]]
{{baseball-pitcher-1890s-stub}}
[[Category:Saint Mary's Gaels baseball players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Chicago]]
[[Category:American people of Swiss descent]]
[[Category:People from Ferndale, California]]

Latest revision as of 06:43, 27 May 2024

Joe Oeschger
1922 baseball card of Oeschger
Pitcher
Born: (1892-05-24)May 24, 1892
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died: July 28, 1986(1986-07-28) (aged 94)
Rohnert Park, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 21, 1914, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
September 6, 1925, for the Brooklyn Robins
MLB statistics
Win–loss record82–116
Earned run average3.81
Strikeouts535
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Joseph Carl Oeschger (May 24, 1892 – July 28, 1986) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants, Boston Braves, and Brooklyn Robins from 1914 to 1925. Oeschger is best known for holding the Major League Baseball (MLB) record for the most innings pitched in a single game. In 1920, both Oeschger and Leon Cadore pitched 26 innings for their respective teams in a game that was eventually called a tie due to darkness.[1][2] After his baseball career ended, Oeschger was a teacher for the San Francisco Board of Education for 27 years.

Early life

[edit]

Oeschger was born in Chicago, one of six children of immigrants from Switzerland. In 1900 his family moved to Ferndale, California, where Joe's father bought 100 acres (0.40 km2) of land and established a dairy ranch.[3] Joe and his three brothers all attended Ferndale High School, where they played baseball. After high school, Joe attended and played baseball at Saint Mary's College of California, graduating in 1914, seven years after fellow major leaguer Harry Hooper.[4]

MLB career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Oeschger began his MLB career with the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1914 season. He won four games, while losing eight, and posting a 3.77 earned run average.[5] He pitched in a handful of games during the 1915 and 1916 seasons before becoming a full-time starter in 1917. That season he had 15 wins against 14 losses and a 2.75 earned run average.[5] Oeschger then led the league in losses during the 1918 season with 18 and had an earned run average of 3.03.[5] One of the few highlights of his season was his shutout against the Brooklyn Robins on April 22.[6] He also tied for the league lead in saves, with three.[5] On May 27, 1919, Oeschger was traded from the Phillies to the New York Giants for Ed Sicking and George Smith.[5] He only pitched in five games for the Giants before being included in a trade to the Braves for Art Nehf.[5]

Longest game

[edit]
Further information: Brooklyn Dodgers 1, Boston Braves 1 (26 innings)
A baseball field is named for Oeschger in Ferndale, California. The plaque commemorates the longest game of baseball ever played.

On May 1, 1920, the Braves and Robins played at Boston in front of a crowd of 4500 spectators.[7] Oeschger started for the Braves, and Leon Cadore started for the Robins. The game was held scoreless until the top of the fifth inning, when Ernie Krueger scored on an Ivy Olson single.[7] In the sixth inning Walton Cruise tripled, then scored on a Tony Boeckel single.[7] The game was eventually ruled a tie after 26 innings because of darkness.[7] Oescheger only gave up 9 hits the entire game, while Cadore allowed 15. Oeschger had one hit in nine trips to the plate, a double.[8] If they had played one more inning the pitchers would have played the equivalent of three games.[7]

For the rest of the 1920 season Oescheger won 15 games with a 3.46 earned run average.[5]

Later career

[edit]

On September 8, 1921, Oeschger became the fourth pitcher in major league history to throw an immaculate inning, striking out all three batters on a total of nine pitches in the fourth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies.[9] He had his only 20-win season that year, which was the third-best in the National League.[5] He also had a lack of control, leading the league in walks with 97, and hit by pitches with 10.[5]

Oeschger then collapsed the next two seasons, having a combined total of 36 losses with only 11 wins, and an earned run average over 5.[5]

On November 11, 1923, Oeschger and Billy Southworth were traded from Boston to the New York Giants for Dave Bancroft and Casey Stengel.[10] Oeschger played for the Giants and Phillies in 1924, and he finished his MLB career with the Robins in 1925. For his career he had 83 wins and 116 defeats and never appeared in a World Series.[11]

Later life

[edit]

Oeschger later moved to San Francisco, where he taught physical education for the San Francisco Board of Education for 27 years.[11] Throughout his life, Oeschger continued to receive autograph requests for pitching the 26-inning game. He had copies of the box score made and sent them out with his signature.[12] He was invited to throw out the first pitch of game three of the 1983 World Series that pitted the Philadelphia Phillies against the Baltimore Orioles. He died in Rohnert Park, California, at age 94.[13]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The day the pitchers went 26 innings". ESPN.com. May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Brooklyn Robins vs Boston Braves Box Score: May 1, 1920". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  3. ^ Green, John. "Joe Oeschger". SABR Baseball Biography Project. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  4. ^ "Joe Oeschger Remembers". research.sabr.org. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Joe Oeschger". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
  6. ^ "ROBINS' SONG IS A DIRGE.; Phillies Again Send Them to Defeat, with Score 3 to 0". New York Times. Associated Press. September 20, 1924. p. 14.
  7. ^ a b c d e Jerome Holtzman (November 2000). Marathon Games for Starting Hurlers Are Ancient History. Baseball Digest. pp. 78–80. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
  8. ^ "Brooklyn and Boston Battle for 26 innings". St. Petersburg Evening Independent. Associated Press. May 2, 1920. p. 5.
  9. ^ "Immaculate Innings: 9 Pitches – 9 Strikes – 3 Outs". Baseball-Almanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  10. ^ "Dave Bancroft Named Leader of Braves". Schenectady Gazette. Associated Press. November 12, 1923. p. 16.
  11. ^ a b Bob Duvall (July 1970). What Ever Became of Joe Oeschger. Baseball Digest. p. 77. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
  12. ^ Macht, Norman (2004). "The 26-Inning Duel". In Charlton, James (ed.). Road Trips. Society for American Baseball Research. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-910137-96-6.
  13. ^ Stalwick, Howie (May 1, 2003). "Baseball's longest game: Duel till dusk". Los Angeles Times. p. 117. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
[edit]
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