Al Hollingsworth (baseball)

Albert Wayne Hollingsworth (February 25, 1908 – April 28, 1996) was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1935–40 and 1942–46, most notably with the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Browns. Born in Cincinnati, he stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 174 pounds (79 kg). He broke into baseball as a minor league first baseman, and his nickname—"Boots"—was given to him after he had committed an error while fielding that position.^[1] Hollingsworth became a full-time pitcher during the 1933 season, his sixth in pro ball.

Hollingsworth was a member of the 1944 Browns, the only St. Louis-based team to win an American League pennant. Ironically, 1944 was Hollingsworth's worst regular season among the four full years he spent as a Brown; he won only five of 12 decisions, posted a poor 4.47 earned run average, and surrendered 108 hits and 37 bases on balls in 92⅔ innings pitched, with only 22 strikeouts. He appeared in Game 4 of the "All-St. Louis" 1944 World Series, allowing one run in four innings pitched in relief of starting pitcher Sig Jakucki.^[2] He had two stellar seasons for the Browns, however, in 1942 and 1945, each time compiling winning records with an ERA of under 3.00.

Hollingsworth was also involved in a noteworthy trade earlier in his career when, on June 13, 1938, he was sent by Cincinnati to the Philadelphia Phillies along with catcher Spud Davis and $50,000 in cash for right-handed pitcher Bucky Walters, who would win 160 of 267 decisions during his Cincinnati pitching career, and help lead the Reds to the 1939 and 1940 National League pennants, and the 1940 World Series championship.

Hollingsworth appeared in 315 Major League games pitched, 185 as a starting pitcher. In 1,520⅓ innings, he allowed 1,642 hits and 587 bases on balls, with 608 strikeouts, seven shutouts and 15 saves. His professional playing career lasted for 20 consecutive seasons, including minor league service. He then became a manager in the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians organizations, the pitching coach for the Cardinals from April 29, 1957, through 1958, and a scout for the Redbirds, Washington Senators, Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics.

See also

• List of St. Louis Cardinals coaches

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)