Willis Hudlin

Willis Hudlin
Pitcher
Born: (1906-05-23)May 23, 1906 Wagoner, Oklahoma
Died: Little Rock, Arkansas
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 15, 1926, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
August 31, 1944, for the St. Louis Browns
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	158–156
Earned run average	4.41
Strikeouts	677
Teams
Cleveland Indians (1926–1940) Washington Senators (1940) St. Louis Browns (1940, 1944) New York Giants (1940)
Career highlights and awards
18 wins in 1927

George Willis Hudlin (May 23, 1906 – August 5, 2002) was born in Wagoner, Oklahoma, and was a Major League Baseball pitcher for, most notably, the Cleveland Indians from 1926 to 1940. Hudlin didn't pitch more than 10 games with any other team, although he played with 3 others.

In 1940, Hudlin became one of the few players to compete on 4 different major league teams in the same year (Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and the New York Giants). His career statistics include a 158–156 record, with a 4.41 ERA. He had 677 strikeouts in 2613 career innings pitched. Hudlin was the pitcher who gave up Babe Ruth's 500th home run.

His pitch selection included a well-known sinker, a fastball, curveball and a changeup. He occasionally threw sidearm or with an underhand "dip of the wrist", though he threw overhand most often. After Hudlin finished playing in the majors, he was a manager for the minor league Little Rock Travelers.

He later became a scout for the New York Yankees where he scouted his own son James Hudlin who was given a contract to play in the Majors, but was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War.

James Hudlin's pitch selection was a knuckleball, Slider, Curve, Sinker, as well as a 2 Seam fastball that topped out at 102 mph.

Willis died in Little Rock, Arkansas at the age of 96.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference

Preceded by n/a

Detroit Tigers pitching coach 1957–1959

Succeeded by Tom Ferrick