September 18 – Happy Birthday George Uhle
After fourteen seasons as one of the upper tier starting pitchers in the Major Leagues, George “The Bull” Uhle had just about reached the end of the line as the 1933 season reached the halfway point. He was only 34 years old at the time but his right arm had already thrown 3,000 big league innings and the New York Giants had just released him. He had been a three-time twenty-game winner with the Indians during the 1920s, leading the league in victories twice and throwing a total of 25 shutouts. The Yankees were the defending 1932 World Champions but they would not be able to catch the upstart Senators who would eventually win the AL Pennant that year. New York picked up Uhle off waivers and Manager Joe McCarthy pitched him exclusively out of the bullpen at first before giving him a semi-regular spot in the starting rotation. Old George responded well by winning six of his seven decisions that year in pinstripes including four complete games. That effort earned him an invitation back the following year but he could not maintain that level of effectiveness. After a comeback try with the Indians failed in 1936, George Uhle retired for good with an even 200 career victories.
The less famous Brett brother is another former Yankee who celebrates his birthday on September 18. You’ll find Ken Brett’s PBB post here. This short-term Yankee third baseman also shares Uhle’s birthday.
| Year | Tm | W | L | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | NYY | 6 | 1 | .857 | 5.16 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 61.0 | 63 | 42 | 35 | 4 | 20 | 26 | 1.361 |
| 1934 | NYY | 2 | 4 | .333 | 9.92 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16.1 | 30 | 19 | 18 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 2.265 |
| 17 Yrs | 200 | 166 | .546 | 3.99 | 513 | 368 | 114 | 232 | 21 | 25 | 3119.2 | 3417 | 1635 | 1384 | 119 | 966 | 1135 | 1.405 | |
| CLE (11 yrs) | 147 | 119 | .553 | 3.92 | 357 | 267 | 65 | 166 | 16 | 15 | 2200.1 | 2442 | 1137 | 959 | 58 | 709 | 763 | 1.432 | |
| DET (5 yrs) | 44 | 41 | .518 | 3.91 | 128 | 92 | 34 | 62 | 5 | 10 | 828.1 | 866 | 425 | 360 | 53 | 224 | 332 | 1.316 | |
| NYY (2 yrs) | 8 | 5 | .615 | 6.17 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 77.1 | 93 | 61 | 53 | 7 | 27 | 36 | 1.552 | |
| NYG (1 yr) | 1 | 1 | .500 | 7.90 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.2 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1.610 | |
Pinstripe Birthdays 