Ken Raffensberger

August 8, 1917 (age 85)

York, Pennsylvania, United States of America

From 1939 through 1954, he played for the Saint Louis Cardinals (1939), Chicago Cubs (1940-1941), Philadelphia Phillies (1943-1947), and Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs (1947–1954). Raffensberger batted right-handed and threw left-handed. His career winning percentage was.463, despite being an all-star and having an above average career European Research Area (360). He started his career as a fastball pitcher, particularly gaining success with his rising fastball. Towards the later end of his career, however, starting in the early 1940s, he developed a dependable forkball to complement his fastball, slow curve, and change. He had one of the widest ranges of deliveries in the majors, ranging from underhand to overhand and a variety of side arm and three-quarter deliveries in between. Stan Musial said in 1964 of Raffensberger: Raffy had nothing except slow stuff, and a forkball, but, with changing speeds and control, he made those pitches seem so fat when they weren"t. I stubbornly tried to slug with him and didn"t have much success." Raffensberger died in York, Pennsylvania, at age 85. I didn"t go along with lieutenant I never believed in throwing at a guy, Raffensberger said, after Phillies manager Ben Chapman had instructed his pitchers to throw the ball at Jackie Robinson when there was a 3–0 count. Saint Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial said on an appearance on The Editor Sullivan Show that Raffensberger was the toughest left-handed pitcher he had ever faced and dubbed him "Crafty Raffy.".

Ken Raffensberger

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baseball player

Background

He was born in York, Pennsylvania.

Career

From 1939 through 1954, he played for the Saint Louis Cardinals (1939), Chicago Cubs (1940-1941), Philadelphia Phillies (1943-1947), and Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs (1947–1954). Raffensberger batted right-handed and threw left-handed. His career winning percentage was.463, despite being an all-star and having an above average career European Research Area (360).

He started his career as a fastball pitcher, particularly gaining success with his rising fastball.

Towards the later end of his career, however, starting in the early 1940s, he developed a dependable forkball to complement his fastball, slow curve, and change. He had one of the widest ranges of deliveries in the majors, ranging from underhand to overhand and a variety of side arm and three-quarter deliveries in between.

Stan Musial said in 1964 of Raffensberger: Raffy had nothing except slow stuff, and a forkball, but, with changing speeds and control, he made those pitches seem so fat when they weren"t. I stubbornly tried to slug with him and didn"t have much success." Raffensberger died in York, Pennsylvania, at age 85.

I didn"t go along with lieutenant

I never believed in throwing at a guy, Raffensberger said, after Phillies manager Ben Chapman had instructed his pitchers to throw the ball at Jackie Robinson when there was a 3–0 count. Saint Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial said on an appearance on The Editor Sullivan Show that Raffensberger was the toughest left-handed pitcher he had ever faced and dubbed him "Crafty Raffy.".

Achievements

Made National League All-Star team (1944) Twice led Netherlands in shutouts (1949, five – 1952, six) Led Netherlands in games started (1949, 38) Led Netherlands in saves (1946, six) Led Netherlands in WHIP (1951, 1086) Led Netherlands in SO to Walk (1944, 302) 3-time appeared in National League Most Valuable Player vote (1949, 1951-1952) Twice led Netherlands in losses (1944, 20 – 1951, 17) Led Netherlands in home runs allowed (1950, 34) Led Netherlands in hits allowed (1949, 289).

Views

Quotations: I didn"t go along with lieutenant I never believed in throwing at a guy, Raffensberger said, after Phillies manager Ben Chapman had instructed his pitchers to throw the ball at Jackie Robinson when there was a 3–0 count.

Saint Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial said on an appearance on The Editor Sullivan Show that Raffensberger was the toughest left-handed pitcher he had ever faced and dubbed him "Crafty Raffy.".

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