Willis Hudlin

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