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Rise and Fall of a Baseball Giant · Nebraska History Podcast

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The following episode features a historic article from the
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Nebraska History magazine. This article may reflect the
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language and attitudes of its time, and, while it offers
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valuable insight into the past, may contend expressions or
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viewpoints that are outdated or offensive by today's standards.
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Any outdated terms do not reflect the current views or
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perspectives. Of the Nebraska State Historical
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Society. Welcome to the Nebraska History
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Podcast. I'm your host, Chris Goforth.
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Each episode we explore articles written and published in
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Nebraska History Magazine. With baseball season in full
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swing, we look back at the career of a Hall of Fame player
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right here from Nebraska and revisit his professional
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successes as well as his personal struggles.
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On this episode, we look back at the article, His own worst
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Enemy. The Rise and Fall of Grover
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Cleveland Alexander written in 1990 by Andrea I Paul.
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The life of Grover Cleveland Alexander, a Nebraska farm boy
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who scaled the heights of baseball greatness and died
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poverty stricken and virtually friendless in his hometown, was
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marked by great successes professionally and miserable
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personal failures as the third winningest pitcher in Major
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League history. The legend known as Alexander
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the Great holds National League records for victories, career
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shutouts and complete games, the rookie record for victories and
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the season record for shutouts. In 1-3 year span.
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He won 94 games for the Philadelphia Phillies.
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The height of his success came in 1926 when he pitched the
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Saint Louis Cardinals to a world championship, in the process
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striking out Tony Lazary with the bases loaded in what many
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consider to be the game's most famous strikeout.
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In contrast to his baseball career, Alexander's personal
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life was marred by physical and emotional problems.
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Deafened by artillery shells during World War One, he also
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suffered from epilepsy. It is unclear whether these
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afflictions contributed to his alcoholism, a problem that
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reached legendary proportions. After a 20 year Major League
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career, Alexander was removed from the lineup by the Cardinals
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after a drinking binge and ended his career with a barnstorming
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House of David team. After his retirement from
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organized baseball, Alexander joined a New York flea circus
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and appeared in a penny arcade, earning pocket money by
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answering questions about his glory days.
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Only a few months after his 1939 induction into baseball's Hall
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of Fame, Alexander summed up his financial condition by
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complaining. Quote.
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They gave me a tablet up at Cooperstown Hall of Fame, but I
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can't eat any tablet. End Quote.
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Twice married and divorced from the same woman, Grover Cleveland
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Alexander died alone in a St. Paul, NE rooming house on
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November 4th, 1950. The son of William Alexander, an
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Elba, Nebraska farmer, and his wife Martha, Grover Cleveland
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Alexander was born on February 26th, 1887, and was named after
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the President of the United States.
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Baseball's influence was strong in rural areas during the early
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years of the century, and it's likely that Grover and his
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twelve brothers were involved in the sport during their
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childhood. In reviewing his local career,
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the Saint Paul Phonograph reported in 1926 that Grover
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Alexander played with the Elba team as well as other local
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teams that needed a good pitcher.
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In the fall of 19 O seven, he attracted outside attention when
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he pitched a game for Ord at the Valley County Fair, winning
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eight to nothing while striking out 13 batters.
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During a game the next day he held Ord's opponents scoreless
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for four innings, earning another victory and a reputation
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in central Nebraska. In 19 O 8, Alexander was working
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for the Howard County Telephone Company doing field construction
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work and earning $1.75 a day. His Sundays were spent playing
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baseball for the Saint Paul team.
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In June he was recruited by the Central City team, and on June
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30th he recorded his first victory for his new team by
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Downing Aurora 7 to 2. The local newspaper referred to
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the new picture as George Alexander, a mistake the
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reporter would not make again, and claimed that his pitching
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quote proved to be a mystery to the South Platt Warriors.
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End Quote. During that season with Central
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City, Alexander's pitching remained a mystery to the
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opposition as he won 21 games, including a no hitter, while
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losing only four contests. From Central City, Alexander
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went on to Burwell, where he pitched during September and
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early October of 19 O 8, compiling a winning record.
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Among his victories were two against celebrated Greens
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Nebraska Indians, one of the best semi pro teams in the
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Midwest. Word of Alexander's success
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reached semi professional teams outside Nebraska in 19 O 9.
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His professional career began when Alexander signed a contract
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with Galesburg of the Illinois Missouri League.
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Alexander's physical attributes over 6 feet in height with red
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hair and freckles were immediately reported by a
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Galesburg newspaperman who described him as quote a blonde
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of the Ruddy type with the build of a switch engine.
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Manager Yap Wagner figures he can see the big strawberry
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Slinger floating up puzzles to the opposing batsman already and
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is much taken with his looks. End Quote.
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The Galesburg Boosters first Test was an exhibition game
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against hometown Knox College, a six to four win.
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Alexander ended the game as a relief pitcher, keeping his
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collisions quote guessing all the time.
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End Quote. His legendary pinpoint control
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was not yet evident as he walked three batters during his brief
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appearance. He was back in form for the
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season opener against Monmouth, striking out nine men but still
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losing the game 5:00 to 4:00 because of three errors
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committed by his teammates. After two victories over Pekin
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in mid-May, A1 hitter in which Alexander himself got three
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hits, and a shutout in which Alexander struck out 16, the
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Galesburg press nicknamed him Alexander the Great.
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The Saint Paul newspapers followed Alexander's success
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with unabashed Glee, although the nickname attached to him in
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the local press was Dode. After his first victory over
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Pekin, the Saint Paul Phonograph Press reported.
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Quote, It is evident that Dode has won a home in Galesburg.
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May he continue to strike them out every game.
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And quote, There were many highlights in Alexander's first
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season of organized baseball. In one game, Alexander hit a
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ball out of the park over a Regal Shoe sign in left field.
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He received a bonus of $10 after the players passed a hat among
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the fans and presented the collection to Alexander after
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the game. In addition, he was awarded a
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pair of Regal shoes. In another game, Alexander led
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the Boosters to A1 to nothing 11 inning victory over Pekin,
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allowing only five hits by the opposition and driving in the
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winning run himself. As his fame grew, Alexander was
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given another nickname. Oh you Alexander to be read OU
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Alexander and was sometimes referred to as OU Alex.
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After Alexander pitched a no hitter against Canton on July
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22nd, the Galesburg newspaperman took dramatic license to
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describe the game and the front page news of a local fire quote
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emulating the example of Nero who fiddled with Rome was
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consumed by the flames. Alexander the Great fiddled with
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Canton while the Methodist religious edifice went up in
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smoke. End Quote.
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Alexander's next game was even more spectacular, as he made
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league history by pitching an 18 inning, 1 to nothing victory.
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He allowed only eight hits, not giving up any hits during the
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first nine innings of the game and striking out 19 batters
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overall. Alexander's extraordinary season
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came to an end just a few days later in a freak accident which
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occurred while he was running the bases.
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Alexander was on first base when the ball was hit to the second
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baseman, who tossed the ball to the shortstop, forcing out
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Alexander. In attempting to throw out the
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runner at first for the double play, the shortstop struck
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Alexander in the head with the ball, knocking him unconscious.
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For the next three weeks, Alexander remained in bed while
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he tried to stand up. He complained of dizziness and
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problems with his eyes. In an effort to help Alexander
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receive the treatment he needed and to dump perhaps permanently
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injured player, the Galesburg franchise sold him to
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Indianapolis of the American Association.
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In Indianapolis, Alexander was placed under the care of an eye
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specialist for the remainder of the season.
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The best wishes of his Saint Paul neighbors went with
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Alexander as the Saint Paul Phonograph Press wrote.
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Quote. We hope to be able to tell our
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readers within a short time of his complete recovery and that
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he is back in the game once more doing his usual effective work.
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End Quote. Although Alexander didn't pitch
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for Indianapolis that season, he did return to Saint Paul to
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pitch for the locals against Scotia on October 1st, against
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Greeley on October 3rd, and against N Loop 2 days later.
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His blurred vision gone, Alexander won all three games,
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causing the local press to brag. Quote With Dode on the hill for
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the locals, we can take care of any team in this section of the
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country. End Quote.
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Alexander never got a chance to pitch for Indianapolis because
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the manager felt his injury was a career ending one.
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In what was considered by Indianapolis management to be a
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shrewd move, Alexander was unloaded to the Syracuse Stars
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of the New York State League in a cash deal.
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Ultimately, it was Syracuse that benefited from this transaction,
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as Alexander won 29 games for the Stars in 1910, pitching 13
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shutouts over the season and holding the opposition scoreless
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over the last 52 innings that he worked.
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After pitching and winning both games of a doubleheader against
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Wilkes Bar on June 20th, Alexander also won a new
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nickname, Iron Man. Until then, the Stars were mired
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in 6th place. Alexander soon began a streak in
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which he would win his last 12 games.
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By October 27th, with league leading Wilkes Barre in Syracuse
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to face the Stars in a doubleheader, Syracuse had moved
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into second place after shutting out Wilkes Bar 4 to nothing.
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The Syracuse Journal claimed that Alexander had, quote,
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accomplished what no other player has even come close to
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doing, and he has substantial cause to feel proud, although he
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isn't. Alexander is one of those
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unassuming chaps that takes things as they come, good, bad
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or indifferent. He is the same quiet individual
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all the time, however his friends, and he has many of
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them, did the gloating for him. End Quote His army of friends in
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Saint Paul met him at the depot after the 1910 season ended to
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congratulate him on his accomplishments and to claim
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that big Sorrel top is the king when it comes to them in
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pitching. The local fans were anxious to
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see Alexander pitch before he joined the Major League
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Philadelphia Phillies the next season.
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They got their opportunity in September and October as he beat
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Ravenna and Ord easily carrying his shutout streak through 62
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successive innings. Despite his exceptional season
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with Galesburg and Syracuse, Alexander was not a shoe in to
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make the Phillies roster. The Philadelphia sports writers
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were withholding judgement until they could see Alexander tested
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against a worthy opponent. Alexander got his chance in an
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exhibition game against crosstown rival and reigning
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world champions, the Philadelphia Athletics.
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To everyone's surprise, he held Connie Mack's team hitless
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during his five inning appearance.
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The Saint Paul newspaper picked up the story from Philadelphia
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and reported. Quote 5 mixed veterans and
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Busher curvers scaled the pitching peak and all did high
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class work. But honors easily belong to
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Emperor Alexander, the Giant pitcher from Syracuse.
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And quote. By June 1st, Alexander's record
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stood at 8:00 and 2:00, tops in the National League.
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The Philadelphia press concluded that he was a consistent winner
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because of his quote, torpedo speed and unhittable curve.
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End Quote. By the end of his rookie season,
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Alexander led the league in victories with 28, shutouts with
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seven, complete games with 31 and innings pitched at 367.
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Alexander's praises were sung by Phillies fans, particularly in
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his hometown of Saint Paul, where praises were sung in
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rhymed verse. On his return to Saint Paul at
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the end of his first Major League season, he was greeted by
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hundreds of fans. After winning 28 games for the
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Phillies, Alexander's Saint Paul fans were upset with the salary
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of $3200 offered by the team for the next season, calling
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Alexander unappreciated. The Saint Paul phonograph
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adopted the local favorites cause by stating quote if it
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hadn't been for the Saint Paul's ball player this year, the
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Phillies would have never been heard of during the time they
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were making history on the ball field.
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It was the big fellow from here that's doing all the work.
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End Quote. Alexander returned to the
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Phillies in 1912 and although his win loss ratio of 19 and 17
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was somewhat disappointing, he led again the league in innings
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pitched. His earned run average was 2.81,
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well below the three-point O mark.
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The number considered the dividing line between an average
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pitcher and a superior one. Over the next five years,
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Alexander compiled A stunning record of 143 wins and 50 losses
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for the Phillies, nearly three times as many victories as
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defeats. During the seasons of
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191419151916 and 1917, he led the league in victories and
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innings pitched. Three of those years he led the
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league in ERA, according to his contemporaries.
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Alexander's most amazing feat was pitching 16 shutouts in
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1916, four in a row coming in Baker Bowl, a cracker box of a
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stadium that was the Phillies Home Park.
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The right field wall only 280 feet from home plate, invited
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left-handed hitters to pull the ball that way.
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Rube wrestler who batted against Alexander while playing for the
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Cincinnati Reds, said. Quote, I always felt that
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perhaps Grover Cleveland Alexander was the greatest of
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all of them because of the conditions under which he played
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16 shutouts in 1916 in Baker Bowl, where there was
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practically only a running track between first base in the right
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field wall. Only a giant could do a thing
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like that. End Quote.
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Certainly the Phillies greatest achievement during Alexander's
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peak years was their first Pennant and subsequent
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appearance in the 1915 World Series.
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In the series, Alexander pitched 1V over the Boston Red Sox, the
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Phillies only victory in the five game series.
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Although the Phillies also appeared in the World Series in
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1950, it wasn't until their 1980 appearance that another Phillies
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pitcher notched a World Series win.
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In his second game, Alexander allowed the Red Sox only two
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runs, but his teammates could not solve the opposing pitcher
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and the Phillies went down in defeat.
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After the 1917 season, Alexander and catcher Bill Killifer were
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traded to the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Mike Pendergast, catcher
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Pickles Dillhoffer, and around $55,000.
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The Phillies were known for running a tight fisted operation
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and Alexander's steadily increasing salary up to $7000 in
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1915 and the $55,000 cash incentive led to the completion
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of the deal. World War One disrupted the
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baseball careers of many and Alexander spent most of 1918
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serving in France with the 342nd Field Artillery.
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Controversy surrounded Alexander's arrival in the Army
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as some newspapers had pinned the label of draft Dodger upon
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the 31 year old star. The Saint Paul phonograph,
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always Alexander's staunch supporter, came to his defense
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by detailing his, quote, perfect willingness to go to war and his
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biggest single piece of patriotism when he invested $500
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in a third Liberty Loan bonds and quote.
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Alexander was married to Amy Eretz, a Saint Paul neighbor,
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before being sent to Europe. He went overseas with the 89th
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Division and saw service in the Argoni, rising to the rank of
16:56
Sergeant. He endured what appeared to be
16:59
minor shrapnel wound to his right ear.
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This injury would later require medical attention.
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On his return to Major League Baseball in 1919, Alexander
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became the mainstay of the Cubs pitching staff, recording
17:13
sixteen wins and leading the league with a 1.72 ERA.
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After the 1920 season, he was proclaimed the league's leading
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pitcher after notching 27 wins and for a second year in a row,
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allowing the fewest runs per game.
17:29
During his years with the Cubs, Alexander's reputation for
17:33
drinking came into public view. According to his wife, his
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drinking became a problem after his return from Europe.
17:40
The nation's prohibition law did not stand in the way of
17:43
Alexander, who as a professional ball player found it easy to
17:47
gain admittance into speakeasies wherever the Cubs played.
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In 1926, Joe McCarthy became the new Cubs manager.
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According to Amy, problems started when Alexander broke his
17:59
ankle and McCarthy, who had to pass the hospital every day, did
18:03
not choose to visit the ailing superstar early in the season.
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Alexander had to be sent back to Chicago after a drinking bench
18:11
and he was placed on indefinite suspension.
18:15
The Cubs placed Alexander on waivers and the Cardinals player
18:18
manager Rogers Hornsby, picked up the veteran pitcher for
18:21
$6000. At the age of 39, the man called
18:25
Old Pete by his teammates made his first start for the
18:28
Cardinals and beat McCarthy's Cubs 3:00 to 2:00.
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He went on to win nine of his 16 starts for his new team and
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helped to propel the Cardinals to their first Pennant.
18:39
It is ironic that Alexander's most remembered achievement is a
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game that he saved rather than one in the 1926 World Series
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against the New York Yankees. Alexander easily beat the
18:51
heavily favored Yankees of Ruth and Gehrig in games two and six
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by scores of 6:00 to 2:00 and 1:50.
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The World Championship was to be determined by Game 7.
19:04
The stories of Alexander's appearance in that final game
19:07
are many. According to some, Alexander
19:10
knew that he might be called upon to pitch that game, so he
19:13
held off on a victory celebration after his game six
19:16
win. Others claim that Alexander
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celebrated so thoroughly the night before that he quote,
19:21
practically needed a seen eye dog to guide him back to the
19:24
bullpen and quote when he was called up to protect the
19:27
Cardinals 3 to 2 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.
19:32
When Alexander arrived at the pitcher's mound, the Yankees had
19:35
the bases loaded and Tony Lazari at the plate.
19:39
Lazari, a rookie who had played in the Pacific Coast League a
19:42
year before, had acquired the nickname Push Him Up by batting
19:47
222 runs for his minor league team.
19:51
During his first year with the Yankees, Lazari had knocked in
19:54
114 runs, second only to Babe Ruth after starting Lazari out
20:00
with a ball. Alexander delivered a called
20:02
strike on the next pitch. Lazari lashed at an inside
20:06
fastball that whistled down the left field line and curved foul
20:10
at the last moment, Alexander later recalled.
20:13
Quote, a few feet more and he'd have been the hero and I would
20:17
have been the bomb. End Quote.
20:20
On the next pitch, Alexander broke off a sharp curve low in a
20:24
way that Lazari missed. To many, this was the most
20:29
famous strikeout in World Series history.
20:33
It should not be forgotten, however, that Alexander came
20:36
back to hold the Yankees hit list for the final two innings,
20:39
preserving the Cardinals victory.
20:42
Although Alexander asserted that Cardinals starting pitcher Bill
20:46
Shirtle was the hero of the series, the Saint Ball press
20:49
would have none of it. Never prone to understatement,
20:53
the Saint Paul phonograph viewed Alexander's performance as,
20:56
quote, a wonderful exhibition of nerve and good judgement.
21:01
That is why we verily believe Alexander was a Superman when he
21:05
faced the Yanks on last Sunday afternoon and pulled the game
21:09
from the yawning abyss of defeat and safely stowed it in the
21:13
archives of the Baseball Commission, where it will remain
21:16
for all time as one of the greatest feats in World Series
21:20
conflicts. And again, we claim Alexander as
21:24
the hero of the series and entitled to all the credit for
21:27
winning the World's Series. End Quote.
21:31
Alexander's homecoming celebration attracted some
21:34
20,000 people on October 27th, 1926.
21:38
The Saint Paul phonograph detailed the day's events, which
21:42
included a baseball game between Ord and Howard County players,
21:45
speeches in honor of Alexander, the presentation of a watch
21:49
charm to the hero, a barbecue in which some 12,000 sandwiches
21:53
were served, and a street dance that lasted until midnight.
21:57
During the 1927 season, the 40 year old Alexander recorded 21
22:02
wins for the Cardinals with a 252 ERA.
22:06
He contributed 16 victories to the Pennant winning effort of
22:09
1928, but his World Series appearances that year were a
22:13
contrast to his showing two years earlier.
22:16
Pitching in two games against the Yankees, the Bronx Bombers
22:19
had their revenge on Alexander by scoring nine runs in the five
22:23
innings that he worked. The Yankees swept the Cardinals
22:26
easily. In four games in 1929.
22:30
The veteran pitcher won nine and lost 8, maintaining a record of
22:34
never having a losing season. With his ninth victory that
22:37
year, Alexander recorded his 373rd win, putting him one win
22:42
ahead of Christy Mathewson and atop the National League list of
22:46
career win leaders. It was to be Alexander's last
22:50
Major League victory. After a colossal drinking binge
22:54
in Philadelphia, where he disappeared for three days, he
22:58
was placed on vacation at full pay rather than suspended for
23:02
the rest of the season. That winter he was traded to the
23:05
Phillies, the team with which he had first gained stardom.
23:09
He lost his three decisions with the Phillies in 1930 and was
23:12
released earlier in the season. Alexander retired believing that
23:17
he had captured the National League mark for total career
23:19
victories, third in the major leagues behind Cy Young and
23:23
Walter Johnson. Ironically, in the late 1940s, a
23:27
statistician discovered that Christy Mathewson had won a game
23:31
in 19 O2 for which he had not been given credit, thus placing
23:35
Matthewson and Alexander in a tie for the National League
23:38
career victories. By that time, it was much too
23:42
late for Alexander to break the record.
23:44
The remaining years of Alexander's life were marred by
23:47
frustration, illness, and poverty.
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Amy had divorced him in 1929 after stating in court that
23:54
Alexander had tried to take the cure 6 times.
23:58
That had reverted to his old habits shortly after each
24:01
attempt. If from 1931 to 1936 he played
24:06
with the traveling House of David team.
24:09
Unlike his religiously influenced teammates, Alexander
24:12
was permitted to shave every day.
24:14
He tried to land a job as a Major League pitching coach or a
24:18
manager, but his reputation ensured that he would not be
24:21
considered. The $250,000 that Alexander was
24:26
thought to have earned during his career had long been spent
24:30
on high living. He was in and out of both jail
24:33
and court, once being sued for $25,000 for the alienation of
24:38
affection by a Saint Paul husband of Alexander's childhood
24:42
sweetheart. He faced a variety of charges in
24:45
Omaha in 1930, most related to violation of liquor laws.
24:49
Although he and Amy were remarried in 1931, his promise
24:53
to her that he would quit drinking was soon broken.
24:57
However, Alexander's remarriage apparently served to convince
25:00
the wronged St. Paul husband to drop his suit.
25:04
In 1936, Alexander was thrown out of his Evanston IN hotel
25:09
room for non payment of rent. He awoke in a local hospital,
25:13
unable to explain how he had received a large lump on his
25:16
head. By 1939, he could be found
25:20
sharing billing with a trained flea in New York.
25:23
He was able to support himself by answering baseball questions
25:27
and by serving as a greeter at a local Tavern under the title.
25:32
One of the greatest pitchers of all time now walks the streets
25:36
looking for a job and a bite to eat.
25:38
A Saint Louis newspaper chronicled Alexander's situation
25:41
in 1944. At that time, he was living in
25:45
Cincinnati. He had gone there as part of a
25:48
lecture tour and had awakened alone after the other members of
25:51
the tour had left. He then worked as a guard at
25:55
Wright Aeronautical Corporation and as a cafe floor manager.
25:59
Both Giles were too hard on his legs and at the time the article
26:03
was written, Alexander was unemployed and wondering if he
26:06
would be expelled from his current hotel room.
26:09
He was also worried about his right ear, which had been nearly
26:12
eaten away by an infection related to his World War 1
26:15
shrapnel wound turning up in Long Beach, CA 4 years later,
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Alexander had lost his right ear and the hearing in his left ear
26:24
was impaired. The local newspaper there
26:27
reported that he had recently fallen down the stairs of an
26:30
Albuquerque hotel. Later that year, Alexander was
26:34
arrested in East Saint Louis when he was found wandering
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through the streets in his pajamas.
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Wherever he went during his last years, a story would appear in
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the local press detailing his pathetic condition.
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Alexander returned to Saint Paul in 1950 with a new lease on life
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after being hired by the American Legion to serve as an
26:54
advisor to their junior baseball program.
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Alexander's assignment was to tour Nebraska during the summer,
27:00
teaching good sportsmanship and providing coaching tips.
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His first tour stop was Saint Paul and the Town, set May 24th
27:09
as Grover Cleveland Alexander Day.
27:12
Unlike his 1926 homecoming, the people of Saint Paul chose to
27:16
ignore their native son and largely avoided the parade, the
27:19
baseball game, banquet, and Nebraska Navy Admiralship
27:23
presentation. The Saint Paul phonograph
27:26
chastised its readers by stating that the celebration quote would
27:29
have been a much bigger one if more folks would have bothered
27:33
to attend And pay respect to a man who has brought fame and
27:36
recognition to their hometown, even though he has had his ups
27:41
and downs. End Quote.
27:44
That same year, the Phillies won their first Pennant since 1915,
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when Alexander had LED them with 31 victories.
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After associates had made arrangements, Alexander attended
27:55
the last two games of the World Series in New York.
27:58
Unrecognized in the crowd and by the press.
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Back in Saint Paul, he found himself unable to get a drink in
28:05
town as the local bartenders refused to serve him.
28:09
In a letter to Amy, from whom he was divorced again in 1941,
28:14
Alexander expressed his discontent with life in Saint
28:17
Paul, writing quote. I can't figure out why I was
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such a fool to come here to be treated as I am and after the
28:23
days when I had been heard of. End Quote.
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Less than a month after penning that line, Grover Cleveland
28:29
Alexander, at the age of 63, was found dead in his rooming house.
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His old team, the Saint Louis Cardinals, paid for Alexander's
28:39
steel casket and his Funeral services.
28:42
He was buried in Saint Paul's Elmwood Cemetery in the
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Alexander family plot. At the time of Alexander's
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death, nationally syndicated columnist Grantland Rice
28:53
recalled Alexander to be the most cunning, the smartest and
28:57
the best control pitcher that baseball had ever seen.
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He wrote. Quote above everything else.
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Alex had one terrific feature to his pitching.
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He knew just what the batter didn't want and he put it there
29:11
to the half inch. I would say that Alex was top
29:15
man among hurlers. He knew more about the true art
29:19
or science of pitching and quote, it was Alexander's
29:23
tragedy that although he could control a baseball, he could not
29:27
control his life or his destiny. Thank you for listening to the
29:32
Nebraska History Podcast. To learn more about Nebraska
29:35
History Magazine, to listen to more podcasts, or to support our
29:38
podcast by becoming a member of the Nebraska State Historical
29:41
Society, go to history.nebraska.gov/podcast.
29:44
And don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and get notified
29:47
when we release new episodes on your favorite podcast platform.
29:50
Until next time, I'm Chris Goforth.