Ed Walsh

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Ed Walsh (May 14, 1881 – May 26, 1959), nicknamed "Big Ed," was a standout pitcher and later a manager in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago White Sox from 1904 to 1916 and finished with the Boston Braves in 1917. He managed the White Sox in 1924.

Key facts
- Win–loss record: 195–126; 1,736 strikeouts
- Career earned run average (ERA): 1.82 (a MLB record)
- No-hitter: pitched on August 27, 1911, against the Boston Red Sox
- Championships and leaderboards: World Series champion (1906); AL wins leader (1908); AL ERA leader (1907, 1910); AL strikeout leader (1908, 1911)
- Notable season: 1908 went 40–15 with 269 strikeouts and a 1.42 ERA
- Workhorse pitcher: often pitched around 400–500 innings in a season; set an AL record with 464 innings in a season
- Hall of Fame: inducted in 1946 (via the Old-Timers Committee)

Early life and career
- Born in Plains Township, Pennsylvania, to Michael and Jane Walsh; he grew up working in coal mines.
- Began pro baseball with the Meriden Silverites in 1902, then Meriden again and Newark Sailors in 1903.
- The Chicago White Sox bought his contract for $750 and he debuted in 1904.
- In 1906, his first full season, he went 17–13 with a 1.88 ERA and 171 strikeouts. In Game 3 of the 1906 World Series, he struck out 12 batters, a World Series record at the time.

Career arc and decline
- From 1906–1912, Walsh was one of the game’s best pitchers, averaging about 24 wins and 220 strikeouts per season with many seasons under a 2.00 ERA.
- In 1910 he posted the lowest ERA in the league for a pitcher with at least 20 starts but a losing record.
- He was known for his powerful presence and a pitch that was later banned (the spitball).
- After 1912, arm problems limited his effectiveness. He left the White Sox in 1916, tried a comeback with the Braves in 1917, then retired from MLB. He later umpired in 1922 and coached the White Sox (1923–1924, 1928–1929).

Legacy
- Walsh died in Pompano Beach, Florida, in 1959 at age 78.
- He is remembered as one of baseball’s great pitchers and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.
- His son, Ed Walsh Jr., also played for the White Sox (1928–1932).
- He was later honored in groups like The Sporting News’ 100 Greatest Players list (ranked No. 82 in 1999) and the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame (2011).