Spurgeon Ferdinand Chandler (September 12 1907 - January 9 1990) was a right-handed major league starting pitcher for the New York Yankees from 1937 through 1947.

Biography

Chandler is still considered one of the more important pitchers in the dead-ball era of baseball. After graduating from the University of Georgia, near his hometown of Commerce, Georgia where he was born, Chandler began his career which took place only in New York with the Yankees. Looking at his 11-year career statistics from today's standards, they are extremely impressive.

After making his debut on May 6 1937, he went 7-4 that season with a 2.84 ERA and 6 complete games (2 shutouts). He gave up 79 hits in over 82 innings pitched.

By far his most outstanding year came in 1943. His stats were worthy of an MVP award and he got it, beating out Luke Appling of the Chicago White Sox. That year, he went 20-4 in 30 starts, completing 20 of them (5 shutouts). His 20 complete games were first in the league. In 253 innings pitched, he only gave up 46 earned runs, and only 5 home runs. He had 134 strikeouts which was 3rd in the league, although that would not end up being a personal career high (138 in 1946). His 1.64 ERA was good for 1st in the league, and he made the AL all-star team for the 2nd of 4 times in his career. He remains the only Yankee pitcher to win the Most Valuable Player award.

Even his second-to-last year was incredible, finishing with another 20-win season, going 20-8 with a 2.10 ERA (2nd in the league). That year (1946), he also had 20 complete games for the second time in his career.

He and the Yankees won the 1941 World Series, the 1943 World Series, and the hitsoric 1947 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 4 world series, he had a 2-2 record with a 1.62 ERA, 16 strikeouts, and 1 shutout. He also won two more world series in which he did not pitch.

As a batter, he had an average of .201, with a .234 on base percentage. He had 110 hits in 548 at bats in his career.

He ended his career on September 26 1947 when he was 39 years old. His career pitching statistics are most impressive. He was 109-43 in 211 games (109 complete) (26 shutouts), with a 2.84 overall ERA. He had 614 career strikeouts and gave up 64 home runs and 1327 hits.

He died Tuesday, January 9, 1990 in South Pasadena, Florida. He was married and had two sons.

Football

Chandler played football with the University of Georgia, where he was a halfback, while simeltaneously pitching for the Georgia baseball team.

Info

• All-star in 1942, 1943, 1946, and 1947
• Winning pitcher of the 1942 all-star game, for the AL
• MVP in 1943
• Finished 1st in the league in shutouts in 1943 with 5
• Finished 1st in the league in wins in 1943 with 20