Biography

Red Ames - Leon "Red" Ames started pitching professionally in 1901 with Zanesville, Ohio, then went to Ilion of the New York State League for the 1902-03 seasons. In 1903 with Ilion, Ames went 12-12 with an impressive 221 strikeouts in 229 innings, earning a late-season call-up with the New York Giants. Red made the most of his first opportunity by tossing five hitless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 14, 1903. The umpire called the game due to darkness, giving Ames an auspicious win in his major-league debut. When he pitched a complete-game five-hitter in his next start, the 21-year-old rookie put himself in good position to win a job with the Giants for the 1904 season. "Red" was a spot-starter for the 1904 pennant-winning Giants but enjoyed his most successful season in 1905, posting a nine-game winning streak en route to a 22-8 record with a 2.74 ERA and 198 strikeouts in 262.2 innings. Often plagued by wildness, the right-hander often ranked among the league leaders in walks per nine innings. In 1905 he set a dubious modern record by uncorking 30 wild pitches. In the World Series that year, Red pitched only one inning in relief as McGraw went with Christy Mathewson and Joe McGinnity, who completely shut down the Philadelphia Athletics. Red Ames' curveball was one of the Deadball Era's most erratic pitches, but despite his frequent bouts of wildness the right-hander managed to hang on for 17 seasons in the National League, compiling a 183-167 record with a 2.63 ERA. Ames had the knack for losing tough, close games, becoming known as the unluckiest pitcher in baseball.

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