Dolf Luque
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| Dolf Luque | ||
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| Pitcher | ||
| Born: August 4, 1890 Havana, Cuba |
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| Died: July 3, 1957 (aged 66) Havana, Cuba |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | ||
| May 20, 1914 for the Boston Braves |
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| Final game | ||
| April 26, 1935 for the New York Giants |
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| Career statistics | ||
| Pitching Record | 194-179 | |
| Earned run average | 3.24 | |
| Strikeouts | 1130 | |
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| Career highlights and awards | ||
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Adolfo Domingo De Guzmán "Dolf" Luque (August 4, 1890–July 3, 1957), was an early 20th century Cuban starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.
A native of Havana, Luque debuted with the Boston Braves in 1914. In 1918, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, with whom he would play the next 12 seasons. In the notorious 1919 World Series, he appeared in two games as a relief pitcher. Luque also played for the Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers from 1930 to 1931 and with the New York Giants from 1932 to 1935. He was with the Giants in the 1933 World Series, and, pitching in relief, won the 5th and final game over the Washington Senators. He ended his career with a record of 194-179 and a 3.24 ERA.
Luque became a starting pitcher in 1920. Although leading the National League in losses in 1922, he had his best year in 1923, leading the league with 27 wins and an ERA of 1.93. Luque also led the NL in ERA with a 2.63 in 1925.
Luque's primary pitch was a curveball. Therefore, he was very analytical in his pitching. His attention to detail made him an adept teacher in his later years, and Luque served as pitching coach of the Giants from 1936-38 and 1942-45.
As a blue-eyed, fair-skinned, white Cuban, he was one of several white Cubans to make it in Major League Baseball at a time when non-whites were excluded. Between 1911 and 1929 alone, seventeen Cuban-born Caucasian players played in the Major Leagues.
Luque was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1967.
He had a hot temper, and usually kept it under control. One day, however, when he was with the Brooklyn Dodgers, a heckler in the stands tested Luque's temper by hollering at him "Lucky Luque! Lucky Luque!" over and over until he almost drove the pitcher crazy. Luque went over to the dugout and told manager Wilbert Robinson, "I tell you, Robbie, if this guy don't shut up, I'm gonna shut him up." "Aw, come on, Dolf," said the manager. "He paid his way in--let him boo." Just then the heckler spotted the rotund Robinson and yelled, "Hey, fat belly!" Robinson said, "OK, Dolf--go ahead and clobber the jerk." Robinson never looked up as Luque did just that. (Source: Baseball's Greatest Managers, 1960)
He is buried at Colon Cemetery, Havana.
[edit] See also
- List of Cubans
- List of players from Cuba in Major League Baseball
- List of Major League Baseball ERA champions
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Phil Douglas Dazzy Vance |
National League ERA Champion 1923 1925 |
Succeeded by Dazzy Vance Ray Kremer |
| Preceded by Eppa Rixey |
National League Wins Champion 1923 |
Succeeded by Dazzy Vance |
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