Joe Sewell
Joseph Wheeler Sewell (October 9, 1898 – March 6, 1990) was an American professional baseball infielder who played in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees from 1920 to 1933. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.[1]
For the English footballer, see Joseph Sewell. For the US politician, see Joseph Sewall. For the American academic, see Joseph A. Sewall.Joe Sewell
Sewell was a member of two World Series-winning teams. He holds the record for the lowest strikeout rate in major league history, striking out on average only once every 73 plate appearances,[2] and the most consecutive games without a strikeout, at 115.
Early life[edit]
Joseph Wheeler Sewell was born on October 9, 1898, in Titus, Alabama.
Sewell attended Wetumpka High School in Wetumpka, Alabama.[3] He lettered in college football at the University of Alabama in 1917, 1918, and 1919.[4] He led the school baseball team to four conference titles.
Professional career[edit]
Cleveland Indians (1920–1930)[edit]
Sewell made his Major League debut mid-season in 1920 with the World Series champion Cleveland Indians shortly after shortstop Ray Chapman was killed by a pitch from the Yankees’ Carl Mays in August and became the team's full-time shortstop the following year.[1] An emerging star, Sewell batted .318 with 101 runs, 93 RBIs and a .412 on-base percentage in 1921.[6]
Sewell's patience and daily work ethic became his hallmarks over the following decade and a half. Playing with Cleveland until 1930 and the New York Yankees from 1931 to 1933, Sewell batted .312 with 1,141 runs, 1,054 RBI, 436 doubles, 68 triples, 49 home runs, 842 bases on balls and a .391 on-base percentage. He regularly scored 90 or more runs a season and twice topped the 100 RBI plateau in 1923 and '24. He hit a career-high 11 home runs in 1932.[6]
Sewell struck out 114 times in 7,132 career at-bats for an average of one strikeout every 62.5 at-bats, second only to Willie Keeler (63.1). He also holds the modern single-season record for fewest strikeouts over a full season, with 3, set in 1932. Sewell also had 3 strikeouts in 1930, albeit in just 353 at-bats (as opposed to 503 in his record-setting year), as well as three other full seasons (1925, 1929, 1933) with 4 strikeouts. He struck out ten or more times in only four seasons, and his highest strikeout total was 20, during the 1922 season. For his 1925–1933 seasons, Sewell struck out 4, 6, 7, 9, 4, 3, 8, 3, and 4 times. He also holds the record for consecutive games without recording a strikeout, at 115.
Sewell also played in 1,103 consecutive games, which to that point was second only to Everett Scott.
Death[edit]
Sewell died on March 6, 1990, aged 91, in Mobile, Alabama. He was the last surviving member of the 1920 World Champion Cleveland Indians.[8]
Posthumously, Sewell's community (Elmore County) has established a scholarship award recognizing local high school seniors who exhibit Christian character, leadership in their community, strong academic standing, and athletic achievements. Sewell graduated from Wetumpka High School in 1916.[3]