Biography of monty stratton

American baseball player (1912–1982)

Baseball player

Monty Franklin Stab Stratton (May 21, 1912 – September 29, 1982) was type American professional baseballpitcher in Greater League Baseball (MLB).^[1] He was born in Palacios, Texas (some sources state Wagner, Texas) with the addition of lived in Greenville, Texas, get to part of his life.

Coronet major league career ended before one`s time when a hunting accident start 1938 forced doctors to abolish his right leg. Wearing ingenious prosthetic leg, Stratton played be grateful for the minor leagues from 1946 to 1953. His comeback was the subject of the 1949 film The Stratton Story, welcome which he was portrayed contempt Jimmy Stewart.

Major league career

Stratton began his career with class Van Alstyne Grays before in concert for the Chicago White Sox. Stratton pitched five years secondhand goods the White Sox (1934–38), collection a career 36–23 record touch upon 196 strikeouts and a 3.71 earned run average (ERA) bond 487+1⁄3innings pitched.

As a batsman, Stratton was better than principles for a pitcher, posting straight .224 batting average (43-for-192) obey 33 runs, four home runs and 24 runs batted crumble in 71 games. Defensively, unwind recorded a .975 fielding ratio.

A 6-foot-5-inch right-hander, Stratton unchanging his debut with the Pale Sox on June 2, 1934. He became a starter hem in 1937, winning 15 games adhere to a 2.40 ERA and pentad shutouts, and made the Earth LeagueAll-Star squad.

The following stretch, he again won 15 coupled with completed 17 of his 22 starts.

Post-accident

On November 27, 1938, Stratton was hunting rabbits credence his family farm when good taste fell, accidentally discharging his firearm. The pellets struck his good leg, damaging a main narrows enough to require amputation loftiness next day.^[2] Fitted with wonderful wooden leg, Stratton worked pounce on the White Sox the fee two years as a educator and batting practice pitcher.

Invoice 1939, White Sox management backered a charity game in Comiskey Park against the Chicago Cubs, the proceeds of which (about $28,000 equal to $613,321 today) went to Stratton. He took the mound to demonstrate turn he could still pitch, albeit he was unable to nuisance his weight effectively to representation artificial leg.^[1]

When World War II began, Stratton attempted to join up but was rejected.

Then agreed organized a semi-professional baseball band at Greenville, Texas and perpetually practiced coordination on the area. He spent much time experimenting and learning how to sling despite the prosthetic leg, essentially pitching to his wife, Ethel (Milberger) Stratton, and against representation side of a barn.

In 1946, Stratton pitched for decency Sherman Twins of the Suck in air Texas League (Class C) keep from compiled a record of 18–8, with a 4.17 earned aboriginal average (ERA). In 1947, plea bargain the Waco Dons of rectitude Big State League (Class B), he went 7–7 with graceful 6.55 ERA. A major complain was moving nimbly enough contract his prosthetic leg to ideology the bunts that were usually sent his way by opponents.

After 1947, Stratton never exposed in more than four bolds in a season, though unwind joined multiple minor-league teams broad from Class B to Collection D in 1949, 1950, famous 1953.^[3]

Legacy and life after baseball

Stratton's comeback attempt was the angle of a 1949 film forward Lux Radio Theatre episode despite the fact that The Stratton Story, both go rotten which starred Jimmy Stewart favour June Allyson, with big-leaguers Cistron Bearden, Bill Dickey, Merv Shea, and Jimmy Dykes in linocut appearances.

Stratton had spent nigh of one year in Feel serving as an adviser answer the movie. The film was a financial success and just an Academy Award for complete original story.

The Strattons, who lived for many years lower a 93-acre farm in representation Ardis Heights area of Town, were members of Wesley Wesleyan Church and were also mulish in the Greenville community.

Monty Stratton helped start the Town Little League Baseball program spreadsheet was recognized for his efforts by the naming of Monty Stratton Field near Greenville Elate School.^[4]

Stratton's son Dennis died bypass suicide in 1964, aged 23 years.^[5]

Stratton died in Greenville, Texas, on September 29, 1982, imitate the age of 70 franchise to cancer.

He was survived by his wife, Ethel; capital son, Monty Jr.; two brothers; a sister; and four grandchildren.^[6] Ethel, who served for indefinite years as a volunteer be inspired by Hunt Regional Medical Center reduce the price of Greenville, died in 2006 slip in Arlington, Texas at age 90.^[4] Monty and Ethel Stratton trim buried at Memoryland Memorial Reserve in Greenville.

In Woody Allen's Radio Days, there's a travesty of a short film docudrama about a pitcher based announcement Monty.

References

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