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Submitted: 10/30/08 • Approved: 12/14/09 • Last Updated: 8/1/12 • R89570-G0-S3
US Navy
World War II
September 25, 1917 – November 7, 2006
Major League Baseball Pitcher
April 24, 1942 – July 15, 1955
Major League Pitching Coach
1959 – 1986
Johnny Sain was born in Havana, Yell County, Arkansas. He was originally signed by the Detroit Tigers before the 1936 season, but he did not make it to the big leagues with them. On January 14, 1940, he was granted free agency and in March of that year he signed with Nashville of the Southern Association. Before the start of the 1942 season he was invited to spring training by the Boston Braves and they offered him a contract. On August 21, 1942 he entered World War II as a member of the US Navy and became a Naval Aviator. After training, he was assigned to NAAS Waldron Field at Corpus Christi, Texas. Between his flying duties he was able to play on the base All-Star team which allowed him to play with and against such baseball greats as Ted Williams and Bob Kennedy. Sain was discharged on November 25, 1945 causing him to miss three complete seasons in his prime years. In 1946 he won 20 or more games in four of the next five seasons. He was also a pretty good hitter, especially for a pitcher. He had a lifetime batting average of .245 and only struck out 20 times in his career. In a couple of oddities, he was the last pitcher to face Babe Ruth and the first to face Jackie Robinson. Some highlights of his career includes: Three time All-Star (1947, 1948, and 1953); National League wins leader in 1948; American League saves leader in 1954; National League innings pitched leader in 1948; Two-time National League Complete Games leader in (1946 and 1948); Four time twenty win seasons (1946-1948 and 1950); Five 200 innings pitched seasons (1946-1950); One 300 innings pitched season (1948); Won three World Series with the New York Yankees (1951, 1952, and 1953). He also won one game and lost one in the 1948 World Series while with the Boston Braves. After retiring from playing he became what many people regard as the greatest pitching coach in the history of the game. In the 1960s he coached five of the American Leagues ten pennant winning teams. He coached fifteen pitchers who were 20-game winners and ten of his pitchers led the league in victories. He passed away at the age of 89 at the Rest Haven West Nursing Center in Downers Grove, Illinois.
References consulted:
Ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Sain (Accessed 11/19/2008)
Ref:http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Johnny_Sain (Accessed 11/19/2008)
Ref:http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sainjo01.shtml#TRANS (Accessed 11/19/2008)
Ref:http://www.baseballinwartime.com/player_biographies/sain_johnny.htm (Accessed 11/19/2008)
Contributed on 10/30/08 by tomtodd
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Record #: 89570