Reuben Franklin Melton (February 27, 1917 – September 11, 1971) was an American professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and Brooklyn Dodgers, from 1941 to 1947.
| Rube Melton | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: February 27, 1917 Cramerton, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| Died: September 11, 1971 (aged 54) Greer, South Carolina, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 17, 1941, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 3, 1947, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 30–50 |
| Earned run average | 3.62 |
| Strikeouts | 363 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Melton experienced difficulty in his first MLB season when he was suspended by the Phillies for leaving the team without permission reportedly because of homesickness.[1] Melton led the league in walks and wild pitches during the 1942 season.
Melton was traded to Brooklyn, on December 12, 1942, for pitcher Johnny Allen and $30,000. (The Dodgers had previously tried to trade for Melton, but Commissioner of Baseball Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis disallowed the transaction; however, because of Philadelphia’s ever-increasing financial instability, the second deal was approved.)[2]
Melton missed the 1945 season due to service in the US Army during World War II.[3] His best season occurred just after his military discharge in May 1946, when Melton went 6–3 with a 1.99 earned run average (ERA) for the Dodgers.[3] An earlier arm injury forced him to shorten his major league career. Melton continued to make comeback attempts through 1951, in the minor leagues, then retired as an active player.[2][4]
Melton's playing career overlapped that of his cousin, Cliff Melton, who pitched for the New York Giants.[5]
On September 12, 1971, Melton died in an automobile accident in Greer, South Carolina.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Melton, Phil Rook Hurler, Suspended". The Pittsburgh Press. July 20, 1941. p. 4 (Section 4). Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- ^ a b Morris, Jack. "Rube Melton". SABR.org. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
- ^ a b Bedingfield, Gary (May 13, 2008). "Rube Melton". baseballinwartime.com. Baseball in Wartime. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
- ^ "Rube Melton Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ^ "Rube Melton Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
- ^ "Rube Melton Obituary". baseball-almanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Rube Melton at Baseball Almanac
- Rube Melton at CNN/SI
- Rube Melton at Find a Grave
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