All-Time Allstars - Dizzy Dean
By Matt Phillips February 7 2003
As a member of the St Louis Cardinals famous "Gashouse Gang", Dizzy Dean pitched the Cards to World Series glory in the thirties and cemented his legacy as a household name of Great Depression era America.
As a member of the St Louis Cardinals famous "Gashouse Gang", Dizzy Dean pitched the Cards to World Series glory in the thirties and cemented his legacy as a household name of Great Depression era America.
Jay Hanna Dean was born on an Arkansas farm, January 16, 1911. A non-stop chatterbox and braggart, Dean would often name several different birthplaces as home when being interviewed by reporters. When challenged on this, Dizzy would retort: "Them's ain't lies, they's scoops!"
He was also keen on giving several explanations for his nickname, the most popular being that he was christened "Dizzy" after a spell in the army during the twenties.
Dizzy Dean signed for the St Louis Cardinals at the beginning of the thirties and was immediately placed at one of their farm clubs in Houston, earning $300 a month. On meeting the Cards manager, Branch Rickey, Diz told him; "I'm the fella that's gonna win ya a lotta ballgames!"
He also enjoyed telling the people of Houston what a great prospect he was and could often be seen shouting, "I'm the great Dean!" as he drove past in taxis.
But as Diz used to say, "It ain't braggin' if ya do it" and sure enough, Dizzy started putting up numbers that made St Louis take notice.
Winning eight decisions from ten starts, Dizzy soon got the call from Branch Rickey and, in 1931, "The Great Dean" found himself with a ticket to the major leagues.
Having won on his debut, Dizzy was put on the roster full time for the 1932 season and made the All-Rookie team with a record of 18-15. However, the Cardinals failed to win the pennant.
That season, legend has it, that whilst visiting children in hospital, Dizzy promised to strike out slugger Bill Terry of the Giants. With two outs on the scoreboard already, Diz deliberately walked the batsmen in front to get to Terry, and, with the bases loaded, Dizzy went to work. Three pitches later and Terry was struck out!
1933 was another good year for Dizzy, but a lousy one for the Cards. Diz finished with a 20-18 record, but the team finished in a lowly fifth place and attendances were at their lowest figure since 1919. Something had to be done. Enter "Daffy" Dean!
The 1934 season saw Dizzy's younger brother Paul "Daffy" Dean added to the pitching rotation. Dizzy was so excited about pitching with his brother, he proclaimed that between them, they'd win 45 matches for the Cardinals.
Considering their lowly position the season before, the press scoffed at Dizzy's predictions. They were made to eat humble pie. Dizzy stormed his way to 30 wins and Daffy put up 19. The Cardinals were on their way to the World Series, and leading the charge? The Dean brothers!
Only the Detroit Tigers stood between St Louis and post season glory. Once again, Dizzy was making predictions. This time, he was confident that the brothers would win two games a piece and bring the World Series title back to St Louis and the "Gashouse Gang."
The Cardinals had picked up their "Gashouse Gang" nickname after they were refused entry to the American League because of their "unprofessional" reputation.
As usual, Dizzy was proved correct. The Dean Brothers scored two wins apiece with Dizzy sensationally pitching a shutout in the seventh and final game. The Cards had won the 1934 World Series and Dizzy was voted MVP.
The following seasons proved fruitful for the Deans, but it was at the 1937 All-Star game that Dizzy's fortunes began to change.
Dizzy had already complained of exhaustion and wanted to miss the game, but Cardinals owner, Sam Breaden, refused his request. It proved to be a bad decision.
A line drive by Earl Avrill came straight back to the mound and caught Diz on the left foot, breaking a toe. Dizzy would never be the same pitcher again.
The nature of his injury meant, that to get back to his old self, Dizzy would have to adapt his pitching action. Gone was his lightning fastball, replaced by a slow curveball and changeup. However, the change brought on bursitis in his right arm. His career at the Cards was over and Dizzy was traded to the Chicago Cubs.
Despite helping the Cubs to the NL pennant in 1938, Dizzy appeared in just 30 games over the next three years. At the age of 30, "The Great Dean's" baseball career had come to a grinding halt.
With his playing days now behind him, Dizzy took to the radio broadcast booth. Amazingly, even there he wasn't safe from controversy!
Announcing in his Arkansas vernacular, a group of teachers took great offence to Dizzy's "country" language, claiming that he was a bad influence on the children of America. Dizzy answered his critics: "Let the teachers teach English and I will teach baseball. There is a lot of people in the United States who say "isn't" and they ain't eating."
In 1947, Dizzy was offered one last hurrah on the mound. Having been critical of the St Louis Browns all year, Dizzy agreed to pitch for them on the final day of the season against the White Sox.
Dizzy gave up three hits in four innings and even managed to belt a single in his only at-bat!
In 1950, Dizzy went into television and became the first presenter of baseball's Game of the Week on National Television.
But it was in 1953 that Dizzy was given the ultimate accolade. He was voted into the Hall of Fame.
Speaking at his induction, Dizzy summed up his great career: "The good Lord was good to me. He gave me a strong body, a good right arm and a weak mind."
Whenever we think of the St Louis Cardinals, it seems natural to think of Mark McGwire. But whilst his home runs have taken him into the record books, today's Cards have fallen short of the great prize.
All those years ago, Dizzy Dean WAS the St Louis Cardinals. He set the standard for all pitchers to reach, held his nerve when it mattered in the World Series and, as America plummeted into one of it's darkest periods, he captured the imagination with his unique blend of fun, humor and unbelievable talent.
"Anybody whose ever had the privilege of seeing me play ball knows that I am the greatest pitcher in the world," Dizzy once said.
"And them that ain't been fortunate enough to have a gander at Ol' Diz in action can look at the record books."
Dizzy Dean passed away on July 17, 1974 and was buried in Bond, Mississippi.
He was also keen on giving several explanations for his nickname, the most popular being that he was christened "Dizzy" after a spell in the army during the twenties.
Dizzy Dean signed for the St Louis Cardinals at the beginning of the thirties and was immediately placed at one of their farm clubs in Houston, earning $300 a month. On meeting the Cards manager, Branch Rickey, Diz told him; "I'm the fella that's gonna win ya a lotta ballgames!"
He also enjoyed telling the people of Houston what a great prospect he was and could often be seen shouting, "I'm the great Dean!" as he drove past in taxis.
But as Diz used to say, "It ain't braggin' if ya do it" and sure enough, Dizzy started putting up numbers that made St Louis take notice.
Winning eight decisions from ten starts, Dizzy soon got the call from Branch Rickey and, in 1931, "The Great Dean" found himself with a ticket to the major leagues.
Having won on his debut, Dizzy was put on the roster full time for the 1932 season and made the All-Rookie team with a record of 18-15. However, the Cardinals failed to win the pennant.
That season, legend has it, that whilst visiting children in hospital, Dizzy promised to strike out slugger Bill Terry of the Giants. With two outs on the scoreboard already, Diz deliberately walked the batsmen in front to get to Terry, and, with the bases loaded, Dizzy went to work. Three pitches later and Terry was struck out!
1933 was another good year for Dizzy, but a lousy one for the Cards. Diz finished with a 20-18 record, but the team finished in a lowly fifth place and attendances were at their lowest figure since 1919. Something had to be done. Enter "Daffy" Dean!
The 1934 season saw Dizzy's younger brother Paul "Daffy" Dean added to the pitching rotation. Dizzy was so excited about pitching with his brother, he proclaimed that between them, they'd win 45 matches for the Cardinals.
Considering their lowly position the season before, the press scoffed at Dizzy's predictions. They were made to eat humble pie. Dizzy stormed his way to 30 wins and Daffy put up 19. The Cardinals were on their way to the World Series, and leading the charge? The Dean brothers!
Only the Detroit Tigers stood between St Louis and post season glory. Once again, Dizzy was making predictions. This time, he was confident that the brothers would win two games a piece and bring the World Series title back to St Louis and the "Gashouse Gang."
The Cardinals had picked up their "Gashouse Gang" nickname after they were refused entry to the American League because of their "unprofessional" reputation.
As usual, Dizzy was proved correct. The Dean Brothers scored two wins apiece with Dizzy sensationally pitching a shutout in the seventh and final game. The Cards had won the 1934 World Series and Dizzy was voted MVP.
The following seasons proved fruitful for the Deans, but it was at the 1937 All-Star game that Dizzy's fortunes began to change.
Dizzy had already complained of exhaustion and wanted to miss the game, but Cardinals owner, Sam Breaden, refused his request. It proved to be a bad decision.
A line drive by Earl Avrill came straight back to the mound and caught Diz on the left foot, breaking a toe. Dizzy would never be the same pitcher again.
The nature of his injury meant, that to get back to his old self, Dizzy would have to adapt his pitching action. Gone was his lightning fastball, replaced by a slow curveball and changeup. However, the change brought on bursitis in his right arm. His career at the Cards was over and Dizzy was traded to the Chicago Cubs.
Despite helping the Cubs to the NL pennant in 1938, Dizzy appeared in just 30 games over the next three years. At the age of 30, "The Great Dean's" baseball career had come to a grinding halt.
With his playing days now behind him, Dizzy took to the radio broadcast booth. Amazingly, even there he wasn't safe from controversy!
Announcing in his Arkansas vernacular, a group of teachers took great offence to Dizzy's "country" language, claiming that he was a bad influence on the children of America. Dizzy answered his critics: "Let the teachers teach English and I will teach baseball. There is a lot of people in the United States who say "isn't" and they ain't eating."
In 1947, Dizzy was offered one last hurrah on the mound. Having been critical of the St Louis Browns all year, Dizzy agreed to pitch for them on the final day of the season against the White Sox.
Dizzy gave up three hits in four innings and even managed to belt a single in his only at-bat!
In 1950, Dizzy went into television and became the first presenter of baseball's Game of the Week on National Television.
But it was in 1953 that Dizzy was given the ultimate accolade. He was voted into the Hall of Fame.
Speaking at his induction, Dizzy summed up his great career: "The good Lord was good to me. He gave me a strong body, a good right arm and a weak mind."
Whenever we think of the St Louis Cardinals, it seems natural to think of Mark McGwire. But whilst his home runs have taken him into the record books, today's Cards have fallen short of the great prize.
All those years ago, Dizzy Dean WAS the St Louis Cardinals. He set the standard for all pitchers to reach, held his nerve when it mattered in the World Series and, as America plummeted into one of it's darkest periods, he captured the imagination with his unique blend of fun, humor and unbelievable talent.
"Anybody whose ever had the privilege of seeing me play ball knows that I am the greatest pitcher in the world," Dizzy once said.
"And them that ain't been fortunate enough to have a gander at Ol' Diz in action can look at the record books."
Dizzy Dean passed away on July 17, 1974 and was buried in Bond, Mississippi.
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