Ralph Schwamb Explained

Ralph Schwamb
Position:Pitcher
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:1926 8, mf=yes
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California
Death Place:Lancaster, California
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:July 25
Debutyear:1948
Debutteam:St. Louis Browns
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 18
Finalyear:1948
Finalteam:St. Louis Browns
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:1–1
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:8.53
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:7
Teams:

Ralph Richard "Blackie" Schwamb (August 6, 1926 – December 21, 1989) was an American professional baseball pitcher and convicted murderer. He played for the St. Louis Browns of Major League Baseball in 1948. Listed at 6inchesft5inchesin (ftin) and 198lb, he threw and batted right-handed.

Biography

Schwamb was nicknamed "Blackie" while in grade school, due to his habit of wearing black clothing, a practice he adopted after watching Western movies and seeing the "bad guys" wearing black. He served in the United States Navy during World War II,[1] receiving a bad conduct discharge after hitting an officer.[2]

Professional baseball career

Schwamb first played in the minor leagues from 1947 to 1949; initially in the Arizona–Texas League and Northern League (both Class C) and later the American Association (Triple-A) and Southern Association (Double-A). In 1948, Schwamb pitched in 12 major league games (five starts) for the St. Louis Browns, recording one win and one loss, while compiling an 8.53 earned run average (ERA). His lone win came in his second start,[3] when he pitched innings at home against the Washington Senators while allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits, benefitting from his team scoring seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.[4] Schwamb had three hits in 10 major league at bats and scored one run.[5]

Murder conviction

After the 1948 season, Schwamb killed a doctor in Long Beach, California, named Donald Buge.[6] Schwamb did it to pay off a debt to a Los Angeles mobster, Mickey Cohen.[7] Schwamb was sentenced to life in prison in 1949,[8] but was granted parole in 1960.[9]

In 1961, Schwamb played a final season of minor league baseball for the Hawaii Islanders of the Pacific Coast League.[10] Overall, in four seasons of professional baseball, Schwamb pitched in 62 games while compiling a 13–15 record with a 4.44 ERA. His life is the subject of a 2005 book entitled Wrong Side of the Wall.[11]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Was He the Best Ever? . Chris . Rich . sanquentinnews.com . June 1, 2010 . May 10, 2021.
  2. Book: Stone, Eric . Wrong Side of the Wall: The Life of Blackie Schwamb, the Greatest Prison Baseball Player of All Time . 2005 . 1-59228-439-6 . The Lyons Press . Guilford, Connecticut.
  3. Web site: The 1948 STL A Regular Season Pitching Log for Blackie Schwamb . . May 19, 2021.
  4. Web site: St. Louis Browns 10, Washington Senators 8 . July 31, 1948 . . May 19, 2021.
  5. Web site: The 1948 STL A Regular Season Batting Log for Blackie Schwamb . . May 19, 2021.
  6. News: Adriaanse. Katherine. Players after prison. 4 June 2017. Baseball Hall of Fame. en.
  7. News: The Best Behind Bars . 2005-03-21 . 2008-04-29 . CNN . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090801020813/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1110182/index.htm . 2009-08-01 .
  8. News: Schwamb Sentenced To Life on Robbery, Murder Count in LA . . . . 18 . December 26, 1949 . May 10, 2021 . newspapers.com.
  9. News: San Quentin's Big Leaguer Leaves Prison . Walter . Judge . . 50 . January 6, 1960 . May 10, 2021 . newspapers.com.
  10. Web site: Ralph Schwamb Minor & Independent Statistics & History . . May 10, 2021.
  11. Web site: Wrong Side of the Wall: The Life of Blackie Schwamb, the Greatest Prison Pitcher of all Time. . . May 10, 2021.