Edward M. Lewis Explained

Edward Morgan Lewis
Order:President of the Massachusetts Agricultural College (now the University of Massachusetts Amherst)
Term Start:1924
Term End:1927
Order2:5th President of the University of New Hampshire
Term Start2:1927
Term End2:1936
Predecessor2:Ralph D. Hetzel
Successor2:Fred Engelhardt
Birth Date:1872 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Machynlleth, Wales
Death Place:Durham, New Hampshire, U.S.
Spouse:Margaret H. Williams (1896–1936)
Party:Democratic
Alma Mater:Williams College (A.B., A.M.)
Boston School of Expression
Signature:EdwardMLewis.svg
Ted Lewis
Position:Pitcher
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:1872 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Machynlleth, Wales
Death Place:Durham, New Hampshire
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:6 July
Debutyear:1896
Debutteam:Boston Beaneaters
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:26 September
Finalyear:1901
Finalteam:Boston Americans
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:94–64
Stat2label:Strikeouts
Stat2value:378
Stat3label:Earned run average
Stat3value:3.53
Teams:
Highlights:

Edward Morgan Lewis (25 December 1872 – 23 May 1936), otherwise known as Ted Lewis, was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher as well as a professor of English literature, academic administrator, the tenth president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College and fifth President of the University of New Hampshire.

Biography

Early life

Lewis was born in 1872 in Machynlleth, Wales. He came to the United States in 1880.[1]

Baseball career

Nicknamed "The Pitching Professor" and "Parson", Lewis was an ordained minister who earned a master's degree from Williams College. He was one of three Welsh-born players to break into major league baseball in the U.S. He was 23 years old when he debuted with the Boston Beaneaters on 6 July 1896.

Lewis pitched a full season in 1897 and earned 21 wins. He was one of three Boston pitchers to finish the season with more than 20 wins. Boston won the league pennant that season and repeated as champions in 1898.[2] His 26–8 win–loss record in 1898 amounted to a league-high winning percentage (.765).[3]

Lewis earned a 17–11 record in 1899, followed by a 13–12 record in 1900. He finished the 1901 season with a 16–17 record and a 3.53 earned run average (ERA). Lewis finished his career with a 94–64 record and a 3.53 ERA.[3]

Academic career

After the 1901 season, Lewis retired from baseball to teach full-time at Columbia University. He was instructor of Elocution at Columbia until 1904, when he returned to Williams College as a public speaking instructor and was later made an assistant professor.[1]

Lewis later left for Massachusetts Agricultural College (MAC), where he served as an English professor, department head and dean.[1] He was the president of MAC between 1924 and 1927, and when his liberal philosophy created disagreements with the college's trustees, he submitted his resignation.[4]

Lewis became president of the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in 1927. The university credits him with continuing the development of the school despite the difficulties associated with the Great Depression. He oversaw the construction of new buildings and athletic fields during his tenure.[1] A recreational area known as Lewis Fields constructed from December 1933 to September 1936 was named in his honor.[5] This area includes UNH's college football stadium—now known as Wildcat Stadium—which was known as Lewis Stadium or Lewis Field until it was formally named Cowell Stadium in 1952 in honor of former head coach Butch Cowell.[6] [7]

Lewis remained at UNH until his death in 1936.[1] He is buried in Durham Cemetery in Durham, New Hampshire.[3] Lewis was friends with poet Robert Frost, who contributed a reading at Lewis's memorial service.[1]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Guide to the Edward Morgan Lewis Papers, 1927–1936. 25 June 2014 . University of New Hampshire. 21 March 2015.
  2. Book: Soos, Troy. Before the Curse: The Glory Days of New England Baseball, 1858–1918, rev. ed.. 21 March 2015. 11 December 2006. McFarland. 978-0-7864-2625-6. 102.
  3. Web site: Ted Lewis Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. 21 March 2015.
  4. Web site: Former chancellors. University of Massachusetts Amherst. 21 March 2015.
  5. Web site: Guide to the History of Lewis Fields, 1936. 25 June 2014 . University of New Hampshire. 21 March 2015.
  6. News: Lewis Field to be Dedicated on 10 Oct. . . . 2 . 3 October 1936 . 29 November 2019 . newspapers.com.
  7. News: UNH Football Field Is Cowell Stadium . Associated Press. . . 21 . 19 June 1952 . 29 November 2019 . newspapers.com.