George Caster

Infobox MLB retired
name=George Caster
position=Pitcher


bgcolor1=#003831
bgcolor2=#003831
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=August 4, 1907
city-state|Colton|California
deathdate=death date and age|1955|12|18|1907|8|4
city-state|Lakewood|California
debutdate= September 10
debutyear= 1934
debutteam= Philadelphia Athletics
finaldate=September 16
finalyear=1946
finalteam= Detroit Tigers
stat1label=Pitching record
stat1value=76-100
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=4.54
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=595
teams=
* Philadelphia Athletics (1934-35, 1937-40)
* St. Louis Browns (1941-1945)
* Detroit Tigers (1945-1946)
highlights=
*American League saves leader, 1944
*World Series champions: 1945

George Jasper Caster (August 4, 1907 - December 18, 1955), nicknamed "Ug," was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics (1934-35. 1937-40), St. Louis Browns (1941-45), and Detroit Tigers (1945-46). Born in Colton, California, Ug appeared in 376 major league games and compiled a record of 76-100 in 1377-2/3 innings pitched. In 1936, he led the Pacific Coast League with 25 wins and 234 strikeouts for the Portland Beavers. [http://www.portlandbeavers.com/history/pclleaders/] He later led the American League in games lost 1938 (20) and 1940 (19) and was #2 in losses in 1937 (19). In 1941, Luke Sewell converted Caster into a relief pitcher, and he had the best seasons of his career as the Browns' lead reliever from 1942-1944. (David Alan, "As Good as it Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns" (Arcadia 2003), p. 28.) He led the American League with 12 saves in 1944 and had career-high Adjusted ERA+ ratings of 131, 157, and 147 between 1942 and 1944. In 1945, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers and went 5-1 in 22 relief appearances to help them win the American League pennant. Caster pitched 2/3 of an inning in the 1945 World Series and did not allow a hit. Caster is also remembered as the pitcher who gave up Jimmie Foxx's 500th Home Run. [http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/foxxji01.php] Caster died in 1955 at age 48 in Lakewood, California.

ee also

* 1945 Detroit Tigers season
* List of Major League Baseball saves champions

External links

*baseball-reference|id=c/castege01