Top 106 Baseball Players: #47 - Red Ruffing

Red Ruffing

Red Ruffing was one of the best pitchers for the Yankees during their dynasty of the 1930's, and his repeated strong performance in the World Series is what really propelled him into his spot on this list.

Ruffing started his career in 1924 with the Red Sox, but he was not a very good pitcher during his 6.5 seasons in Boston, compiling a 39-96 record and a 4.61 ERA, while twice leading the league in both losses and runs allowed.

Ruffing was traded to the Yankees early in the 1930 season, because the Yankees new manager believed that he could change Ruffing's delivery to make him a good pitcher, and he was correct. By 1932, Ruffing led the league in strikeouts, while posting a 3.09 ERA and an 18-7 record. That year the Yankees reached the World Series, where Ruffing set the tone with 10 strikeouts in a Game 1 win in an eventual sweep of the Cubs.

The Yankees had a streak of 4 straight World Series titles from 1936 to 1939, with Ruffing winning at least 20 regular season games each season. In those final 3 Series, Ruffing pitched 4 games, all complete, with 23 strikeouts and only 5 runs allowed while winning all 4 starts. While those teams were stacked with stars, Ruffing was a huge part of each of those championships.

The Yankees missed the World Series in 1940, but returned in 1941, and Ruffing was very good again, giving up just one run in a Game 1 win over the Dodgers. He won Game 1 again in 1942 against the Cardinals, but the Yankees lost the next 3, and he was unable to stop their momentum in game 5 as the Yankees finally went down.

Ruffing was drafted into the Army before the 1943 season, despite being 37 years old and missing 4 toes from a childhood farming accident. He was released from the military when he turned 40, and returned to the Yankees, but played sparingly over the next few years before retiring.

Ruffing was not a dominant regular season pitcher, but he was a solid starter for a full decade, and set the tone for 5 World Series wins with Game 1 victories. When he retired, he held the Yankee record for most wins, and still is the top Yankee winner among right-handed pitchers. Ruffing was elected to the Hall of Fame in his final year of eligibility, and it was deserved after his contributions to 6 champs, and that is why he is here among the greatest players of all time.