Ed Summers

Oren Edgar Summers
(Kickapoo Ed or Chief)

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 180 lb.
• School Wabash College
• Debut April 16, 1908
• Final Game June 1, 1912
• Born December 5, 1884 in Ladoga, IN USA
• Died May 12, 1953 in Indianapolis, IN USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Ed Summers of the Detroit Tigers put up impressive numbers in his first two big league seasons, but his big league career was over at age 27. In his first season, in 1908, he won 24 games with a 1.64 ERA (both are still Tiger franchise records for rookies), leading the team in wins and innings pitched (301). Seven of his wins as a rookie came against one team, the Philadelphia Athletics. He also won his last five starts in September (including complete games in both ends of a September 25th double-header), a key contribution to Detroit's successful pennant run decided on the last day of the season. In 1909, he went 19-9, 2.24, logging another 281 2/3 innings, as the Tigers repeated as AL champions.

He was the first rookie hurler to start a postseason game for the Tigers in Game 4 of the 1908 World Series (the second was Justin Verlander in 2006). However, overall, he had a poor record in World Series play, going 0-2 in both 1908 and 1909 and giving up 21 runs in 22 innings.

On July 16, 1909, he pitched 18 scoreless innings against the lowly Washington Senators, but ended up with a no-decision as his teammates failed to score against Dolly Gray and Bob Groom before the game was called due to darkness. It was the longest scoreless tie in major league history until 1946. On September 17, 1910, he hit a pair of homers in a 10-3 win over the Philadelphia Athletics. Not only were these the only two long balls of his career, but he was the only hitter in the 1910 American League to have a multi-homer game! He was the first player in history to hit all of his career homers in a multi-homer game, something that has been duplicated a number of times since.

Notable Achievements

• 15 Wins Seasons: 2 (1908 & 1909)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 2 (1908)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1908-1910)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1908)

Career Highlights

• Pitched one-hit shutout for Detroit Tigers against Chicago White Sox on July 29, 1910
• Pitched two-hit shutout for Detroit Tigers against Philadelphia Athletics on September 25, 1908

Related Sites

• Ed Summers at the SABR Bio Project