Barney Pelty

Barney Pelty (September 10, 1880 – May 24, 1939) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher known as "the Yiddish Curver" because he was one of the first Jewish baseball players in the American League. he is in the top 10 for his career of all pitchers in the St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles franchise in batters hit by pitch (first), complete games (third), ERA (sixth), and innings pitched and shutouts (eighth).

Early life Pelty was born in Farmington, Missouri, where his family was the only Jewish family at the time. His parents were Samuel (who immigrated to the U.S. from Prussia at the age of 17) and Helena Pelty, who were both Jewish. He was the youngest of six children. His father was a cigar maker and opened a cigar store. After two years at Carleton, Pelty transferred to Blees Military Academy in Macon, Missouri, and pitched for the Academy team in the 1899 and 1900 spring seasons. He was 22 years old when he made his Major League debut that year. He became a coach when not pitching. In 1904, he led the league in hit batsmen (20; a franchise record that still stands), and was 6th in wild pitches (9), while pitching 31 complete games (tied for 6th-most in franchise history). In 1905 he was 14–14 with a 2.75 ERA, He was as of 2017 in the top-10 for his career of all pitchers in the St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles franchise in hit by pitch (1st), complete games (3rd), ERA (6th), and innings pitched and shutouts (8th).

In his career, through 2010, Pelty was one of the all-time best Jewish pitchers in major league history, ranking first in career ERA (ahead of #2 Sandy Koufax), sixth in wins (92; directly behind Jason Marquis), and seventh in strikeouts (693; directly behind Barry Latman).

Later years

In 2010, the Farmington City Council voted to name an access road leading to a sports complex, "Barney Pelty Drive" in his honor. In 2016, he was inducted into the first class of the Farmington Hall of Fame. Pelty and his wife had a son, who became the city engineer of Farmington. Barney Pelty died in Farmington on May 24, 1939. Pelty was proud of his Jewish heritage, as indicated by his nickname, and did not change his name or hide his identity like some other Jewish players of the era. Pelty's last game was in an exhibition in 1937 pitching against Grover Cleveland Alexander, dropping the decision. He coached the Farmington High School baseball team from at least 1906.