Duster Mails

John Walter "Duster" Mails (October 1, 1894 – July 5, 1974) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He won 32 games while playing for the Brooklyn Robins, Cleveland Indians, and St. Louis Cardinals, and helped the Indians win the 1920 World Series. Mails also won 207 games in the minor leagues, pitching mostly in the Pacific Coast League.

Early life Mails was born in San Quentin, California, in 1894. He graduated from Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, California, and attended Saint Mary's College of California. He played baseball for both schools. Mails was a 6'0" tall left-hander.

Baseball career Mails started his professional baseball career with the Seattle Giants of the Northwestern League in 1914. That season, he pitched 45 innings and had a win–loss record of 2–2. In 1915, he pitched 348 innings and went 24–18. Mails joined the National League's Brooklyn Robins and made his major league debut in September. He pitched two games in relief for the Robins that season, going 0–1. In 1916, Mails pitched 11 games in relief for Brooklyn, going 0–1. The Robins won the pennant, but Mails did not appear in the 1916 World Series, which they lost.

In 1917, Mails joined the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League, pitched 49 innings, and went 3–2.

Many stories were told of Mails' exploits. During the last day of the PCL season in September 1935, Mails called his outfielders in before striking out the final batter of the game. That was the last win of his career.

Later life After his playing career ended, Mails worked in public relations for the PCL's San Francisco Seals and the NL's San Francisco Giants.