Sailor Stroud

Ralph Vivian Stroud (March 15, 1885 – April 11, 1970), sometimes referred to as Sailor Stroud, was an American baseball pitcher. He played professional baseball for 20 years from 1910 to 1929, including three years in Major League Baseball as a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers in 1910 and the New York Giants in 1915 and 1916. He appeared in 70 major league games, 41 as a starter, compiling an 18–20 win–loss record and a 2.94 earned run average (ERA) in 361 innings pitched.

Early years Stroud was born in Ironia, New Jersey, in 1885.

Professional baseball Minor leagues Stroud was a right-handed pitcher.

Detroit Tigers In August 1909, the Detroit Tigers purchased Stroud from the Williamsport team. He made his major league debut with the Tigers on April 29, 1910, shutting out the St. Louis Browns, 5–0. He appeared in 28 games for the Tigers during the 1910 season, 15 as a starter, compiling a 5–9 record with a 3.25 earned run average (ERA). He played with the Bisons during the 1911 and 1912 seasons, appearing in 77 games and compiling records of 12–9 in 1911 and 16–15 in 1912. During the 1913 season, Stroud appeared in a career high 51 games, 35 as a starter, compiling a 25–15 record with a 2.49 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 315 innings pitched. In 1914, Stroud had another strong season for the Solons, with a 20–18 record and a 2.01 ERA in 331 innings. In all, Stroud appeared in 22 games, nine as a starter, for the 1915 Giants, compiling a 12–9 record with a 2.79 ERA in 184 innings pitched. He appeared in his final minor league game on June 13, 1916. Stroud remained with Hanford in 1922. At one point, the Hanford club reportedly sold Stroud to the New York Yankees, but Stroud refused to report as the wealthy agricultural interests were paying high salaries in the San Joaquin Valley League and a move to the Yankees would have required a pay cut.

In 1925, Stroud returned to the PCL and played in that circuit for another five years with the Salt Lake City Bees in 1925, Hollywood Stars and Los Angeles Angels in 1926, the Sacramento Senators in 1927, and the Portland Beavers in 1928.

Family and later year Stroud was married in February 1910 to Catherine Dunlap of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Stroud died in Stockton, California, in 1970 at age 84. He is buried at East Lawn Memorial Park in Sacramento, California.