Slim Love

Edward Haughton "Slim" Love (August 1, 1890 – November 30, 1942) was an American professional baseball pitcher from approximately 1910 to 1930. He played six seasons in Major League Baseball for the Washington Senators, New York Yankees (1916–1918), and Detroit Tigers (1919–1920). Over six major league seasons, Love compiled a 28–21 record with a 3.04 earned run average (ERA). He also played in the minor leagues, including stints with the Los Angeles Angels (1914–1915) and Dallas Marines/Steers (1922–1928).

Love's nickname was based on his large, lean frame, at and . Upon his debut, Love became the tallest pitcher in major league history, surpassing Miles Main who was 6 foot 6 when he played from 1914 through 1918. Love remained the tallest pitcher in major league history until Johnny Gee made his debut in 1939 at six feet, nine inches.

Early years Love was born in 1890 in Love, Mississippi, located south of Memphis, Tennessee. He was the son of Columbus "C. C." Love and Mary Homing, and the grandson of Henry Chapel "H. C." Love and Rebecca S. (Houghton) Love.

Baseball player

Minor leagues

Love began his professional baseball career in 1912 with the Memphis Turtles (later renamed the Chickasaws). According to a 1913 story published by The Washington Post, Love landed with the Turtles "on account of his bucolic disposition and odd appearance." Love was then sent by Memphis to the Greenwood, Mississippi club in the Cotton States League. After a short stay in Greenwood, he returned to Memphis and was released. At the end of July 1913, Love was acquired by the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association. On August 22, 1913, he pitched a shutout against the Billikens, facing only 22 batters in seven innings—one more than the minimum of 21. The Atlanta Constitution, referring to Love as "the human office building", noted that Love smiled throughout the game and "mixed his overhand drop with a side-arm slow ball that baffled the best of the Billikens." In eight games for the Crackers, Love compiled a 2-3 record. Love made his major league debut for the Senators on September 8, 1913, at age 23. Love became the tallest pitcher in major league history, surpassing Hippo Vaughn who stood six feet, four inches. Love remained the tallest pitcher in major league history for 69 years until Stefan Wever made his debut in 1982 at six feet, eight inches. In 1914, Love compiled a 10–9 record and 2.39 ERA in 37 games for the Angels.

In 1915, Love remained in Los Angeles. In February 1915, Sporting Life reported that "the altitudinous twirler" had "at last acquired a curve" and had been "practicing industriously all Winter to master this delivery." The effort paid off, as Love had perhaps the best season of his career in 1915, compiling a 23–15 record and 1.95 ERA in 59 games and 359.1 innings pitched.

New York Yankees Love (far left) with other member of the 1916 Yankees at the White House. In September 1915, Love, referred to as "the 'Eiffel tower' slabster of the Los Angeles club", was drafted by the New York Yankees in exchange for $2,300 ($ in current dollar terms). When Love returned his signed contract to the Yankees, Sporting Life opined that his addition "will go a long way toward putting New York on the map" and made mention of his "special ball, known as the aeroplane bomb, as it seems to descend to the batter from somewhere in the celestial region."

In 1916, Love appeared in 20 games for the Yankees, all but one as a relief pitcher, and compiled a 2–0 record with a 4.91 ERA.

During spring training in Macon, Georgia, before the 1917 season, Yankees manager Bill Donovan opined that control was the only aspect missing from Love's game:

If that big fellow ever acquires control he will be as difficult to hit as Rube Waddell was in his best days. No left-hander since Rube's time had such a good fast ball. His curve breaks fast and his great height will add to his effectiveness.

Early in the 1917 season, Love saw little playing time. Then, in late May and early June, Love pitched 28 consecutive scoreless innings, allowing only nine hits and five bases on balls, while striking out 11 batters. Love finished the 1917 season with a 6-5 record and 2.35 ERA in 33 games and 133-1/3 innings pitched.

In March 1919, Love sustained a fracture in his elbow, causing him to miss the early portion of the season. Love returned from the injury and compiled a 6–4 record in 22 games with a 3.01 ERA. After a month in San Francisco, The Sporting News reported that the Seals were dissatisfied with the transaction: "nless he does more than he has shown so far, the Seals have been bunked by Detroit. This big fellow has been here a month, and is not yet in shape. In any other line of business, he would be docked until he could deliver the goods." His prospects declined as the season wore on, and he finished the 1921 season with a 5–14 record and 4.55 ERA in 37 games and 182.0 innings pitched. Love remained with Vernon at the start of the 1922 season, appearing in seven games and compiling a 2–2 record and 3.66 ERA. Love compiled a 13–11 record and 4.06 ERA in 32 Texas League games during the 1922 season. The Sporting Life reported at the time:

Few pitchers in baseball have more speed than Slim Love. There aren't any with a more wicked cross-fire. There isn't a left-handed hitter in the Texas League that wouldn't tell you that he would give his first pay check in on a pool to buy Love and sell him out of the league. And for the reason that New Orleans is being counted upon to offer a string of left-handed batsmen, Love is expected to be particularly effective in the Dixie Series. He is being counted on for two games and probably three if the series goes the limit.

1928 to 1930 seasons On May 31, 1928, the Dallas Steers optioned Love to the San Antonio Bears. After several years as one of the best pitchers in the Texas League, Love had been unable to pitch a complete game in the first two months of the season. He pitched for both San Antonio and Wichita Falls during the 1928 season. In 1930, he played for the Baton Rouge Highlanders in the Cotton States League. By 1930, Love and his wife, Mary, were living in Memphis, Tennessee, and his occupation was listed as a professional baseball player. In 1935 and 1939, Love and his wife, Mary, were living in Memphis, and he was employed as a pipe fitter with the Love Automatic Sprinkler Company. In 1940, Love remained living in Memphis with his wife, and he was still employed as a pipe fitter for sprinkler systems. In approximately 1940, Love became employed as a steamfitter at the Naval Air Base in Millington, Tennessee.

After retiring from baseball, Love was also active in sandlot baseball in Memphis. He died in Memphis on November 30, 1942, at age 52, after being struck by the driver of an automobile. He was buried at the Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown in Memphis.