Every ballplayer can remember the passion they had for the game as a kid. Dizzy Dean kept that passion and excitement all the way through his major league career.
"When ole Diz was out there pitching it was more than just another ballgame,” said teammate Pepper Martin. “It was a regular three-ring circus and everybody was wide awake and enjoying being alive.”
Born Jay Hanna Dean on Jan. 16, 1910 in Lucas, Ark., Dean attended public school only through second grade. His colorful personality and eccentric behavior earned him the nickname “Dizzy”.
“Nobody ever taught him baseball and he never had to learn,” said sportswriter Red Smith. “He was just doing what came naturally when a scout named Don Curtis discovered him on a Texas sandlot and gave him his first contract."
Dean made his professional debut in 1930 and worked his way up to the major leagues that same year, throwing a complete game three-hitter for a win with the Cardinals on the final day of the regular season.
Dean became a regular starter for St. Louis in 1932, leading the league in shutouts and innings pitched. It was also the first of four straight seasons he led the league in strikeouts.
In 1934, Dean went 30-7, leading the league in wins with a 2.66 ERA to win the National League MVP Award. Along with his older brother Paul, also a pitcher on the team and often referred to in the media as “Daffy”, the Cardinals became hardworking, gritty players during the Great Depression. The team captured the National League pennant and beat the Tigers in the World Series.
Dean won 28 and 24 games in 1935 and 1936 respectively, finishing second in MVP voting in both seasons. In 1937, Dean suffered an injury after being hit in the toe by a line drive during the All-Star Game. Trying to return from the injury too quickly, Dean hurt his arm and largely lost his effectiveness.
Traded to the Cubs in 1938, Dean spent four seasons in Chicago, including appearing in the 1938 World Series, which the Cubs lost to the Yankees. He appeared again for the St. Louis Browns in 1947 as a promotional stunt, pitching four innings before retiring.
The four-time All-Star won 150 games in 12 seasons with 1,163 strikeouts and a 3.02 career ERA. Known for his practical jokes, colorful baseball predictions and confident attitude, Dean became a radio and television announcer after his playing career was over. He was popular with audiences despite often mispronouncing players’ names and using his own version of grammar. He was the voice of the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees and the CBS and NBC Game of the Week from the 1940s through 1965.
“Dizzy Dean. It's impossible to say without a smile, but then who wants to try?” wrote Jim Murray in the Los Angeles Times.
Dean was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1953. He passed away on July 17, 1974.
