Athletes - Hooks Dauss

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	Athletes - Hooks Dauss

George August "Hooks" Dauss (September 22 1889 - July 27 1963) was a Major League pitcher who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. He played from 1912-1926 and threw right-handed.

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Dauss began his career with the Tigers in 1912. After having two starts that year, he had his breakout season in 1913. He was 13-12 on the year, with a 2.48 ERA and 22 complete games (2 shutouts) in 29 starts. He had four appearances as a reliever that year as well.

He had a similar 1914 season, but in 1915, his first truly great season showed his true potential. That year, Hooks won 24 games and lost 13, while ending up with a 2.50 ERA in 309 and 2/3 innings. Along with teammate Harry Coveleski, Dauss helped make Detroit into a serious contender, and they had their best season while Dauss was there, winning 100 games and losing 54. However, they finished two and a half games behind the Boston Red Sox, who would go on to win the 1915 World Series.

The next year, he won 19 games, but Detroit was not the same team, and they never contended for a World Series quite like that again. Dauss continued his outstanding, but quiet, success with the Tigers through the teens and into the early 1920s. Dauss won 20 games, twice more, winning 21 in 1919 and 1923. His success earned him a reputation of being one of the most consistently solid pitchers in baseball. Soon enough, he also earned himself the nickname of Hooks, which came from the large assortment of sharp-breaking curveballs that he was able to throw.

Hooks led the league in batters hit three times and is tenth on the lifetime list. On August 24, 1914, he and four other pitcher (Harry Harper, Jim Shaw, Al Bentley, Jim Stevens) combined to set a record for hit batsmen in a game. Between the five of them, seven Washington batters were plunked in the second game of a doubleheader; Dauss hit 3.

He finished his career with a record of 222-182 and a 3.30 ERA in 538 games (388 starts). His 222 wins rank him in the Top 100 winning pitchers of all time tied with Jerry Koosman at #70, and he has the most wins as a Tiger of any pitcher ever. He struck out 1201 batters in 3390 and 2/3 innings pitched. As a batter, he batted .189.

Hooks Dauss died at Firmin Desloge Hospital in St. Louis at age 73.

Leaderboards

Saves - 1st in 1914 (4) tied with 4 others, Top 5, four other times (1918, '22, '24, '26)
Win - Top 5, five times (1914, '15, '16, '19, '23)
Shutouts - Top 5, twice (1917, '23)
ERA - Top 5, once (1925)

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