Rookie of the Year: Don Schwall, 1961

Pitcher, Boston Red Sox

Age:  25

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’6”    Weight: 200

Prior to 1961:

Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Schwall moved with his family to Michigan during World War II where his father was involved with military production. He played basketball and football at Ypsilanti High School. Afterward he moved on to the Univ. of Oklahoma on a basketball scholarship. Averaging 15.1 points-per-game Schwall was an All Big Eight selection in 1956 and ’57, on three occasions outscoring and outrebounding star Kansas center Wilt Chamberlain. He pitched on the baseball team as well and signed with the Red Sox for $65,000 in 1958. Initially assigned to the Waterloo Hawks of the Class D Midwest League, Schwall posted a 7-5 record with a 4.68 ERA and 70 strikeouts over 98 innings. Next assigned to the Alpine Cowboys of the Class D Sophomore League in 1959, he went 23-6 with a 3.36 ERA and 199 strikeouts with 120 walks over 228 innings. In 1960 Schwall moved up to Minneapolis of the Class AAA American Association and compiled a 16-9 tally with a 3.59 ERA and 109 strikeouts while his walks dropped to 81 over 193 innings. He was sent back to Class AAA to start the 1961 season with the Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League. Off to a 3-1 start and with RHP Tom Brewer injured, Schwall was called up to the Red Sox in May. With command of a sinkerball, he quickly became an effective member of the starting rotation.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 27 games

P – 25, PR – 2

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 25

Games Started – 25

Complete Games – 10 [16, tied with Jack Fisher]

Wins – 15 [6, tied with five others]

Losses – 7

PCT - .682 [6, tied with Don Mossi]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 2 [11, tied with twelve others]

Innings Pitched – 178.2

Hits – 167

Runs – 76

Earned Runs – 64

Home Runs – 8

Bases on Balls – 110 [4]

Strikeouts – 91

ERA – 3.22 [11]

Hit Batters – 6 [12, tied with Frank Lary, Gary Bell & Jim Perry]

Balks – 1 [5, tied with nineteen others

Wild Pitches – 6 [18, tied with seven others]

Midseason Snapshot: 7-2, ERA - 3.34, SO – 43 in 70 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 8 (in 9 IP) at Baltimore 5/28, (in 6 IP) at LA Angels 6/21

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 9 IP) vs. LA Angels 8/3

Batting

PA – 73, AB – 61, R – 5, H – 11, 2B – 2, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 6, BB – 1, SO – 10, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .180, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 11, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 44

Put Outs – 8

Assists – 33

Errors – 3

DP – 4

Pct. - .932

Awards & Honors:

AL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

All-Star

14^th in AL MVP voting, tied with Steve Barber, Balt. & Norm Siebern, KCA (7 points, 3% share)

AL ROY Voting:

Don Schwall, Bos.: 7  of 20 votes, 35% share

Dick Howser, KCA: 6 votes, 30% share

Floyd Robinson, ChiWS.: 2 votes, 10% share

Chuck Schilling, Bos.: 2 votes, 10% share

Lee Thomas, NYY/LAA: 2 votes, 10% share

Jake Wood, Det.: 1 vote, 5% share

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Red Sox went 76-86 to finish sixth in the AL, 33 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees. Dominant at Fenway Park but a losing team on the road, the Red Sox were buoyed by a good rookie crop that included Schwall, outfielder Carl Yastrzemski, and second baseman Chuck Schilling.

Aftermath of ‘61:

Schwall struggled with his control in 1962 and his record dropped to 9-15 with a 4.94 ERA and 89 strikeouts plus 121 walks over 182 innings. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the offseason as part of the deal that brought first baseman Dick Stuart to Boston. Schwall started well in 1962 but tailed off due to a lack of consistent run support on the eighth-place club and finished at 6-12 with a 3.33 ERA. Dealing with injuries in 1964, he spent time with the Columbus Jets of the Class AAA International League and was used sparingly upon his return to the Pirates. With Pittsburgh he was 4-3 with a 4.35 ERA. Shifted to the bullpen in 1965, Schwall appeared in 43 games as both a long and short reliever and produced a 9-6 record with a 2.92 ERA and four saves along with 55 strikeouts over 77 innings. During the 1966 season he was dealt to the Atlanta Braves, where he was used sparingly, primarily as a starting pitcher. For the season he finished at 6-5 with a 3.31 ERA. He made one appearance with the Braves in 1967 before being optioned to Richmond of the Class AAA International League. He had a 5.79 ERA in six relief appearances before being released, ending his career. Overall, in the major leagues Schwall compiled a 49-48 record with a 3.72 ERA and 408 strikeouts over 743 innings pitched. With the Red Sox he was 24-22 with a 4.09 ERA and 180 strikeouts. His outstanding rookie season that included an All-Star appearance, proved to be his best.  

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major league.