Today's Happy Baseball Birthday! is former Chicago White Sox pitcher Monty Stratton.
One of my favorite baseball movies is The Stratton Story, the true story about Stratton, who's big league career ended after a hunting accident on his family farm in 1938.
Monty Franklin Pierce Stratton was born on May 21, 1912, in Wagner, Texas.
Monty started pitching in the minor leagues before being signed by the ChiSox.
Monty made his big league debut on June 2, 1934, and pitched on Chicago's South Side through the 1938 season.
Stratton's finest years were his last two, 1937, and 1938.
Monty started 21 games for the ChiSox in '37, completing 14, amassing a 15-5 record, with a 2.40 ERA, making the American League All-Star squad.
In '38 Stratton started 22 games, completing 17 games, a 15-9 record, with a 4.01 ERA.
Stratton's hunting accident caused his right leg to be amputated, ending his big league career.
Monty was a coach for the ChiSox in 1939 and 1940.
In 1938 a charity game was played in Monty's honor, between the North Side Cubs and the White Sox, raising $28,000 for Stratton.
After several years of hard work on his baseball skills, getting a good motion, landing on his prothstetic leg, fielding bunts, covering first base, Stratton returned to baseball in 1946.
Pitching for the Class C Sherman Twins, Monty went 18-8, with a 4.17 ERA.
From 1947, through 1953, Monty pitched in Class B, C, and D baseball.
The aforementioned movie, The Stratton Story, starring Jimmy Stewart as Monty, and June Allyson as his wife Ethel, was terrific at the box office, and earned an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.
Monty Stratton served as an advisor during the film's production.
Monty Stratton died after battling cancer, on September 29, 1982, at the age of 70.
Today we celebrate the life of Monty Stratton.
Happy Baseball Birthday Monty!
Play Ball! ⚾
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