Baseball History: Bull Durham Wins Double Header for Fifth Time
These days, the name Bull Durham leads one to think of the baseball movie starring Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins. However, on this day in 1908, the turn of the century pitcher with the same name made baseball history by winning both sides of a doubleheader for the fifth time.
In the modern era of baseball, it is rare for a pitcher to win both games of a doubleheader. If that is going to happen, it will be a reliever. However, in the early days of baseball history, it was not uncommon for a starting pitcher to work both games. If the baseball gods smiled down upon them, they may even be able to win both outings.
For turn of the century pitcher Bull Durham, that was not a difficult feat, at least in 1908. On this day, the Indianapolis Indians pitcher won both sides of a doubleheader for the fifth time, defeating the Toledo Mud Hens. The Mud Hens also had the honor of being the fifth different team that Durham accomplished the feat against, as he defeated the Brewers, Senators, Apostles, and Colonels.
That fifth personal sweep of a doubleheader helped cap off a fine minor league career for Durham. He was 19-7 between Louisville and Indianapolis, allowing just 211 hits and 81 walks in his 261 innings. Overall in his time in the minors, Durham posted a 52-39 record in his four seasons.
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However, he did not have that same level of success in the major league level. Durham made a total of nine appearances over four seasons, posting a 2-0 record and a save. That record was deceiving, as Durham also had a 5.28 ERA and a 1.690 WHiP, walking 12 batters against just six strikeouts in his 29 innings of work.
Of course, these days, the name Bull Durham is well known in baseball circles and amongst movie fans. The journeyman pitcher had his name used as the title of Ron Shelton’s baseball film, following the exploits of veteran catcher Crash Davis and talented rookie Nuke LaLoosh.
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While the real life Bull Durham had nowhere near the talent of the fictional pitcher in the movie, he still managed to make baseball history. On this day in 1908, he won both ends of a doubleheader for the fifth time in the season.