Born September 9, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York, was Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher, Waite Hoyt. This legend was a World Series Champion in 1923, 27, 28, and the American League wins leader 1927 on the staff of the New York Yankees.
Waite was a right-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for 21 seasons (1918-1938) for seven different teams. He was one of the most dominant pitchers of the 1920s, and the most successful pitcher for the New York Yankees during that decade. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969.
Hoyt signed his first professional contract with the New York Giants as a 15-year-old in 1915, but never played for the team. He made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox in 1918, and was traded to the Yankees in 1921.
Waite quickly became one of the best pitchers in the American League. He won 19 games in each of his first two seasons with the Yankees, and led the league in wins in 1923 with 23. He was also a key member of the Yankees' World Series championship teams in 1923, 1927, and 1928.
Hoyt's best season came in 1927, when he went 22-7 with a 2.63 ERA. He also led the league in strikeouts with 175. He was named to the All-Star team that year, and finished second in the American League MVP voting.
Hoyt left the Yankees after the 1930 season, and played for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Pittsburgh Pirates before retiring in 1938. He finished his career with a record of 237-182 and a 3.59 ERA.
Hoyt was also a very successful pitcher in the World Series. He won six games in seven World Series appearances, and had a 1.83 ERA. He is still the all-time leader in World Series wins by a pitcher.
Hoyt was a colorful character who was known for his wit and storytelling.