Charlie Getzien
| Charles Getzein | |||
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1889 S.F. Hess baseball card for Getzein
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| Pitcher | |||
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Born: February 14, 1864 Germany |
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Died: June 19, 1932 (aged 68) Chicago |
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| MLB debut | |||
| August 13, 1884, for the Detroit Wolverines | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| July 19, 1892, for the St. Louis Browns | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 145-139 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.46 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,070 | ||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Charles H. Getzein (sometimes spelled Getzien) (February 14, 1864 – June 19, 1932) was an American professional baseball player from 1883 to 1891. He played all or parts of nine seasons in Major League Baseball with four different National League teams from 1884 to 1891. He was the first German in MLB history
Getzein was known by the nickname "Pretzels". Sources conflict as to whether the nickname was derived from his German ethnicity or from the belief that he was able to throw a "double curve" following "the curves of a pretzel." During nine major league seasons, Getzein compiled a 145-139 win-loss record and a 3.46 earned run average (ERA). He threw 277 complete games, a total that ranks 58th in major league history. Only three pitchers threw more complete games in major league careers shorter than Getzein's nine-year career.
Getzein had his most extensive playing time with the Detroit Wolverines, compiling records of 30-11 and 29-13 in 1886 and 1887. In the 1887 World Series (which Detroit won, 10 games to 5), Getzein pitched six complete games and compiled a 4-2 record with a 2.48 ERA. He also won 23 games for the Boston Beaneaters in 1890.
Getzein was born in 1864, but sources are in conflict as to whether he was born in Chicago or Germany. Getzein began playing baseball as a boy in Chicago. He played as an amateur in the Chicago City League.
During his career, Getzein's drew acclaim for his curveball. Getzein's version of the pitch was sometimes referred to as the "pretzel curve."Sporting Life described Getzein's unusual delivery as follows: "In delivering his 'pretzels' 'Getz' faces third base with one foot in either corner of the lower end of the box. Bending the left knee slightly, he draws his right arm well back. Then, straightening up quickly, he slides the left foot forward with a characteristic little skip, and, bringing his arm around with a swift overhand swing, drives the ball in at a lively pace."
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