Johnny Rigney | |||
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Pitcher | |||
Born: October 28, 1914 Oak Park, Illinois |
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Died: October 21, 1984 Wheaton, Illinois |
(aged 69)|||
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MLB debut | |||
April 21, 1937, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
July 4, 1947, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Win–loss record | 63–64 | ||
Earned run average | 3.59 | ||
Strikeouts | 605 | ||
Teams | |||
John Dungan Rigney (October 28, 1914 – October 21, 1984) was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Chicago White Sox (from 1937 to 1942 and from 1946 to 1947). Listed at 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 190 pounds (86 kg), Rigney batted and threw right-handed. A native of River Forest, Illinois, he was signed out of the University of St. Thomas.
Rigney was one of the Chicago White Sox top pitchers in the years prior to World War II. His most productive season came in 1939, when he won a career-high 15 games, including the first win for a pitcher during the first night game ever played at Comiskey Park (August 14). In 1940, he recorded 14 wins with a career-high 3.11 ERA, pitching an 11-inning, 1–0 shutout against the visitors New York Yankees (June 20). It was the first time since 1919 that the Yankees had been shut out in extra innings by one pitcher. After that, he won 13 games in 1941 and was 3–3 before joining the United States Navy in May 1942. After being discharged in 1945, he returned to Chicago, but his playing time was limited by arm injuries. He retired after the 1947 season.
In an eight-season career, Rigney posted a 63–64 record with 605 strikeouts and a 3.59 ERA in 197 appearances, including 132 starts, 66 complete games, 10 shutouts, five saves, and 1186 ⅓ innings of work.