Editing Red Ruffing (section)

=====1930–1938=====
[[Miller Huggins]], who served as the Yankees' manager through 1929, had attempted to acquire Ruffing from the Red Sox for the last couple years of his Yankees' tenure. When Ruffing told him that he was considering moving to the outfield, Huggins told him he should continue as a pitcher.<ref name=beer/> [[Bob Shawkey]], a former pitcher who succeeded Huggins as the Yankees new manager in 1930, had convinced [[Ed Barrow]], the Yankees' [[general manager (baseball)|general manager]], to acquire Ruffing. Shawkey believed he could change Ruffing's approach to pitching to obtain better results.<ref name=shawkey/> Shawkey worked with Ruffing to change his [[Pitch (baseball)|pitching delivery]], so that Ruffing used his body more. This helped Ruffing save his arm strength for the later innings of the game.<ref name=sabr/><ref name=shawkey>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Wt0yAAAAIBAJ&pg=4858,2150129&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Shawkey Recalls March Of History|first=Jimmy|last=Mann|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|page=3–C|date=February 13, 1968|access-date=September 8, 2013}}</ref> The trade of Ruffing for Durst is now reckoned as one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history; Durst was a reserve outfielder who always batted at the bottom of the lineup when he was used.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19380527&id=c6xQAAAAIBAJ&pg=1900,852730|title=Red Ruffing, Bought at Bargain, Worth Weight in Gold to Yankees|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|page=7|date=May 27, 1938|access-date=September 8, 2013}}</ref> The 1930 season proved to be Durst's worst year in the majors.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19841103&id=Mt1VAAAAIBAJ&pg=6608,556732|title=What's the best trade in baseball? The worst? Reichler ranks them in 'The Baseball Trade Register'|first=Dave|last=Anderson|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|date=November 3, 1984|access-date=January 2, 2014}}</ref> Ruffing had a 0–3 record with the Red Sox before the trade. He won 15 games for the Yankees after the trade, losing only five games.<ref name=reminisces/><ref name=shawkey/>

The Yankees chose Ruffing as their starting pitcher for Opening Day in 1931.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/teams/1931yankees.stm |title=1931 New York Yankees |publisher=Baseball Library |access-date=September 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830045358/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/teams/1931yankees.stm |archive-date=August 30, 2008 }}</ref> During the 1931 season, Ruffing had a 16–14 win–loss record with a 4.41 ERA. The Yankees finished the season in second place.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1931.shtml |title=1931 New York Yankees Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 8, 2013 |archive-date=March 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321060528/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1931.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 13, 1932, Ruffing threw a complete-game shutout and hit a home run in the tenth inning off of [[History of the Washington Senators|Washington Senators]]' pitcher [[Tommy Thomas (pitcher)|Tommy Thomas]] to give the New York Yankees a 1–0 victory.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://baseballbiography.com/red-ruffing-1904 |title=Red Ruffing |work=baseballbiography.com |year=2012 |quote=Red Ruffing hits a HR in the 10th with two outs to beat Al Thomas of the Senators‚ 1–0. |access-date=August 7, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Ruffing became the first pitcher in major league history to win a game 1–0, hit a home run in the game, and strike out ten or more batters. Three other pitchers have since achieved this feat: [[Early Wynn]] in 1957, [[Yovani Gallardo]], who did it in 2009, and Noah Syndergaard, who did it on May 2, 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/02/one-man-show/?_r=0|date=May 2, 2009|title=One-Man Show|first=Fred|last=Bierman|at=Bats Blog|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 8, 2013|archive-date=September 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922004526/http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/02/one-man-show/?_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref> Ruffing won 18 games during the 1932 season. He had a 3.09&nbsp;ERA, second in the AL only to [[Lefty Grove]]'s 2.84. Ruffing had 190 strikeouts, which led the AL.<ref name=sabr/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1932-pitching-leaders.shtml |title=1932 American League Pitching Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 6, 2013 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309060100/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1932-pitching-leaders.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> The Yankees won their first [[pennant (sports)|pennant]] since 1928. Ruffing won his first [[World Series]] game during the [[1932 World Series]] against the [[Chicago Cubs]].<ref name=redhead/> He started Game One, and the Yankees [[Glossary of baseball (S)#sweep|swept]] the Cubs four games to zero.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1932_WS.shtml |title=1932 World Series&nbsp;– New York Yankees over Chicago Cubs (4–0) |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 6, 2013 |archive-date=June 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622173443/http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1932_WS.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Image:RedRuffingGoudeycard.jpg|thumb|190px|1933 Goudey baseball card of Red Ruffing of the New York Yankees]]
Ruffing had a 9–14 win–loss record with a 3.91 ERA in the 1933 season, as the Yankees finished in second place in the AL.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1933.shtml |title=1933 New York Yankees Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 8, 2013 |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425025023/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1933.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> He threw a one-hitter on June 20, 1934, against the [[Cleveland Indians]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ivwtAAAAIBAJ&pg=6646,2618021&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Red Ruffing Hurls One-Hit Ball Game: Yankees Win from Cleveland Twice, 3–2 and 3–0, Ruffing Clicking in Nightcap. Gehrig Clouts 18th; Homer in Ninth Inning Wins First Game and Gomez, Pitching Only 6 Balls, Gains 12th Victory|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Montreal Gazette|date=June 21, 1934|access-date=September 8, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107225049/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ivwtAAAAIBAJ&pg=6646%2C2618021&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> Two weeks later, [[Joe Cronin]] selected Ruffing for the [[1934 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]]. At that point, he had a 9–3 win–loss record on the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YL5aAAAAIBAJ&pg=5092,4166801&dq=red-ruffing+all-star&hl=en|title=Managers Drop Berger, Grove and Dykes From Big League All-stars|first=Alan|last=Gould|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Evening Independent|location=St. Petersburg, Florida|page=8|date=July 3, 1934|access-date=September 8, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107224950/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YL5aAAAAIBAJ&pg=5092%2C4166801&dq=red-ruffing+all-star&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> He finished the season with a 19–11 win–loss record, as the Yankees finished second in the AL.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1934.shtml |title=1934 New York Yankees Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411194516/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1934.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Ruffing pitched to a 16–11 record in the 1935 season, as the Yankees again finished second in the AL.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1935.shtml |title=1935 New York Yankees Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425025033/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1935.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> His 3.12&nbsp;ERA was third in the league, behind only Grove and [[Ted Lyons]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1935-pitching-leaders.shtml |title=1935 American League Pitching Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 8, 2013 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309064248/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1935-pitching-leaders.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ruffing won 20 games during the 1936 season.<ref name=reminisces>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b3MjAAAAIBAJ&pg=6016,881437&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Red Ruffing Reminisces About The Old Days|first=John|last=Connelly|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|page=3–F|date=April 2, 1976|access-date=September 7, 2013}}</ref> In June of that year, Ruffing pitched the longest outing by a New York Yankees pitcher, logging 16 innings in a complete game win against the Cleveland Indians.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ferenchick |first=Matt |date=2015-11-21 |title=The longest pitching performance in NYY history |url=https://www.pinstripealley.com/2015/11/21/9773526/yankees-history-red-ruffing-16-innings-indians |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=Pinstripe Alley |language=en}}</ref> His 3.85 ERA was the sixth-best in the league, and his 20 wins tied him for third place, with [[Johnny Allen (baseball)|Johnny Allen]] and [[Wes Ferrell]], behind [[Tommy Bridges]] and [[Vern Kennedy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1936-pitching-leaders.shtml |title=1936 American League Pitching Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 8, 2013 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308150135/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1936-pitching-leaders.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> He started Game One of the [[1936 World Series]] against the [[New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GHUxAAAAIBAJ&pg=6839,3357904&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Red Ruffing to Be Rival of Hubbell: Yankees Still Favored in Betting; Pearson Has Lame Back: All Seats Sold Out|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|page=6|date=September 29, 1936|access-date=September 6, 2013}}</ref> but lost. The Yankees defeated the Giants four games to two.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1936_WS.shtml |title=1936 World Series&nbsp;– New York Yankees over New York Giants (4–2) |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 6, 2013 |archive-date=June 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622220949/http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1936_WS.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> In a salary dispute with the Yankees, Ruffing did not report to [[spring training]], and he held out at the start of the 1937 season, missing the first month. He signed in May, receiving a $15,000 salary (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|15000|1937}}}} in current dollar terms).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G1wbAAAAIBAJ&pg=6553,1567197&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Red Ruffing Signs Up|agency=United Press International|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|page=35|date=May 6, 1937|access-date=September 8, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107224950/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G1wbAAAAIBAJ&pg=6553%2C1567197&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> Ruffing had a 20–7 win–loss record for the Yankees in 1937.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1937.shtml |title=1937 New York Yankees Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=April 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423054250/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1937.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> He finished with the fourth-best ERA in the league, 2.98, trailing [[Lefty Gomez]], [[Monty Stratton]], and Allen, and his 20 wins were second only to Gomez, who had 21.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1937-pitching-leaders.shtml |title=1937 American League Pitching Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 8, 2013 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308151827/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1937-pitching-leaders.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> His performance earned him eighth place in [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award]] voting.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1937.shtml#ALmvp |title=1937 Awards Voting |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=June 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621075602/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1937.shtml#ALmvp |url-status=live }}</ref> He started Game Two in the [[1937 World Series]], earning the victory, as the Yankees defeated the Giants four games to one.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1937_WS.shtml |title=1937 World Series&nbsp;– New York Yankees over New York Giants (4–1) |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=June 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622165910/http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1937_WS.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Yankees started Ruffing on Opening Day for the 1938 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/teams/1938yankees.stm |title=1938 New York Yankees |publisher=Baseball Library |access-date=September 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121235952/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/teams/1938yankees.stm |archive-date=November 21, 2008 }}</ref> He was again named an All-Star during the 1938 season. Yankees' manager [[Joe McCarthy (manager)|Joe McCarthy]], who managed the AL team in the All-Star Game, chose teammate [[Lefty Gomez]] as the starting pitcher. As McCarthy did not believe in pitching two players from the same team in an All-Star Game, Ruffing did not appear in the game.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZVFkAAAAIBAJ&pg=1630,1847095&dq=red-ruffing+all-star&hl=en|title='Experts' Go Into Guessing Game On All-Star Lineups|agency=Associated Press|page=12A|newspaper=St. Joseph News-Press|date=July 3, 1938|access-date=September 8, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107224951/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZVFkAAAAIBAJ&pg=1630%2C1847095&dq=red-ruffing+all-star&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS193807060.shtml |title=July 6, 1938 All-Star Game Play-By-Play and Box Score |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=January 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130183643/http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS193807060.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> He led the AL with 21 wins in the 1938 season. He also tied for the AL lead in [[shutouts in baseball|shutout]]s during with three, while his 3.31 ERA was third-best in the league, behind only Grove.<ref name=reminisces/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1938-standard-pitching.shtml |title=1938 American League Standard Pitching |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308161232/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1938-standard-pitching.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1938-pitching-leaders.shtml |title=1938 American League Pitching Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 8, 2013 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308130445/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1938-pitching-leaders.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Ruffing pitched the opening game of the [[1938 World Series]] against the Cubs.<ref name=ailing>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aSBKAAAAIBAJ&pg=6434,907201&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Ruffing Tests Ailing Arm Today; Pearson or Hildebrand May Hurl Series Opener: Injuries May Put Crimp In Yankee Series Hopes; Cincinnati Redlegs Confident as Manager McKechnie Grooms Derringer and Walters|newspaper=The Youngstown Daily Vindicator|first=Judson|last=Bailey|agency=Associated Press|page=15|date=October 3, 1939|access-date=September 6, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107224951/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aSBKAAAAIBAJ&pg=6434%2C907201&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> He won two games in the series as the Yankees defeated the Cubs.<ref name=redhead>{{cite web|first=Richard 'Pete'|last=Peterson|work=The Southern Illinoisan|url=http://thesouthern.com/sports/peterson-famous-redheads-in-baseball/article_42b254c2-0947-11e3-b5b9-0019bb2963f4.html|title=Peterson: Famous redheads in baseball|date=August 20, 2013|access-date=September 6, 2013|archive-date=February 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226162053/https://thesouthern.com/sports/peterson-famous-redheads-in-baseball/article_42b254c2-0947-11e3-b5b9-0019bb2963f4.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1938_WS.shtml |title=1938 World Series&nbsp;– New York Yankees over Chicago Cubs (4–0) |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 6, 2013 |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407161046/https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1938_WS.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Ruffing finished fourth in AL MVP voting for the 1938 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1938.shtml#ALmvp |title=1938 Awards Voting |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=February 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209013025/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1938.shtml#ALmvp |url-status=live }}</ref>