SPAHN, WARREN

born April 23, 1921, Buffalo, N.Y., U.S. in full Warren Edward Spahn American professional baseball player whose total of 363 major-league victories established a record for left-handed pitchers. His feat of winning 20 or more games in each of 13 seasons also was a record for left-handers. He set still another mark by striking out at least 100 batters each year for 17 consecutive seasons (194763). At the time of his retirement, in 1965, his career total of 2,583 strikeouts was the third highest in baseball history. After a brief trial with the Boston Braves of the National League in 1942, Spahn saw extensive combat service in World War II. From 1946 through 1964 he pitched for the Braves, who represented Boston through 1952 and Milwaukee through the remainder of Spahn's career. In his last season, 1965, he played for the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants. A wiry, finely conditioned athlete, Spahn pitched two no-hit games at ages 39 and 40. He was also one of the best hitters among pitchers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973.