 03/19/2004 10:54 PM ET
Former Indians pitcher Bearden dies
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Gene Bearden, a knuckleball pitcher who made history as a 27-year-old rookie with Cleveland in 1948, died Thursday at his home in Alabama. He was 83.
Bearden, a member of the Top 100 Greatest Indians roster released by the club in 2001 during the franchise's centennial celebration, went 20-7 and led the league with a 2.43 ERA in '48. Tied with Boston at the end of the regular season the Indians faced the Red Sox in a one-game playoff and the rookie lefty beat Boston to give the Tribe its first pennant in 28 years.
Cleveland went on to defeat the Boston Braves four games to two in the '48 World Series and Bearden was instrumental again, picking up a win and a save and not allowing a run. At the plate Bearden went 2-for-4 in the Fall Classic.
"The Cleveland Indians deeply regret the passing of Indians great pitcher Gene Bearden," Indians owner Larry Dolan said in a statement. "Indians fans will always remember the contributions to the Tribe's last World Series title in 1948. His victory in the 1948 AL Playoff game against the Boston Red Sox still ranks as one of the greatest wins in franchise history."
Bearden never again duplicated his rookie performance. A thigh injury in 1949 slowed his career and he was traded to Washington in 1950. Over the next three years he bounced around the leagues with stints with the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns and Chicago White Sox. Bearden retired after the 1953 season having compiled a 45-38 record in 193 career games.
Jim Molony is a writer for MLB.com based in Houston. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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