Grover
Cleveland "Pete" Alexander (1887 - 1950) was one of baseball's most
tortured individuals. He was named after the sitting US president
because his parents had aspirations that he would study law, but young
Grover was more into baseball. He played in various minor league teams
and was doing well when he was hit in the head by an errant throw. He
developed double vision that lasted for months and
epilepsy that would plague him for the rest of his life. But he pitched
well between seizures and ended up with the Philadelphia Phillies,
where he made an immediate impact, winning 28 games. He excelled for
Philadelphia, winning 30 games in three consecutive seasons, but they
traded him to the Cubs knowing he'd be drafted. He was indeed drafted
and was shipped to the Western Front, where he lost part of his hearing
from the artillery fire and came back with a strong case of PTSD. The
anxiety and the epilepsy led him to embrace alcohol, and he would spend
the rest of his life an alcoholic. Yet he was still in command on the
mound. He pitched well with Chicago, including a 12-inning complete game
on September 20, 1924 for his 300th win. The Cubs sold him to the
Cardinals in 1926, with whom he would have his most famous baseball
moment. Coming in as a reliever with the bases loaded in Game 7 of the
World Series against the Yankees, he struck out super-rookie Tony
Lazzeri, then shut out the Yankees to save the game that ended when Babe
Ruth was thrown out trying to steal second. He would have a few more
good years with the Cardinals before returning to the Phillies for one
last season in 1930. He would retire with 373 wins, third all time, and
90 shutouts, which is second all time. Without baseball to
distract him, he soon fell victim to the alcoholism, PTSD, and epilepsy
that was plaguing him. He could never hold onto a steady job, even
working for a time at a flea circus. He separated from his wife, though
they remained close. He lived in constant poverty, and suffered from
many health ailments. He was well enough to attend the 1950 World
Series, but shortly afterward his heart gave out on him and he died on
November 4, 1950. He was only 63. He was buried with military honors in
Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul, Nebraska.
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