Warren Edward Spahn.

Warren Edward Spahn. Warren Edward Spahn (1921-2003), American baseball player, who retired with the most career wins for a left-handed pitcher in major league history (363). He pitched for 21 seasons in the majors despite losing several years to service in the military. Warren Edward Spahn was born in Buffalo, New York. His father taught him to play the game as a youngster. In 1940 Spahn signed a contract with the Boston Braves (now the Atlanta Braves). After spending time in the minor leagues in the early 1940s, he was drafted into the United States Army in 1943. He saw active duty in World War II and won the Purple Heart after being wounded in action. Spahn rejoined the Braves as a regular member of the team's pitching staff in 1946. In 1947 he posted a 21-10 record, leading the National League (NL) with a 2.33 earned run average (ERA). In 1948 Spahn and pitcher Johnny Sain led the Braves to the World Series. The team's lack of other good pitchers, however, inspired the popular refrain: "Spahn and Sain, and pray for rain." The Braves lost the series to the Cleveland Indians, 4 games to 2, with Spahn and Sain each winning one game. From 1949 through 1952 Spahn led the league in strikeouts. Some consider the pitcher's greatest season to be 1953, the same year the Braves moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Spahn went 23-7 with 24 complete games in 32 starts and led the National League with a 2.10 earned run average. In 1957 he helped lead the Braves to the World Series title. He also won the Cy Young Award that year, posting a 21-11 record with a league-leading 18 complete games. Spahn won 20 games or more for six consecutive seasons from 1956 to 1961. He threw two no-hit games during this span, one in 1960 and the other in 1961. The pitcher's final season was divided between two teams, the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants. He retired from the major leagues in 1965, holding records for most wins by a left-hander (363), most 20-win seasons (13, tied with Christy Mathewson) and shutouts (63) by an NL pitcher, and most strikeouts (2,583, later broken). Spahn also hit 35 home runs, an NL record for a pitcher. After his playing career, he coached for several years in the minor leagues. In 1973 Spahn was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.