Charlie Getzein

Pitcher
  • Card series: Beginnings: 1880's
  • City: Detroit
  • Team: Wolverines
  • League: National League

Charles H. Getzein (1864-1932) mastered the “pretzel curve,” thrown with a skipping delivery and a sharp overhand swing. The pastry analogy may have been hyperbole, but he was able to baffle hitters for nine major league seasons for five teams. Charlie came into his own with the Detroit Wolverines and was stellar in 1886-87 winning 59 games plus hurling six complete games in the ’87 “Series.”

  • Game 6 of that tourney was witnessed by 10,000 at the Polo Grounds. Getzein no-hit St Louis for 8 innings, shutting them out en route to a Detroit championship
  • Teamed with catcher Charlie Ganzel, a duo sports writers dubbed the “Pretzel Battery”
  • Career record: 145-139 including 277 complete games with an ERA of 3.46

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