Ray Caldwell: White Lightning

Ray Caldwell: White Lightning

In the history of baseball, the sad story of alcoholism has affected many a player, often curtailing or ruining their career.

Ray “Slim” Caldwell was one such player. He showed significant promise and had a few outstanding seasons but ultimately the bottle took its toll. A tall, right-handed pitcher, he had a sweeping curve and above-average fastball but his best weapon was a wicked spitball.

Caldwell entered the Big Leagues with the New York Highlanders in 1910. By 1912, he was already tops on the staff and started against the Red Sox in the first-ever game at Fenway Park. In 1913, he started against Brooklyn in the Grand Opening of Ebbets Field. In 1914, Caldwell compiled an 18-9 record with an amazing 1.94 earned run average.

Caldwell was also an excellent batter and often pinch-hit from the left side. In 1913, he became the only pitcher in MLB history to hit three homers in three consecutive days.

In 1915, he won 19 and lost 16 but the following year he slipped to 5-12. The performance decline closely paralleled his ever-increasing drinking problems. Toward the end of the season, the Yankees suspended him for two weeks for drunkenness but it didn't matter much as Caldwell had slipped off to Panama and couldn't be found to be re-instated.

Caldwell resurfaced in 1917 and the Yankees, in desperate need of proven pitching arms, reluctantly took him back. This time they hired two detectives who were supposed to keep him out of drinking establishments but they were no match for the slippery pitcher who alluded them on most occasions. By 1919, the team had enough and released him outright. He found a spot with the Red Sox and even roomed with Babe Ruth. However, Boston also quickly grew tired of Caldwell’s drinking habits and cut him even though he had a 7-4 record at the time.

Cleveland, facing multiple injuries in its starting rotation, was Caldwell's next team. The Indians were in a close pennant race only a couple of games behind the soon-to-be-infamous Chicago Black Sox (the Indians eventually ended up in second). Player manager Tris Speaker drew up a strange contract for Caldwell in which the pitcher agreed not to drink on days that he was supposed to pitch. On most non-starting days, Caldwell was free to imbibe and did not even need to report to the ballpark.

August 24, 1919, was Caldwell's first start for the Indians. It was hot at League Park until it starting raining in the fourth inning. Dark clouds rolled in from Lake Erie. Despite the rain, Caldwell was on his way to a complete game victory over the Philadelphia Athletics leading 2-1 in the top of the ninth. He induced two infield pop ups to open the inning. One out to go.

Suddenly, a light flash from the sky exploded on the middle of the infield. Lightning entered Caldwell via the metal button on his hat and exited his metal spikes, sending him sprawling. For five minutes he laid on his back unconscious. Players and fans thought he was dead.

Several teammates were also affected by the thunder bolt. Shortstop Ray Chapman was fortunate to live. His legs went numb and he nearly fell over. Chapman’s luck ran out almost exactly one year later when was beaned by Carl Mays and subsequently died.

Now the Indians gathered in a circle around Caldwell. A doctor from the stands revived him. Caldwell groaned and crawled to his knees. When his teammates offered to walk him off the field for a trip to the hospital, Caldwell incredulously said:

“Just give me the damn ball and turn me toward the plate!”

That’s when Ray Caldwell, the 31-year-old journeyman pitcher, retired Jumping Joe Dugan on a ground out to third. After the game, Caldwell told the Cleveland press that it felt like somebody hit him on top of the hit with a board and knocked him down.

Perhaps that scare weaned Caldwell off of alcohol for a while. He tossed a no hitter several weeks later and finished the season 5-1. In 1920, Caldwell compiled a 20-10 record to lead Cleveland to its first-ever World Series title. However, in 1921, Caldwell finished with a mediocre 6-6 record and a 4.94 era. It was his final appearance in MLB.

Ray Caldwell survived a lightning strike, was a spitball wizard, opened new ballparks, roomed with Babe Ruth, and all in all had one of the strangest playing careers ever. We can only imagine what would have happened if Caldwell took better care of himself and laid off the booze. Unfortunately, his wheels kept spinning and he fell off the wagon just too many times.