Smoky Joe Wood

"Howard Ellsworth 'Smoky Joe' Wood (October 25, 1889 – July 27, 1985) was a professional baseball player. He played all or part of fourteen seasons in Major League Baseball. He played for the Boston Red Sox from 1908-15, where he was primarily a pitcher, for the Cleveland Indians from 1917-22, where he was primarily an outfielder. He is one of only 13 pitchers who won 30 or more games in one season (going 34–5 in 1912) since 1900. ... There were many such teams across the country, which barnstormed in exhibition games against teams of men. Bloomer Girl rosters featured at least one male player. After joining the Red Sox in 1908 at the age of 18, Wood had his breakthrough season in 1911 in which he won 23 games, compiled an earned run average of 2.02, threw a no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns and struck out 15 batters in a single game. Wood once struck out 23 batters in an exhibition game. He earned the nickname "Smoky Joe" because of his blazing fastball. Wood once said, 'I threw so hard I thought my arm would fly right off my body.'"
Wikipedia

Smoky Joe Wood thread
"During his time, he would be feared. People would have trouble distinguishing between him and the other fireballer of his era, Walter Johnson. For the early part of the 1910’s, he was one of baseball’s top pitchers. But you ask people what they think of Smoky Joe Wood and they reply with a simple, “Who?” Something like finding varied pictures of him is a task in itself. And forget the biography. People don’t even know that it was spelled “Smoky,” not “Smokey.” Wood has been forgotten for some reason or another. He didn’t last long. So what? What he accomplished was no meager thing. Treated like a one-year wonder or some fluke, Wood was a strong pitcher in his time. If a guy like Herb Pennock or Red Schoendienst can make the Hall, why isn’t there room for Smoky Joe Wood? Considering his accomplishments, I’d say he’s more than qualified. For those ready to retaliate with a longevity argument, I’d rather not listen. Wood was still very strong in his prime, maybe he would have continued doing so. After his injury he became a good offensive player considering that had never been his primary duty. I know as some read this they think me a fool and are ready to unleash the missiles once done with the sentence. To me, the injury-plagued hurler was robbed of a legacy. Wood desired to be in the spotlight almost as bad as he desired to throw. Hard."
Baseaball Fever

"Joe Wood defies a pigeonhole, and therein lies his difficulty getting into the Hall of Fame. Respected pitcher, beloved coach, penny-ante gambler — bumbling game fixer. From 1909 to 1915, he was an overwhelming presence for the Boston Red Sox, winning 116 games in seven seasons and going 34-5 and 1912. Three times he had season earned run averages under well under 2.00. The Red Sox had few pitching worries in those days: They had another excellent young pitcher, Babe Ruth, and the reliable Eddie Cicotte, a future conspirator in the 1919 Chicago Black Sox scandal. Rube Foster and Ernie Shore also had a some outstanding seasons. Wood thrived in such talented company."
What The Hall?

The Duel Between Smoky Joe Wood and Walter Johnson at Fenway Park in September 1912
"This was perhaps the first memorable game at Fenway Park, which had opened with its first game just a few months earlier, and maybe the most memorable regular season baseball game of the 1910s. In The Glory of Their Times, Wood recalled: That was my greatest season, 1912: 34 wins, 16 in a row, 3 more in the World Series, and, of course, beating Walter Johnson in that big game at Fenway Park on September 6, 1912. My regular pitching turn was scheduled to come on Saturday, and they moved it up a day so that Walter and I could face each other. Walter had already won 16 in a row and his streak had ended. I had won 13 in a row and they challenged our manager, Jake Stahl, to pitch me against Walter, so Walter could stop my streak himself. Jake agreed, and to match us against each other he moved me up in the rotation from Saturday to Friday. The newspapers publicized us like prizefighters: giving statistics comparing our height, weight, biceps, triceps, arm span, and whatnot: The Champion, Walter Johnson, versus the Challenger, Joe Wood."
Misc. Baseball

Lift the Curtain…..
"The Red Sox opened their 1912 season April 11th in New York’s Hilltop Park. They did it with a comeback win against the Highlanders and all the runs in the game came in the first and ninth innings. Harry Wolverton Highlander manager dons the Yankee pinstripes, the first time they appeared on the New York uniform. This was the last season the New York team was known as the Highlanders. In 1913 they moved to the Polo Grounds and officially changed their name to the Yankees. The New Yorkers unveiled the pinstripes for the first time. They wore them for the 1912 season however abandoned them for 1913 and 1914. They reappeared for the 1915 season and they have grown to be as much a part of the Yankee mystique as any player or ballpark. Smokey Joe Wood was the Red Sox opening day pitcher as he lifted the curtain on what became perhaps the greatest year of any Red Sox pitcher in history. He was 34-5, with a 1.91 ERA and he threw 10 shutouts."
fenwaypark100