All-Time Indians: George Uhle

George Uhle played for the Cleveland Indians for more than a decade, starting in 1919, but wasn’t a true starter for the Tribe until 1921, the year after he won his ring behind Tris Speaker and his championship Indians. In that World Series, Uhle pitched 3 innings in two games, striking out 3 in relief, showing a glimpse of what he was going to become.

In 1921 he started 28 games, although he spent a lot of time in the bullpen, relieving in 13 games as well. The next year he started 40 games (still pitching ten in relief) good enough for one of the top ten most starts in a single season. In 1923 Uhle became the Indians work horse, setting a single season record with 44 starts (again he pitched in 10 games in relief) and a record with 378 hits allowed. His 3.78 ERA was the best in his career to this point and the second best he would ever have. After a couple more average seasons, Uhle had his career year in 1926 setting career bests in wins, ERA, strike outs, K/9 and BAA.

Uhle is one of the 10 Indians pitchers to throw more than 2,000 innings in his career. He is also in the top ten in wins, starts and complete games. Despite being wild (Uhle holds the team record with 95 hit batters), Uhle allowed less home runs than all but two pitchers in the top ten in innings pitched. During the 1928 offseason, Uhle was traded to the Tigers for Ken Holloway and Jackie Tavener. He came back later (something the Indians have been fond of doing over the history of the franchise) and ended his career with the Tribe in 1936 as a relief pitcher after taking a year away from baseball.

Uhle was a Cleveland man through and through. He was born in Cleveland in 1898 and died in Lakewood in 1985.