Dizzy Dean

Dizzy Dean, (1911-1974), American professional baseball player, who led the National League (NL) in strikeouts four times (1932-1935). Born Jay Hanna Dean in Lucas, Arkansas, he was also known as Jerome Herman Dean. Dean enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 16 and displayed great skill as a pitcher in army baseball contests. He played his first major league game in 1930, at the end of his first season of professional baseball, pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League. He quickly won recognition as one of the outstanding right-hand pitchers in baseball. In the 1933-1934 season he was joined on the Cardinals by his brother, Paul “Daffy” Dean, also a pitcher. Dizzy Dean won 30 games for the Cardinals that season, and together the Dean brothers led the Cardinals to the 1934 World Series title. Dizzy Dean won the NL's most valuable player award for 1934, and remained with the Cardinals until 1938, when he was traded to the Chicago Cubs. In 1941 he retired from baseball. Thereafter, except for a brief comeback with the St. Louis Browns in 1947, he delivered baseball commentaries on various radio and television programs. During his career in the major leagues Dean was credited with 150 victories and charged with 83 defeats. In 1953 he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1967 he announced and then withdrew his candidacy for the governorship of Mississippi.