Rip Sewell
A baseball pitcher who baffled hitters with a towering, slow-motion junk ball he called the Eephus pitch.
1907–1989 (age 82)·American baseball player·Birthday: May 11·The Greatest Generation
Biography
In an era of power pitchers, Rip Sewell won with guile and a trick pitch that seemed to defy physics. His career nearly ended before it truly began when a hunting accident cost him part of his right foot, forcing him to reinvent his delivery. Pitching primarily for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he became a workhorse and an All-Star. But his legacy was cemented by the Eephus—a blooper pitch with a high, arcing trajectory that took ages to reach the plate. Batters, geared up for fastballs, would either watch it drop for a strike or swing wildly out of frustration. Though it was famously hit for a home run by Ted Williams in the 1946 All-Star Game, the pitch's novelty and effectiveness made Sewell a standout. He embodied the crafty veteran who outsmarted stronger opponents, leaving behind one of baseball's most entertaining and peculiar weapons.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Rip was born in 1907, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rip Was Born
The biggest hits of 1907
Rip's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1907Born
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1912Started school
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1920Became a teenager
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1923Could drive
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1925Could vote
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Turned 21
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1937Turned 30
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 40
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 50
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 60
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 70
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 80
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Died at 82
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
Key Achievements
- Invented and popularized the 'Eephus pitch,' a high-arching slow ball that became his signature.
- Selected as a National League All-Star for four consecutive seasons (1943–1946).
- Won 21 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1943 and again in 1944.
- Pitched over 200 innings in seven different seasons during his career.
Did You Know?
The name 'Eephus' was coined by teammate Maurice Van Robays, who said 'Eephus ain't nothing, and that's a nothing pitch.'
He lost several toes in a hunting accident before the 1941 season, which altered his pitching style.
He served as a player-manager in the minor leagues after his major league career ended.
Ted Williams promised to hit a home run off the Eephus pitch in the 1946 All-Star Game and did so on his first try.
“They knew it was coming, but the blooper still made them look foolish.”
