Ken Raffensberger

Kenneth David Raffensberger (1917-2002) was an American left-handed starting pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1939 through 1954. Over his career he pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1939, the Chicago Cubs from 1940 to 1941, the Philadelphia Phillies from 1943 to 1947, and the Cincinnati Reds from 1947 to 1954. In 15 major league seasons he compiled a win-loss record of 119-154 with an earned run average of 3.60 and 806 strikeouts over more than 2,151 innings pitched. His losing record came despite an above-average earned run average, a result of pitching for second-division clubs through most of his career. He began as a fastball pitcher and later added a forkball, slow curveball, and changeup to his repertoire. He was selected to multiple All-Star teams during his career. His tenure spanned the years surrounding World War II and the early postwar era.