Kirby Higbe

Walter Kirby Higbe (April 8, 1915 – May 6, 1985) was a right-handed starting pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1937 to 1950. Born in Columbia, South Carolina, he came up through the minor leagues before brief stints with the Chicago Cubs in 1937 and 1938. After a trade to the Philadelphia Phillies, he posted a 14–19 record in 1940 while leading the National League with 137 strikeouts and earning his first All-Star selection. His best season came in 1941 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, where he went 22–9 with a 3.14 ERA, tying for the league lead in wins. He was a two-time NL All-Star.