Rex Barney

Rex Edward Barney (1924-1997) was a right-handed pitcher who played his entire Major League career with the Brooklyn Dodgers, appearing in 1943 and from 1946 through 1950. Signed by the Dodgers at age 18, his career was interrupted by service in the U.S. Army during World War II, during which he served in Europe and received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star Medal. Barney was known for an exceptionally fast but erratic fastball. His best season came in 1948, when he won 15 games and finished second in the National League with 138 strikeouts. On September 9, 1948, he threw a no-hitter against the New York Giants. On the final day of that season he broke his leg sliding into second base, and he was unable to recover his earlier form, struggling with control before leaving the majors after 1950. Over his career he compiled a 35-31 win-loss record, a 4.31 earned run average, and 336 strikeouts. After his playing days, Barney spent more than two decades as a broadcaster and public address announcer for the Baltimore Orioles.