Earl Averill

Howard Earl Averill, an American center fielder nicknamed "The Rock," was born May 21, 1902, in Snohomish, Washington, and died August 16, 1983. Before reaching the majors he played for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League. He broke into Major League Baseball in 1929 at the age of 26 with the Cleveland Indians, and his early association with his home state earned him the nickname "the Earl of Snohomish."

Averill played in the majors from 1929 to 1941, spending 11 seasons with Cleveland. He was named an All-Star six times, in every season from 1933 through 1938. He remains the all-time Cleveland leader in total bases, runs batted in, runs, and triples, ranks third in franchise history in hits and doubles, and stands fourth in home runs and walks. Despite his production, the team never finished higher than third during his tenure.

In the 1937 All-Star Game, Averill hit the line drive that broke Dizzy Dean's toe. Dean, who had averaged 24 wins a season to that point, altered his delivery because of the injury, damaged his arm, and won only about four games a season afterward before retiring in 1941.

Averill was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975.