Carl William Mays, Major League Baseball Player - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Carl William Mays was born November 12, 1891 in Liberty, Kentucky. He was married twice. His first wife was Marjorie Fredricka (Freddie) Madden Mays (1897-1934).

He was one of the better right-handed pitchers in Major League Baseball. Unfortunately he is best remembered for the one pitch he threw on a warm day in August 1920 in New York City. He was pitching for the New York Yankees to a Cleveland Indians batter named Ray Chapman. One very fatal pitch that struck Ray Chapman in the head and killed him, making Chapman the only on-field fatality in major league history.

Mays was a straight underhand "submarine" pitcher (he was nicknamed "Sub"). He compiled a 207-126 record with 29 shutouts, 862 strikeouts and a 2.92 ERA in his 15-year career with the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Giants. The league average was 3.48.

Mays enjoyed his best season in 1921, when he led the American League in wins (27), innings pitched (336.2), games pitched (49), and winning percentage (.750). He was also noted for his skills with a bat, hitting five home runs, 110 RBI, and a lifetime .268 batting average—an unusually high number for a pitcher.

Following his career as a player, he worked as a scout in the major leagues for Milwaukee and Cleveland. Carl William Mays died on April 4, 1971 in El Cajon, California, at the age of 79. He was buried in Plot: Section 13, Lot 49, Space 7 at the River View Cemetery, 0300 SW Taylors Ferry Road in Portland, Oregon.

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Description: The grave marker is inscribed "Carl William Mays Missouri Pvt Stu Army Tng Corp World War I"--no mention of his baseball career. I know that this is his grave as he is buried next to his first wife, Marjorie Fredricka (Freddie) Madden Mays. Date of birth: 11/12/1891 Date of death: 04/04/1971 Area of notoriety: Other Marker Type: Horizontal Marker Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Cemetery Hours 8 AM - Dusk Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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