Eddie Plank
Written by PA Heritage Staff in the Marking Time category and the Fall 2001 issue Topics in this article: American Civil War, baseball, Baseball Hall of Fame, Boston, Charles Albert "Chief" Bender, Eddie Plank, George "Rube" Waddell, Gettysburg, Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Philadelphia, Philadelphia AthleticsGettysburg conjures up images of the greatest battle of the American Civil War. Shortly after guns were silenced, the same rural community played an important role in producing one of baseball’s greatest pitchers.
Edward Stewart “Eddie ” Plank, born August 31, 1875, played baseball for Gettysburg College, while attending Gettysburg Academy from 1900 to 1901. He went directly from college ball to his major league debut with the Philadelphia Athletics in May 1901. Between 1903 and 1908, the Athletics had a trio of extraordinary pitchers on the team at the same time, each destined for the Baseball Hall of Fame – Plank, “Chief” Bender and Rube Waddell. On April 12, 1909, Plank pitched the first game ever played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, leaving his mark with an 8-1 victory over Boston.
Posting more shutouts and complete games than any other left-hander in baseball history, he was the quintessential crafty pitcher. While not blessed with the unbridled speed of Rube Waddell, Plank succeeded by exploiting opponents’ weaknesses with pinpoint control. His best pitch was a sidearm curve ball called a “cross-fire.” Eddie was also known for his deliberate and methodical pace on the mound, much to the chagrin of opposing hitters. His longtime manager Connie Mack commented, “‘Gettysburg Eddie’ battled his way through seventeen great years …. He stands with the great mound generals of all time.” Mack often referred to Plank affectionately as his “Old Reliable.”
After playing most of his career with the Athletics, 1901-1914, Plank jumped to the Federal League St. Louis team in 1915 and ended his career with the St. Louis Browns after the 1916-1917 season. He then operated an automobile dealership in Gettysburg until he died on February 24, 1926.
On August 31, 2000, with Eddie Plank III and his family in attendance, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission dedicated a marker honoring the Gettysburg hero. The marker is located near the intersection of West Lincoln Avenue and the 300 block of Carlisle Street (Business Route 15), across the street from what was Plank’s home between 1917 and 1924 (at the time of his death, his home was just one block further, in the 400 block), next to the campus of Gettysburg College, and not far from the farmhouse where Plank was born.
