Pitcher
A 25-14 record and a 10.6 bWAR tells part of the 1935 season for right-handed Wes Ferrell. Ferrell played 15 seasons in the majors and four in Boston compiling a 193-128 career record and 62-40 for the Red Sox. Ferrell teamed with his brother Rick Ferrell as his catcher. But then there is his hitting. In 1935, that .347 was the highest average among American League pitchers and that was not unusual as Wes was generally in the top three with Red Ruffing and Schoolboy Rowe.
In 1935, Ferrell slammed seven home runs with 32 RBI. In four seasons Ferrell – often used as a pinch hitter – hit .308 for the Red Sox with 17 home runs. Brother Rick hit a career .281 in his 18-year career and made it to the Baseball Hall of Fame, but Wes has not. The real batting champion for the AL in 1935 was a former Red Sox infielder Buddy Myer, so I have to do some creative manipulation as with Double X.
Wes was a .280 career hitter with 38 home runs compared to just 28 for brother Rick. Was Wes the best hitting pitcher of all time? Possibly. Ferrell set the career home run record for pitchers and the single-season record of nine in 1931. A six-time 20 game-winner – two with the Red Sox.
Wes continued his professional career in the minors and hit 24 home runs in D-ball in 1948 playing the outfield with limited pitching duty. All as a 40-year-old.