Gene Bearden, 83; Indians Pitcher Had a Great Rookie Season

Gene Bearden, 83, a knuckleball pitcher who completed a remarkable rookie season by closing out the Cleveland Indians’ last World Series championship, died Thursday in Alexander City, Ala. The cause of death was not reported.

Bearden grew up in Lexa, Ark., and Memphis, Tenn. He went to Mississippi State with the intention of playing football, but later signed with the Yankees as a first baseman. A left-hander, he eventually became a pitcher in the Cleveland organization.

In his rookie season, Bearden pitched on a team that already had future Hall of Fame hurlers Bob Feller, Bob Lemon and Satchel Paige. Bearden finished with a 20-7 record and a league-leading 2.43 ERA for the Indians’ 1948 title team. His final regular-season victory came in a one-game playoff against Boston for the American League pennant.

However, Bearden never came close to duplicating the success he had in his rookie season. He never won more than eight games in a season after that. His career lasted until 1953; he finished with a 45-38 record and a 3.96 ERA. He also pitched for Detroit, the St. Louis Browns and the Chicago White Sox.