Pitcher known as a fierce competitor

Walt Masterson, 87, a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher and fierce competitor in 14 major league seasons, including 10 with the Washington Senators, died of a stroke Saturday at Duke University Hospital in Durham, N.C.

He pitched the best game of his career on a June afternoon in 1947 in Chicago, when he held the White Sox scoreless for 16 innings. In the 17th inning, he gave way to reliever Early Wynn, who got credit for the victory when the Senators pushed across the game’s only run in the 18th. In the 16 innings he was on the mound, Masterson gave up only six hits, all of them singles; struck out seven batters; and walked six, two intentionally.

Masterson made the American League all-star team in 1947 and 1948 and was the starting pitcher in the 1948 game. His overall record was 78-100, with a 4.15 earned-run average.

Walter Edward Masterson III was born June 22, 1920, in Philadelphia, signed by the Senators when he was 17 and called up to the majors in 1939. During World War II he spent three years aboard Navy submarines in the Pacific. He returned to baseball in September 1945.

After three more seasons in Washington, he was traded to Boston in June 1949 and stayed with the Red Sox until 1953, when he was traded back to the Senators. He retired at the end of the season, although he came back briefly with the Detroit Tigers in 1956.