Camilo Pascual
| Birthdate | 1/20/1934 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1954 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Dodgers, Indians, Reds, Senators, Twins |
| Position | Pitcher |
On April 18, 1960 Camilo Pascual of the Washington Senators struck out 15 Red Sox to set a still-standing MLB record for Opening Day strikeouts.
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Camilo Pascual led AL pitchers in WAR twice and in shutouts, strikeouts, and complete games three times each
Camilo Pascual led AL pitchers in WAR twice and in shutouts, strikeouts, and complete games three times each
Camilo Pascual possessed one of the greatest curveballs in baseball history. With his beautiful bender, Pascual enjoyed an 18-year big league career that included seven All Star selections.
From 1958-1964, Pascual was one of the American League’s best pitchers. During that run he was in the AL’s top four in pitchers WAR five times and led the league in the category twice. The right-hander also topped the Junior Circuit in shutouts, strikeouts, and complete games three times each.
His stellar numbers came despite his team’s losing records. In his first 11 years in the majors Pascual’s squads posted winning records only twice. The other nine seasons, they never got out of the second division and finished last or next-to-last six times.
Pascual made history on Opening Day in 1960. Pitching against the Red Sox, he fanned 15 batters to set the still-standing record for season openers. Though he later recalled commanding his fastball that day, it was the curve that made the difference.
In a 1993 interview with The Oklahoman, Yankees great Tony Kubek gushed about Pascual’s hammer.
“He’d come straight over the top with it and it would just dive off the table. The spin was so tight, you couldn’t identify the pitch until it was too late. The ball broke big and it broke sharp. It didn’t flutter, it didn’t hang, it just kept biting. When Pascual was right, nobody had a chance. That curve was unhittable. ”
A 20-game winner in 1962, had a career WAR of 40.9. That puts him ahead of Hall of Famers Bob Lemon, Catfish Hunter, and Jesse Haines.
Pascual’s lifetime statistics include 174 wins, 132 complete games, 36 shutouts, and 10 saves. In 2010 when the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame was established in the Dominican Republic, Pascual was an inaugural inductee. Two years later the Twins enshrined him in their team Hall of Fame.
Shown here is a government postcard signed by Pascual. Notice the Washington D.C. postmark of September 12, 1968. The day before he dropped this in the mail Pascual suffered his 11th loss of the season. Pitching against the Orioles at D.C. Stadium, Pascual was lifted after allowing 4 third-inning runs. The decisive blow coming on a bases-loaded single by Brooks Robinson that cleared the bases.
In 1968 Pascual led the 96-loss Senators in wins (13) and ERA (2.69).
