---

Ewell Blackwell broke into the big leagues at age 19 in 1942. In January of ’43, he was drafted into the US Army for World War II. A cook in the armed forces, Blackwell served in General Patton’s Third Army . When Germany surrendered in May, 1945, Blackwell cooked up a celebratory feast.

Blackwell was an All Star his first year back in the Majors in ’46. This began a streak of six straight Mid Summer Classics in which Blackwell pitched.

His best season came in 1947 when he led the National League with 22 wins. That year he reeled off 16 straight victories and paced the NL in strikeouts and complete games. He finished second in MVP voting to Boston Braves third baseman Bob Elliott.

Nicknamed “The Whip” because of his unorthodox sidearm delivery, Blackwell was tough to hit in ’47. He pitched a no-hitter against Elliott’s Braves on June 18. In his next start he held the Brooklyn Dodgers without a hit until one out in the ninth. He settled for a two-hit shutout, falling just two outs short of matching teammate Johnny Vander Meer‘s feat of consecutive no-hitters.

Blackwell became the first National Leaguer to pitch in six straight All Star games in 1951. It was also his last season with a double-digit win total. Blackwell’s pitching mechanics soon caused arm troubles. From 1952 until he retired after the ’55 season, Blackwell went 6-13 with a 4.64 ERA.

The Cincinnati hurler gained induction into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1960.

In the collection is this index card signed by Blackwell who lists his career highlights, adding, “Pitching no-hitter, winning 16 straight games, & pitching in 6 consecutive all star games.”

 

---

When Ewell Blackwell broke in the Reds in 1942, their skipper was Hall of Famer Bill McKecknie. According to SABR, when the Cincinnati manager first saw Blackwell pitch he told GM Warren Giles, “Boss, you’ve got a natural.”

Though Blackwell only pitched for McKechnie in 1942 and ’46, he felt highly of the field general. In the letter above, Blackwell writes about McKecknie, “Bill McKecknie was one of the greatest managers in all of baseball. He knew the game frontward + backward.” Blackwell adds his signature to the bottom of the note.

---

The first Senior Circuit twirler to appear in six-straight All Star Games, Ewell Blackwell fared well against the AL’s best. Though he gave up two runs in his first All Star outing of 1946, Blackwell did not allow a man to cross the plate in his other five.

His overall stats during the Mid Summer Classic include one win, one save, and a 1.32 earned run average over 13 2/3 innings. In baseball’s most important All Star Game, Blackwell was pristine.

The 1949 All Star tilt remains baseball’s most meaningful. Forever remembered as the first integrated All Star Game, it featured Boudreau’s Larry Doby and the Dodgers Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and Don Newcombe.

NL skipper Billy Southworth called on Blackwell in the 8th inning. Tasked with facing an American league offense that already scored 11 runs, the Reds right-hander was sterling. Blackwell struck out Vern Stephens, got Eddie Robinson on a pop out to short, then fanned Hall of Famer Joe Gordon to end the inning. Of Blackwell’s six All Star outings it was his only perfect performance.

Shown here is a 14-karat gold wristwatch. Given to American League president William Harridge in Brooklyn on July 12, 1949, it commemorates the historic affair. Harridge is largely responsible for the creation of annual exhibition in 1933.