The Deacon and the Schoolmaster: Phillippe and Leever, Pittsburgh's Great Turn-Of-The-Century Pitchers

Among the great pitchers in baseball history, Charles "Deacon" Phillippe and Samuel "The Schoolmaster" Leever hardly stand out as household names. But during the first decade of the twentieth century, these two Pittsburgh Pirates were among the most celebrated pitchers in the major leagues. From 1900 through 1906, these models of consistency posted a combined record of 261 victories against 131 losses for a win-loss percentage of .666. During the years Deacon and the Schoolmaster toiled on the mound, the Pirates never finished out of the first division, won four National League pennants, and came in second four times. With little flamboyance or controversy to color their legacy, their fame faded quickly after their workman-like playing days. This narrative chronicles the thriving careers of these unassuming aces and returns them to their rightful place among the most important players in the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club.