This Brownie had the lowest ERA of any Jewish pitcher, Koufax Included

His name was Barney Pelty.  He was a mainstay of the Browns starting pitching staff from his debut in late 1903 through 1912. He pitched almost his entire career with the Browns (and closed out his career in a relief role for the Senators in 1912). He has the lowest career ERA of any Jewish pitcher, 2.63, which is 0.12 lower than the great Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers.   Barney was something of a hometown hero, too, since he was born, raised (and eventually passed away) in Farmington, Missouri some 60 miles south of St. Louis (but still in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area).

Another oddity about Barney is that he attended the infamous Blees Military Academy in Macon, MO.  It was built in a grand Romanesque style but the Academy itself only lasted eight years. However, Blees' Academic Hall........................ 

....................... and Gymnasium 

......are on the National Register of Historic Places.

We only told you a few oddities about Barney Pelty, the "Yiddish Curver".  Check out his SABR bio if you want to learn more about his career with the Browns and his Jewish background.