Joseph Gordon "Joe" Dobson (January 20, 1917 - June 23, 1994), also nicknamed "Burrhead ", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played with the Cleveland Indians (1939-40), Boston Red Sox (1941-43, 1946-50, 1954) and Chicago White Sox (1951-53).

Dobson was born in Durant, Oklahoma. At the age of nine, he lost his thumb and left forefinger playing with a dynamite cap, but it didn't keep him from reaching the majors, and playing with the Indians. After two seasons in Cleveland he was sent to Boston.

An All-Star in 1948, Dobson enjoyed his best years with the Red Sox. Between 1941-50 (except in 1944-45 for military duties), he won 106 games for the Red Sox, joining a select group of Boston pitchers with 100-plus victories. Roger Clemens (192), Cy Young (192), Mel Parnell (123), Luis Tiant (122), Pedro Martinez (117), Smokey Joe Wood (116), Bob Stanley (115), Tim Wakefield (113), and Lefty Grove (105), are the others.

In 14-season career, Dobson compiled a 137-103 record with 992 strikeouts, a 3.62 ERA, 112 complete games, 22 shutouts, 18 saves, and 2170 innings in 414 games (273 as a starter).

Joe Dobson died in Jacksonville, Florida at the age of 77.

External links

• 1949 Boston Red Sox, at Baseball Historian (http://www.baseballhistorian.com/html/american_heroes.cfm?page=113)
• Page at Baseball Library (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/D/Dobson_Joe.stm)
• Career statistics and analysis at Baseball Reference (http://www.baseball-reference.com/d/dobsojo01.shtml)