# Monty Stratton
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{{Short description|American baseball player (1912–1982)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Monty Stratton
|position=[Pitcher](/source/Pitcher)
|image=Monty Stratton.jpeg
|width=160px
|caption=Stratton, circa 1938
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1912|5|21|mf=y}}
|birth_place=[Palacios, Texas](/source/Palacios%2C_Texas), U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1982|9|29|1912|5|21}}
|death_place=[Greenville, Texas](/source/Greenville%2C_Texas), U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=June 2
|debutyear=1934
|debutteam=Chicago White Sox
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 27
|finalyear=1938
|finalteam=Chicago White Sox
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[Win–loss record](/source/Win%E2%80%93loss_record_(pitching))
|stat1value=36–23
|stat2label=[Earned run average](/source/Earned_run_average)
|stat2value=3.71
|stat3label=[Strikeout](/source/Strikeout)s
|stat3value=196
|teams=
* [Chicago White Sox](/source/Chicago_White_Sox) ({{mlby|1934}}–{{mlby|1938}})
|highlights=
* [All-Star](/source/Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game) ([1937](/source/1937_Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game))
}}
'''Monty Franklin Pierce Stratton''' (May 21, 1912 – September 29, 1982) was an American professional [baseball](/source/baseball) [pitcher](/source/pitcher) in [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) (MLB).[{{cite web|title=Monty Stratton |url=https://baseballbiography.com/monty-stratton-1912 |publisher=baseballbiography.com |accessdate=September 18, 2014 }}] He was born in [Palacios, Texas](/source/Palacios%2C_Texas) (some sources state Wagner, Texas) and lived in [Greenville, Texas](/source/Greenville%2C_Texas), for part of his life. His major league career ended prematurely when a hunting accident in 1938 forced doctors to amputate his right leg. Wearing a [prosthetic leg](/source/prosthetic_leg), Stratton played in the [minor leagues](/source/Minor_League_Baseball) from 1946 to 1953. His comeback was the subject of the 1949 film ''[The Stratton Story](/source/The_Stratton_Story)'', in which he was portrayed by [Jimmy Stewart](/source/James_Stewart).
==Major league career==
Stratton began his career with the Van Alstyne Grays before playing for the [Chicago White Sox](/source/Chicago_White_Sox). Stratton pitched five years with the White Sox (1934–38), compiling a career 36–23 record with 196 [strikeout](/source/strikeout)s and a 3.71 [earned run average](/source/earned_run_average) (ERA) in {{frac|487|1|3}} [innings pitched](/source/innings_pitched). As a hitter, Stratton was better than average for a pitcher, posting a .224 [batting average](/source/batting_average_(baseball)) (43-for-192) with 33 [runs](/source/run_(baseball)), four [home run](/source/home_run)s and 24 [runs batted in](/source/runs_batted_in) in 71 games. Defensively, he recorded a .975 [fielding percentage](/source/fielding_percentage).
Stratton was {{height|ft=6|in=5}}-tall and was a right-hander. He made his debut with the White Sox on June 2, 1934. He became a [starter](/source/Starting_pitcher) in 1937, [winning](/source/Win_(baseball_statistics)) 15 games with a 2.40 ERA and five [shutout](/source/shutout)s, and made the [American League](/source/American_League) [All-Star](/source/Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game) squad. The following season, he again won 15 and [completed](/source/Complete_game) 17 of his 22 starts.
==Post-accident==
On November 27, 1938, Stratton was hunting rabbits on his family farm when he fell, accidentally discharging his [shotgun](/source/shotgun). The pellets struck his right leg, damaging a main artery enough to require amputation the next day.[{{cite journal| last=Sheldon| first=Harold| title=Finishing the Stratton Story| journal=Baseball Digest| volume=8| issue=9| pages=45–48| date=September 1949| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1TIDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA45| issn=0005-609X| accessdate=January 24, 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2014}}] Fitted with a wooden leg, Stratton worked with the White Sox the next two years as a [coach](/source/Coach_(baseball)) and [batting practice](/source/batting_practice) pitcher. In 1939, White Sox management sponsored a charity game in [Comiskey Park](/source/Comiskey_Park) against the [Chicago Cubs](/source/Chicago_Cubs), the proceeds of which (about $28,000 equal to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|28000|1939}}}} today) went to Stratton. He took the mound to demonstrate that he could still pitch, though he was unable to transfer his weight effectively to the artificial leg.[
When [World War II](/source/World_War_II) began, Stratton attempted to enlist but was rejected. Then he organized a [semi-professional](/source/Semi-professional_sports) baseball team at [Greenville, Texas](/source/Greenville%2C_Texas) and constantly practiced coordination on the field. He spent much time experimenting and learning how to pitch despite the prosthetic leg, primarily pitching to his wife, Ethel (Milberger) Stratton, and against the side of a barn.
In 1946, Stratton pitched for the [Sherman Twins](/source/Sherman_Twins) of the [East Texas League](/source/East_Texas_League) ([Class C](/source/Minor_League_Baseball)) and compiled a record of 18–8, with a 4.17 [earned run average](/source/earned_run_average) (ERA). In 1947, with the Waco Dons of the [Big State League](/source/Big_State_League) ([Class B](/source/Minor_League_Baseball)), he went 7–7 with a 6.55 ERA. A major challenge was moving nimbly enough on his [prosthetic leg](/source/prosthetic_leg) to field the [bunts](/source/Bunt_(baseball)) that were commonly sent his way by opponents. After 1947, Stratton never appeared in more than four games in a season, though he joined multiple minor-league teams ranging from Class B to Class D in 1949, 1950, and 1953.][{{cite web| url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=stratt001mon| title=Monty Stratton (minors)| accessdate=September 18, 2014| publisher=[Baseball-Reference.com](/source/Baseball-Reference.com)}}]
==Legacy and life after baseball==
Stratton's comeback attempt was the subject of a 1949 film and ''[Lux Radio Theatre](/source/Lux_Radio_Theatre)'' episode as ''[The Stratton Story](/source/The_Stratton_Story)'', both of which starred [Jimmy Stewart](/source/James_Stewart) and [June Allyson](/source/June_Allyson), with big-leaguers [Gene Bearden](/source/Gene_Bearden), [Bill Dickey](/source/Bill_Dickey), [Merv Shea](/source/Merv_Shea), and [Jimmy Dykes](/source/Jimmy_Dykes) in cameo appearances. Stratton had spent most of one year in Hollywood serving as an adviser for the movie. The film was a financial success and earned an [Academy Award](/source/Academy_Award) for best original story.
The Strattons, who lived for many years on a 93-acre farm in the Ardis Heights area of Greenville, were members of Wesley Methodist Church and were also active in the Greenville community. Monty Stratton helped start the Greenville [Little League Baseball](/source/Little_League_Baseball) program and was recognized for his efforts by the naming of Monty Stratton Field near Greenville High School.[{{cite news| title=Ethel Stratton dead at 90| url=http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Siblings/Stratton.Ethel.Obit.html| work=[Herald-Banner](/source/Herald-Banner)| location=Greenville| date=August 22, 2006| publisher=The Dead Ball Era| accessdate=September 18, 2014}}]
Stratton's son Dennis died by suicide in 1964, aged 23 years.["Ex-Pitcher's Son a Suicide". ''New York Times''. 27 June 1964: 11. {{ProQuest| }} ]
Stratton died in Greenville, Texas, on September 29, 1982, at the age of 70 due to cancer. He was survived by his wife, Ethel; a son, Monty Jr.; two brothers; a sister; and four grandchildren.[{{cite news| title=Monty Stratton, 70, Pitcher Who Inspired Movie, Is Dead| url=http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Stratton.Monty.Obit.html| date=September 20, 1982| work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)| accessdate=September 18, 2014}}] Ethel, who served for many years as a volunteer at Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville, died in 2006 in [Arlington, Texas](/source/Arlington%2C_Texas) at age 90.