Editing Hal Newhouser (section)

====1948–1953====
Newhouser improved from the 1947 campaign in his [[1948 Major League Baseball season|1948 season]], posting a league-leading 21 wins with 143 strikeouts<ref name="stewart217"/> and earning an [[1948 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] selection.<ref name="1948 all star game">{{cite web |title=1948 All-Star Game Box Score, July 13 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1948-allstar-game.shtml |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference]] |access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref> The start of the season proved challenging for Newhouser. He won the Tigers' [[Opening Day]] matchup against the Chicago White Sox,<ref name="opening day 1948">{{cite news |title=Tigers, Behind Newhouser, Down White Sox With 3-Run Ninth, 5-2 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=April 20, 1948|id={{ProQuest|108222871}}}}</ref> before losing four straight starts.<ref name="four straight starts lost">{{cite news |last1=Povich |first1=Shirley |author-link1=Shirley Povich|title=This Morning |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=May 17, 1948|id={{ProQuest|152035197}}}}</ref> Starting with a 4–1 victory against the Boston Red Sox on May 19,<ref name="beat bosox 1948">{{cite news |title=Newhouser Back in Form, Tigers Spank Bosox, 4-1 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 19, 1948|id={{ProQuest|151996505}}}}</ref> Newhouser won seven straight games until his streak was busted in another start against the Red Sox on June 20.<ref name="streak snapped 1948">{{cite news |title=Bosox Snap Newhouser's String, 8-3 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=June 20, 1948|id={{ProQuest|151999891}}}}</ref> On August 8, he became the American League's first 15-game winner when he was credited for the win against the Washington Senators<ref name="15 game streak 1948">{{cite news |title=Tigers Down Solons Twice |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=August 8, 1948|id={{ProQuest|165853303}}}}</ref> and on September 29, following a 4–0 win against the Browns, Newhouser recorded his fourth twenty-win season of his career.<ref name="twenty win 1948">{{cite news |title=NEWHOUSER HALTS BROWNS FOR NO. 20: Detroit Ace Triumphs by 4-0 as He Reaches Goal Fourth Time in Last Five Years |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 29, 1948|id={{ProQuest|108274246}}}}</ref> Newhouser pitched in the final game of the season against the Indians in front of a crowd of over 74,000 at [[Cleveland Stadium|Cleveland Municipal Stadium]]. On short rest and battling an arm injury, he tossed a 7–1 victory over longtime foe [[Bob Feller]], in what Newhouser considered to be one of the best games of his life.<ref name="obit"/> Despite the success, Newhouser's age was showing and his fastball began to slow.<ref name="stewart217"/>

[[File:Vic Wertz, Hal Newhouser and Pat Mullin 1949.jpg|thumb|left|Newhouser (center) with teammates [[Vic Wertz]] and [[Pat Mullin]] in 1949]]
He was given the start on Opening Day on April 13, 1949 against the White Sox. Pitching in front of an Opening Day-record 53,435 fans at Briggs Stadium, Newhouser tossed a complete game, allowing three hits and only one run in the 5–1 win, his fourth straight on Opening Day.<ref name="opening day 1949">{{cite news |title=53,435 Watch Tigers Down White Sox, 5-1 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=April 13, 1949|id={{ProQuest|105644872}}}}</ref> On September 8, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Indians, Newhouser started the game by retiring the first 17 Cleveland batters in order before allowing a walk to [[Frank Papish]]. An inning later, he gave up his only hit, a single to [[Lou Boudreau]], ending the no-hit bid. Newhouser completed the 10–0 shutout, only his second one-hit performance of his career.<ref name="one-hitter 1949">{{cite news |title=Hal Newhouser Hurls One-Hitter |work=[[The Atlanta Constitution]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 9, 1949|id={{ProQuest|1533094840}}}}</ref> On September 24, also against the Indians, Newhouser tossed his eighteenth and final win of the season.<ref name="last win 1949">{{cite news |title=Newhouser Beats Tribe |work=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 24, 1949|id={{ProQuest|152211625}}}}</ref>

Newhouser's [[1950 Major League Baseball season|1950 season]] was delayed due to a sore shoulder. Due to the ailment, he was only able to record four innings during spring training and missed the entire month of April and about half of May. Newhouser made his season debut on May 14, in a game against the St. Louis Browns.<ref name="1950 debut announced">{{cite news |title=HAL NEWHOUSER READY: Tiger Star to Make His First Start of Season Tomorrow |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 12, 1950|id={{ProQuest|111361669}}}}</ref> He recorded 15 wins in 1950.<ref name="light644"/> He only lasted three innings in that game, giving up five runs.<ref name="5/14/50 browns game">{{cite web |title=St. Louis Browns vs Detroit Tigers Box Score: May 14, 1950 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET195005140.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=March 26, 2025}}</ref> His second start on May 22 against the Washington Senators was much better, taking a shutout into the ninth inning before allowing a run in the 5–1 Tigers victory.<ref name="2nd start 1950">{{cite news |title=Hal Newhouser Halts Senators: Tiger Ace Goes Route With Old-time Form |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 23, 1950|id={{ProQuest|166090900}}}}</ref>

During spring training for [[1951 Major League Baseball season|1951]], Newhouser told an interviewer that "this will be my best season, or my last."<ref name="best season or last">{{cite news |last1=Povich |first1=Shirley |author-link1=Shirley Povich|title=This Morning |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 3, 1951|id={{ProQuest|152401694}}}}</ref> His best season it was not, as he recorded six wins and six losses with a 3.92 ERA.<ref name="1951 ba stats">{{cite web |title=Hal Newhouser 1951 Game by Game Pitching Data |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pitchinglogs.php?p=newhoha01&y=1951 |website=[[Baseball Almanac]] |access-date=March 30, 2025}}</ref> His final appearance came on July 14 against the Senators, when he failed to last two innings in the loss. Pain in his arm became overbearing and he was placed on the [[disabled list]] in August, with minor leaguer [[Wayne McLeland]] called up to fill his spot.<ref name="disabled 1951">{{cite news |title=Newhouser Slated For 'Disabled' List |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=August 18, 1952|id={{ProQuest|112192625}}}}</ref>

Despite his promise in spring training, Newhouser returned to the Tigers [[1952 Major League Baseball season|the next season]]. Prior to 1952, Newhouser suggested a five-year deal worth $100,000, for insurance in case he could not pitch all five years and became a coach instead. While the Tigers had a policy against multiyear contracts, they considered the offer before ultimately turning him down.<ref name="stewart219">{{Harvnb|Stewart|2014|p=219}}</ref> Newhouser ultimately missed workouts in spring training due to his contract holdout. At one point, he requested a clause that he would not be traded, a condition general manager [[Charlie Gehringer]] couldn't guarantee.<ref name="against trade">{{cite news |title=Hal Newhouser Against Trade |work=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=February 23, 1952|id={{ProQuest|152452545}}}}</ref> In 19 starts that season, Newhouser posted a 9–9 record and a 3.74 ERA. Towards the end of the year, he lost his starting spot to [[Billy Hoeft]]. His ninth victory of the season was his 200th career win.<ref name="stewart219"/>

On February 21, 1953, the day before spring training, Newhouser re-signed with the Tigers prior to [[1953 Major League Baseball season|to that year's season]], being the last Tiger to re-sign.<ref name="resign1953">{{cite news |title=Tigers Sign Hal Newhouser |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=February 22, 1953|id={{ProQuest|112591452}}}}</ref> He only appeared in seven games, finishing 0–1 with a 7.06 ERA.<ref name="stewart219"/> The Tigers released Newhouser unconditionally on July 22, 1953. When interviewed, he said that "this is the end. I'm finished as an active player. My arm just can't stand the strain anymore."<ref name="released by tigers">{{cite news |title=Once Great Prince Hal Newhouser Reaches End |work=[[The Atlanta Constitution]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=July 22, 1953|id={{ProQuest|1534854012}}}}</ref>