Herb Score – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Herb Score’s baseball career ended in 1962 after just eight seasons, but his story still stands out as one of the most fascinating what-ifs in Major League Baseball. The left-handed pitcher burst onto the scene with the Cleveland Indians in 1955. That year, he won American League Rookie of the Year honors and struck out 245 batters, setting a rookie record.

With his blazing fastball and devastating curveball, Score became one of the most feared pitchers in the game during his first two seasons.

A line drive to the face in 1957 dramatically altered Score’s promising career, leading to years of struggle before he retired with the Chicago White Sox in 1962. That injury changed his pitching motion and effectiveness, turning him from a potential Hall of Famer into a cautionary tale about baseball’s unpredictability.

Even with a shortened playing career, Score found new success in the broadcast booth. He became the voice of Cleveland Indians baseball for more than thirty years.

Score’s journey shows how a single moment can reshape an entire career. He experienced the highs of rookie stardom, the struggle to overcome injuries, and the determination to stay connected to the game he loved in a new way.

Early Life and Background

Herbert Jude Score was born on June 7, 1933, in New York. His family later moved to Florida during his youth.

He developed his baseball skills under the Florida sun. There, he became one of the most dominant high school pitchers in the state.

Birthplace and Family

Herb Score entered the world in New York in 1933, right in the middle of the Great Depression.

His family decided to move south to Florida when he was young, hoping for better opportunities in the warmer climate.

The Score family settled in the Lake Worth area. This move turned out to be crucial for Herb’s baseball development, as Florida’s year-round weather let him practice and play constantly.

Not much detailed information exists about his parents or siblings. What’s clear is that his family supported his athletic pursuits from an early age.

The move to Florida positioned him perfectly to develop his baseball skills in a state known for producing talented players.

Education and Early Baseball Development

Score attended Lake Worth High School in Florida. There, he became a baseball sensation.

During his senior year in 1952, he threw six no-hitters for his high school team. That’s pretty wild for any high school pitcher.

His performance at Lake Worth High caught the attention of major league scouts. The lefty’s fastball and strikeout ability made him one of the most sought-after prospects in the country.

The Cleveland Indians saw his talent and signed him to a minor league contract right after graduation. That move kicked off his professional baseball journey.

Interestingly, in the minors, he played alongside Rocky Colavito. Both would reach the majors together in 1955.

Major League Debut and Rookie Success

Herb Score broke into Major League Baseball with the Cleveland Indians in 1955 at just 21 years old. He immediately established himself as one of the American League’s most dominant pitchers.

His rookie season produced record-breaking strikeout numbers and earned him American League Rookie of the Year honors.

Cleveland Indians Entry

Score made his big league debut on April 15, 1955, with the Cleveland Indians. He joined a team that already had legendary pitchers like Bob Feller and Bob Lemon.

The young lefty quickly showed he belonged among baseball’s best. Score went 16-10 with a 2.85 ERA in his first season.

His impact was immediate and significant. Score became the first regular starting pitcher in MLB history to average over one strikeout per inning for a full season.

The Indians had found something special. Score’s powerful left arm and wicked fastball made him an instant sensation in the American League.

Rookie of the Year Achievement

Score’s 1955 rookie season earned him the American League Rookie of the Year award. His 245 strikeouts set a major league rookie record that lasted until 1984.

Only eight rookie pitchers in the 20th century topped 200 strikeouts. Score joined that exclusive club with names like Dwight Gooden, Grover Cleveland Alexander, and Don Sutton.

The strikeout total was remarkable for its era. Score’s ability to dominate hitters impressed both fans and fellow players all over the league.

His rookie success put him among the most promising young pitchers in baseball. The Rookie of the Year award showed just how big his impact was.

Early Career Highlights

Score appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated on May 30, 1955. That kind of recognition showed how fast he rose to national attention.

He earned his first All-Star selection in 1955. Score’s rookie performance made him one of the best pitchers in the American League.

The 1956 season brought even more success. Score improved to 20-9 with a 2.53 ERA and 263 strikeouts.

He made another All-Star appearance in his second season. Score also cut his walks from 154 down to 129 while keeping his strikeout dominance.

Key 1956 Statistics:

• Wins: 20
• Losses: 9
• ERA: 2.53
• Strikeouts: 263
• Hits per 9 innings: 5.85

Mickey Mantle later called Score the toughest American League lefty he faced before the injury. Yogi Berra even picked Score for his “Greatest Team Of All Time.”

Peak Career Performance and Pitching Achievements

Herb Score’s best years came during his first two MLB seasons with the Cleveland Indians, from 1955 to 1956. He dominated hitters with massive strikeout numbers and low ERAs.

His 1956 campaign stands as his best, posting a 2.53 ERA with 263 strikeouts and 20 wins.

Strikeouts and ERA Milestones

Score’s rookie season in 1955 made him a strikeout artist right away. He fanned 245 batters in 227.1 innings, leading the American League and earning Rookie of the Year honors.

His 1956 season was even better. Score struck out 263 batters and posted a 2.53 ERA across 249.1 innings.

That strikeout total led all of MLB, showing he could overpower hitters night after night.

Score’s strikeout rate of 9.7 per nine innings in 1955 and 9.5 in 1956 were almost unheard of for that era. His career strikeout-to-walk ratio of 1.46 showed decent control, even with his power pitching style.

His ERA peaked in 1956 at 2.53. Score’s ERA+ of 166 that season ranked among the league’s best, meaning he performed 66% better than the average pitcher.

Wins and WAR

Score’s win totals reflected his dominance. He won 16 games as a rookie in 1955, and then improved to 20 wins in 1956 with a .690 winning percentage.

His Wins Above Replacement (WAR) numbers show just how valuable he was. Score posted 5.6 WAR in 1955 and 7.3 WAR in 1956, his career high.

Those WAR totals put him among the top pitchers in baseball during those years. His 1956 performance earned him some MVP consideration, finishing 19th in voting.

Score’s career WAR of 14.0 mostly came from those first two seasons. The 1957 injury stopped him from keeping up that elite level.

Shutouts and No-Hitters

Score threw five shutouts in 1956, leading the American League. That’s nearly half of his career shutout total of 11.

His 16 complete games in 1956 helped him rack up those shutouts. Score’s ability to finish games gave him chances to blank opponents.

He never threw a no-hitter in the majors. His closest attempts came during his peak years, but the records don’t give much detail on near-misses.

Still, his 11 career shutouts and huge strikeout numbers showed Score could dominate when healthy. His peak from 1955 to 1956 put him among baseball’s top young pitchers before injuries changed everything.

Notable Injuries and Career Challenges

Herb Score’s promising career was marked by devastating injuries, starting in childhood and peaking with a career-altering incident in 1957. The worst setback came when a line drive struck him in the face, changing his mechanics and limiting his effectiveness.

The 1957 Line Drive Incident

On May 7, 1957, Score faced one of the most horrific injuries in baseball during a game against the New York Yankees. A line drive off Gil McDougald’s bat hit him square in the face.

The impact broke his nose, cut his right eyelid, damaged his right cheekbone, and injured his right eye.

He stayed in the hospital until May 28, 1957. Vision problems kept him from playing again that season.

Before the injury, Boston’s GM Joe Cronin had offered Cleveland $1 million for Score’s contract, but Cleveland turned it down.

Pre-injury statistics (1955-1956):

• Record: 39-20
• ERA: 2.46
• Strikeouts: 547 in 512⅔ innings

That moment marked a clear turning point in what had been a dominant start to his career.

Impact on Playing Style and Longevity

After the 1957 injury, Score changed his pitching motion out of fear of being hit again. That change led to worse results on the mound.

His post-injury numbers dropped sharply. From 1958 until he retired in 1962, Score went 17-26 with a 4.70 ERA in 345⅔ innings.

He suffered more injuries too. In 1958, he tore a tendon in his left elbow during a game in Washington and missed over a month.

Career comparison:

• Before 1957: 39-20, 2.46 ERA, 547 strikeouts
• After 1957: 17-26, 4.70 ERA, 290 strikeouts

Score never won more than nine games in a season after that line drive. The Indians traded him to the Chicago White Sox in 1960, but he still struggled before retiring in 1962.

Final Years with the Chicago White Sox and Retirement

The Cleveland Indians traded Herb Score to the Chicago White Sox on April 18, 1960. That move marked the start of his final chapter in pro baseball.

Score spent three seasons with Chicago before retiring after the 1962 season.

Tenure with Chicago White Sox

Score’s time with the Chicago White Sox from 1960 to 1962 was tough. He appeared in only 35 games over three seasons.

His performance with Chicago was inconsistent. Score posted a 6-12 record and a 4.25 ERA during his White Sox years.

The lefty struggled to find his old form. He started just 27 games in three seasons with Chicago.

In 1962, his last year, Score was 29 years old. He was the eighth-oldest among 24 pitchers who played on a winning team that year but didn’t make the All-Star team.

Score mainly worked as a spot starter and reliever for the White Sox. He never won more than nine games in a season after his eye injury in Cleveland.

Retirement in 1962

Score retired from professional baseball after the 1962 season. His eight-year career ended with the Chicago White Sox at age 29.

His final stats: a 55-46 record with a 3.36 ERA. Score racked up 837 strikeouts over 858⅓ innings in the majors.

He retired after three disappointing seasons with Chicago. Score had won only 19 games total in his last six years, a sharp contrast to his early promise.

After baseball, Score moved into broadcasting. He became a longtime announcer for Cleveland Indians games, keeping his connection to the sport for decades.

Post-Playing Career, Legacy, and Net Worth

After retiring from pro baseball in 1962, Herb Score found new success as a broadcaster for the Cleveland Indians. He served for 34 years, from 1964 to 1997.

His contributions to baseball earned him several hall of fame inductions and awards. Score’s broadcasting career helped cement his legacy in Cleveland sports history.

Broadcasting Career and Community Engagement

Score kicked off his broadcasting career with the Cleveland Indians in 1964, just two years after he hung up his cleats. He started out on television from 1964 to 1967, then made the jump to radio in 1968.

He stuck with radio until 1997, becoming the longest-serving play-by-play announcer in Indians history. Fans in Cleveland really grew to love his broadcasting style, with its low-key vibe and that unmistakably deep voice.

People appreciated Score’s little quirks, like when he’d sometimes mispronounce the names of opposing players. He called his final game in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, closing out a 34-year run behind the mic.

Score’s long stint as a broadcaster helped him stay close to Cleveland baseball, even after his days on the field ended. For a whole generation, his voice pretty much meant Indians baseball.

Recognition and Honors

Score picked up plenty of broadcasting honors after his playing career. In 1996, the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame welcomed him, and in 1998, he joined the Cleveland Press Club Journalism Hall of Fame.

That same year, he also landed in the Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame. These awards say a lot about the mark he left on Cleveland sports media.

His baseball career didn’t go unnoticed either, as the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame inducted him in 2006. The Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame brought him in back in 1992.

When Score passed away in 2008, the Indians honored him by wearing a memorial patch on their uniforms throughout the 2009 season. It was a simple gesture, but honestly, it showed just how much he meant to the team and the fans.

Legacy in Baseball and Net Worth Overview

Score’s legacy goes way beyond his broadcasting career, especially when you look at how he shaped Cleveland’s baseball culture. For 34 years, he sat in the broadcast booth and really connected generations of Indians fans and players.

People haven’t published exact numbers for Score’s net worth, but he spent decades working for a major league team. That kind of job usually meant a steady, decent income after his playing days ended. Broadcasters from his era tended to pull in a comfortable, middle-class salary.

The real treasure for Score came from the respect and affection Cleveland’s baseball community gave him. His name still pops up whenever fans talk about Indians history, both as a pitcher whose career ended too soon and as the voice that brought Cleveland baseball to life for so many years.

When you put together his achievements on the field with his long run behind the mic, you get a pretty rare legacy in Cleveland sports.