Ulysses Simpson Grant "Lil" Stoner (February 28, 1899 – June 26, 1966), also known as Lil E. Stoner, was an American professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he played professional baseball for 14 seasons from 1919 to 1933, including nine years in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers (1922 and 1924–1929), Pittsburgh Pirates (1930) and Philadelphia Phillies (1931). He appeared in 229 major league games and compiled a 50–57 win–loss record and a 4.76 earned run average (ERA).
Stoner was also known for his skill in baking and at growing and breeding irises. With the popularization of the word "stoner" in cannabis culture, he saw a resurgence of popularity. In a 2017 poll by Ranker, he was voted No. 9 on a list of "The Best Baseball Names of All Time".
Early years
Stoner was born in 1899 in Bowie, Texas. He grew up in a family of 17 children. His given name was "Ulysses Simpson Grant Stoner", a reference to the 18th President of the United States. His brothers, Benjamin Franklin Stoner, Theodore Roosevelt Stoner, and Washington Irving Stoner, were also named after famous Americans.
Stoner acquired his nickname when a younger sister could not pronounce his given name, Ulysses, and instead began calling him "Lil". Stoner later recalled of the nickname, "It stuck as I grew up."
In 1913, at age 14, he pitched for the South Side Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas, in the Twilight League. He gained acclaim when, at age 14, and while still wearing short pants, he pitched a shutout game against a team of adults. His family later moved to Okmulgee, Oklahoma, where he played semi-professional baseball for the Empire Refining Company team. With Stoner pitching, Empire Refining won the Oklahoma championship in 1918 and 1919.
Professional baseball
Minor leagues
Stoner began his professional baseball career in 1919 with the Oklahoma City Indians of the Western League. He compiled a 12–15 win–loss record in 1919 and remained with Oklahoma City for three seasons. He finished the 1921 season with the Okmulgee Drillers of the Western Association.
The sharp breaking curve
Stoner was known for combining "a terrific fast ball with exceptional control" and "a sharp breaking curve". Mark Koenig of the New York Yankees recalled that "Stoner had one of the best curve balls in the league." He was also called a "smokeball artist" for the speed with which he threw the baseball.
The unusual movement on Stoner's breaking ball has been attributed to an injury sustained when he was a toddler. The index finger on his throwing hand was severed in a wood-chopping accident and left "hanging by a piece of flesh." The doctor bandaged the finger which reattached itself, but crookedly, a deformity that was credited with allowing Stoner to throw the ball with unusual movement.
Detroit Tigers (1922) In 1922, Stoner joined the Detroit Tigers. He made his major league debut in a losing effort against the Cleveland Indians on April 15, 1922. He won his first game on April 21, 1922, by a 15–6 score against the Indians. His ERA climbed to 7.04, and he was demoted to the Birmingham Barons where he finished the season.
Fort Worth Panthers
Stoner remained in the minors in 1923, playing for the Fort Worth Panthers. He appeared in 48 games for the Panthers and led the team to the Texas League pennant with a career-high 27 wins, a.711 winning percentage, and a 2.65 ERA. He also pitched three post-season games, including two as the winning pitcher, to help the Panthers win the 1923 Dixie Series championship.
Detroit Tigers (1923–1929) In October 1923, Stoner was reacquired by the Tigers. During the 1924 season, he appeared in 36 games for the Tigers and compiled an 11–10 record and a 4.72 ERA. He also had his best major league season totals in games started (25), innings pitched (215-2/3), and strikeouts (66). He also hit two home runs during the 1924 season – the only two of his career.
In 1925, Stoner appeared in 34 games for Detroit, 18 as a starter, and compiled a 10–9 record and 4.26 ERA. It was his second consecutive and final major league season with a winning record. As a batter, he had the best season of his career with a .291 batting average, six doubles, a triple, and 10 runs scored in only 55 at bats.