Joel Inez "Sailor" Newkirk (June 1, 1896 – January 22, 1966) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago Cubs.[1]

Joel Newkirk
Pitcher
Born: (1896-06-01)June 1, 1896
Kyana, Indiana
Died: January 22, 1966(1966-01-22) (aged 69)
Eldorado, Illinois
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 20, 1919, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
April 23, 1920, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0-1
Earned run average7.27
Strikeouts3
Teams

Life edit

Newkirk was born in Kyana, Indiana, the son of Caleb Wilson Newkirk (1875-1945) and his wife, Sarah Florence (nee Ray) Newkirk (1878-1961). His younger brother is former Major League Baseball pitcher Floyd Newkirk. Joel served as a Boatswain Mate 1st Class in the United States Naval Reserve during World War I. This is likely what gave him the nickname "Sailor."

He married Vivian Capitola Stiles (1900-1974) and they had one daughter, Betty Joel Newkirk Westfall (1921-1996).

Newkirk is a descendant of Sergeant Elias Newkirk, who served in the American Revolutionary War, and whose family was among the earliest settlers to Ulster County, New York. Elias's brother, Abraham, was a direct ancestor of Steve Comer, another Major League pitcher, and actor Dash Mihok; this makes both Comer and Mihok 5th cousins, twice removed of Joel.[2]

Joel is buried at Wolf Creek Cemetery in Eldorado, Illinois, where he passed away.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Joel Newkirk Statistics and History". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  2. ^ "Joel Inez Newkirk". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Joel Inez Newkirk at FindAGrave". Find A Grave. Retrieved 23 July 2021.

External links edit