Pitcher
Born: May 11, 1918 Norcatur, Kansas
Died: December 26, 1998 (Aged 80-229d) Santa Monica, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Teams
Pine Bluff Judges 1940
Washington Senators 1942-1943
Chicago Cubs 1949
Dewey Adkins was a pitcher for the 1940 Pine Bluff Judges.
22 year old John Dewey Adkins arrived in Pine Bluff after a few summers spent at the Ray L. Doan All-Star Baseball School in Hot Springs, Arkansas ready for his first season of professional baseball. The 1940 Judges were looking to improve on the 1939 season, which saw the Judges finishing 7th place (57-76) in the 8 team Cotton States League.
Adkins would appear in 27 games for the Judges in 1940, accumulating a record of 15-8 with a 4.65 ERA. With a curve ball which was described as “one of those kind that dips and twists like a feather in a wind tunnel” and Adkins early success in Pine Bluff many professional teams came bidding for the young right hander. Adkins contract would be bought by the Cleveland Indians after being “highly recommended” by Future Hall of Famer and Cleveland Indians manager Rogers Hornsby who was no stranger to Dewey Adkins, as Hornsby spent his summers at Hot Springs baseball schools. After purchasing his contract, Cleveland assigned him to the Oklahoma City Indians of the Texas League. He would spend just a little under 2 more seasons in the minors with the 1941-1942 Wilkes-Barre Barons of the Eastern League before making his major league debut in 1942.
Dewey Adkins would make his major league debut for the Washington Senators on September 19, 1942. His first big league start was a tough one, he ended with a line of 6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 SO, 6 BB, 8 ER against the Philadelphia Athletics. Adkins would go on to appear in 8 game over 2 seasons with the Senators, finding more success as a relief pitcher in 1943 with a 2.61 ERA in 7 games (10.1 IP).
Serving in World War II would pause Adkins career for 2 seasons. He would eventually make his way back to the big leagues for one last shot in 1949 with the Chicago Cubs. The 31 year old Adkins would appear in 30 games (82.1 IP) for the Cubs. He would finish the season with a 2-4 record with a 5.68 ERA.
Dewey Adkins would go on to play 5 more seasons of minor league baseball never making it back to the major leagues.
