New Ulm HALL OF FAME Member

Gary Cunningham

Pitcher

Selected 1993

Lifetime Baseball Batting Stats Page

Lifetime Baseball Pitching Stats Page

          Right-handed pitcher Gary Cunningham (deceased) was one example of a local high school player who went on to also achieve stardom for one of New Ulm's amateur teams.

          In his seven seasons before his career was ended by an auto accident in his early 20's, Cunningham had a 35-17 record and struck out 580 batters in 435 career innings.

          Gary's 12-1 record in 1965 was the 15^th best record in New Ulm's first 50 years, and he also posted an ERA of 1.70 during that season. His 12 wins tied him for the 10^th most ever in a single season, and it was the sixth highest total ever for a New Ulm right-hander.

          In each of his first five seasons, Cunningham's ERA was below 3.0, and he finished with a brilliant 2.40 career ERA. His strikeouts-to-innings ratio was among the all-time leaders, and in 1969 he averaged 12.3 strikeouts for every 9 innings pitched.

          From the plate, Gary posted a .267 career batting average, including a .304 mark in 23 games in 1965.

          From 1965-67, Gary's teams posted a 63-24 record, made the state tournament two times, and won the league playoffs a third time.

          Gary played at least one game for each of New Ulm's three teams - the Millers, Brewers, and Kaiserhoff.