Andrew "Bud" Messenger
February 1, 1898 - November 4, 1971
Andrew Messenger was a Major League Baseball pitcher born on February 1, 1898, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Standing 6’0″ and weighing 175 pounds, the right-handed thrower and batter earned the nickname “Bud.”
Before reaching the majors, Messenger pitched for the Saginaw Aces in the Class B Michigan-Ontario League. His brief MLB career occurred entirely in 1924 with the Cleveland Indians (managed by Tris Speaker). He debuted on July 31 at Dunn Field, tossing six strong innings against the Philadelphia Athletics for a 4–3 victory (no earned runs). He appeared in five games total (two starts), finishing with a 2–0 record, 4.32 ERA, 25 innings pitched, four strikeouts, 14 walks, and 28 hits allowed. The Indians placed sixth in the American League that year, and Messenger never returned to the majors.
Little is documented about his post-baseball life. He lived quietly in Michigan and died on November 4, 1971, in Lansing at age 73. He is buried at Roselawn Cemetery in Perry, Shiawassee County. Though his big-league stay was short, Messenger remains one of Grand Blanc’s few noted major-league athletes from the early 20th century.