Gene Woodling
Encyclopedia
Eugene Richard Woodling (August 16, 1922 — June 2, 2001) was a Major League Baseball
outfielder
(mostly left field) for the Cleveland Indians
(1943, 1946, 1955–1957), Pittsburgh Pirates
(1947), New York Yankees
(1949–1954), Baltimore Orioles
(1955, 1958–1960), Washington Senators
(1961–1962), and the New York Mets
in their expansion year of 1962. He batted left-handed, threw right-handed, and was born in Akron, Ohio
.
Before coming to the majors, Woodling was a four-time Minor League
batting champion. He mostly played left field when he entered the majors after his time in the U.S. Navy
, but spent much time in right field and also played ninety-three games in center.
Woodling played with many teams during his career, but gained more loyalty with the Yankees for six years, than at any point before or after. With them, Woodling had what was probably his best year, 1953. Although he only had 395 at bat
s, he led the American League
with a .429 on-base percentage.
While Woodling was with the Yankees, the team won five consecutive World Series
(1949–1953). During that time, Yankee manager Casey Stengel
praised the outfielder's ability to run and throw. Stengel generally platooned him with right-hander Hank Bauer
, but each averaged 400 at bat
s per season. Woodling hit a solo home run
in each World Series from 1951 through 1953, and, in 1951, he helped Allie Reynolds
secure his first of two no hitters on the season, when he homered in a 1-0 win over Bob Feller
and the Indians. Woodling gained the distinction in 1952 of becoming the first player to hit a "pinch-hit" triple in the World Series.
On November 17, 1954, a record seventeen-player deal took place between the Orioles and Yankees, involving Woodling. Besides Woodling, the Yankees didn't give up much talent, with the best of the lot being Gus Triandos
and Hal Smith. However, the Orioles gave away future twenty-game winner Bob Turley
and Don Larsen
, who would go on to pitch a perfect game
in the 1956 World Series
for New York. Woodling had been sidelined for the last part of the 1954 season with a broken arm.
Soon, Woodling moved to the Indians where he set career-highs in home runs (19), runs batted in (78), and batting (.321) in 1957. A few months before he turned forty, he was sent to the New York Mets, where old Yankees manager Casey Stengel
was working on his latest project, the newborn Mets. Woodling would be managed by Stengel for the remainder of the 1962 season. He was released before the 1963 season, after publicly criticizing the Met front office's contract negotiations with Marv Throneberry.
In a seventeen-season career, Woodling batted
.284 with 147 home runs and 830 RBI in 1796 games. Woodling ended with a .386 on-base percentage. He had 1585 career hits
in 5587 at bats. When his former "platoon mate" Bauer became manager of the Orioles, Woodling served as his first-base coach
between 1964 and 1967, and, in 1967, he was the Orioles' hitting coach.
Woodling died in a nursing home in Wadsworth, Ohio
. His biggest contribution to baseball
may have come off the field. He worked to help bring a pension
fund for major league players.
"He was just such a great guy," said former Yankees manager Ralph Houk
in an article in the New York Daily News
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
(mostly left field) for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1943, 1946, 1955–1957), Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1947), New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1949–1954), Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1955, 1958–1960), Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
(1961–1962), and the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in their expansion year of 1962. He batted left-handed, threw right-handed, and was born in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
.
Before coming to the majors, Woodling was a four-time Minor League
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
batting champion. He mostly played left field when he entered the majors after his time in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, but spent much time in right field and also played ninety-three games in center.
Woodling played with many teams during his career, but gained more loyalty with the Yankees for six years, than at any point before or after. With them, Woodling had what was probably his best year, 1953. Although he only had 395 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s, he led the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
with a .429 on-base percentage.
While Woodling was with the Yankees, the team won five consecutive World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
(1949–1953). During that time, Yankee manager Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
praised the outfielder's ability to run and throw. Stengel generally platooned him with right-hander Hank Bauer
Hank Bauer
Henry Albert "Hank" Bauer was an American right fielder and manager in Major League Baseball. He played with the New York Yankees and Kansas City Athletics ; he batted and threw right-handed...
, but each averaged 400 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s per season. Woodling hit a solo home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in each World Series from 1951 through 1953, and, in 1951, he helped Allie Reynolds
Allie Reynolds
Allie Pierce Reynolds was a pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
secure his first of two no hitters on the season, when he homered in a 1-0 win over Bob Feller
Bob Feller
On December 8, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy, volunteering immediately for combat service, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to do so following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Feller served as Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama, and missed four seasons during his service...
and the Indians. Woodling gained the distinction in 1952 of becoming the first player to hit a "pinch-hit" triple in the World Series.
On November 17, 1954, a record seventeen-player deal took place between the Orioles and Yankees, involving Woodling. Besides Woodling, the Yankees didn't give up much talent, with the best of the lot being Gus Triandos
Gus Triandos
Gus Triandos is a Greek-American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball mostly as a catcher but also played as a first baseman for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and the Detroit Tigers of the American League and the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros...
and Hal Smith. However, the Orioles gave away future twenty-game winner Bob Turley
Bob Turley
Robert Lee Turley was a Major League Baseball pitcher.Turley was signed as an amateur free agent by the St. Louis Browns in . He played his first game on September 29, 1951 for the Browns and moved with them to Baltimore in...
and Don Larsen
Don Larsen
Donald James Larsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953-67 for seven different teams. Larsen is best known for pitching the sixth perfect game in baseball history, doing so in game 5 of the 1956 World Series...
, who would go on to pitch a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
in the 1956 World Series
1956 World Series
The 1956 World Series of Major League Baseball was played between the New York Yankees and the defending champion Brooklyn Dodgers during the month of October 1956. The Series was a rematch of the 1955 World Series...
for New York. Woodling had been sidelined for the last part of the 1954 season with a broken arm.
Soon, Woodling moved to the Indians where he set career-highs in home runs (19), runs batted in (78), and batting (.321) in 1957. A few months before he turned forty, he was sent to the New York Mets, where old Yankees manager Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
was working on his latest project, the newborn Mets. Woodling would be managed by Stengel for the remainder of the 1962 season. He was released before the 1963 season, after publicly criticizing the Met front office's contract negotiations with Marv Throneberry.
In a seventeen-season career, Woodling batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.284 with 147 home runs and 830 RBI in 1796 games. Woodling ended with a .386 on-base percentage. He had 1585 career hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 5587 at bats. When his former "platoon mate" Bauer became manager of the Orioles, Woodling served as his first-base coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
between 1964 and 1967, and, in 1967, he was the Orioles' hitting coach.
Woodling died in a nursing home in Wadsworth, Ohio
Wadsworth, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,437 people, 7,276 households, and 5,144 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,940.5 people per square mile . There were 7,613 housing units at an average density of 801.3/sq mi...
. His biggest contribution to baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
may have come off the field. He worked to help bring a pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
fund for major league players.
"He was just such a great guy," said former Yankees manager Ralph Houk
Ralph Houk
Ralph George Houk , nicknamed The Major, was an American catcher, coach, manager, and front office executive in Major League Baseball...
in an article in the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
.