Pinky Woods
Encyclopedia
George Rowland "Pinky" Woods (May 22, 1915 - October 30, 1982) was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played for the Boston Red Sox
from 1943 to 1945. A native of Waterbury, Connecticut
, the right-hander stood 6'5" and weighed 225 lbs.
Woods is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues
during World War II
. In his three seasons with Boston he appeared in 85 games, starting a little more than half of them.
He made his major league debut on June 20, 1943, starting game 2 of a doubleheader
against the Philadelphia Athletics
at Shibe Park. He did not get a decision in the 6-5 Red Sox victory. His first big league win came on July 23, in relief, against the Chicago White Sox
in game 1 of a Fenway Park
doubleheader. He finished his rookie
year 5-6 with a 4.92 ERA
.
His best season was 1944. Even though his record was just 4-8, he pitched a career-high 170.2 innings
and had his lowest earned run average (3.27) and lowest WHIP
(1.518). His 38 pitching appearances ranked tenth in the American League
. His finest major league pitching effort also occurred during this season. On June 14 in game 2 of a home doubleheader, he hurled a complete game
shutout
against the Philadelphia Athletics
, winning by a score of 5-0. The losing pitcher was All-Star
right-hander Russ Christopher
.
During his three-year career Woods completed 10 of 44 starts, had a 13-21 record, 25 games finished
, 3 saves
, and an ERA of 3.97. In 378.2 innings pitched
he struck out 124 and walked 206. Good with the bat and glove, he hit .190 (24-for-126) and handled 112 out of 115 total chances
in the field successfully for a fielding percentage
of .974.
Woods died at the age of 67 in Los Angeles, California
.
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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
from 1943 to 1945. A native of Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City...
, the right-hander stood 6'5" and weighed 225 lbs.
Woods is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues
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...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In his three seasons with Boston he appeared in 85 games, starting a little more than half of them.
He made his major league debut on June 20, 1943, starting game 2 of a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
against the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
at Shibe Park. He did not get a decision in the 6-5 Red Sox victory. His first big league win came on July 23, in relief, against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in game 1 of a Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
doubleheader. He finished his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
year 5-6 with a 4.92 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
His best season was 1944. Even though his record was just 4-8, he pitched a career-high 170.2 innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
and had his lowest earned run average (3.27) and lowest WHIP
Walks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
(1.518). His 38 pitching appearances ranked tenth in 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...
. His finest major league pitching effort also occurred during this season. On June 14 in game 2 of a home doubleheader, he hurled a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
against the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, winning by a score of 5-0. The losing pitcher was All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
right-hander Russ Christopher
Russ Christopher
Russell Ormand Christopher was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for seven seasons in the American League with the Philadelphia Athletics and Cleveland Indians...
.
During his three-year career Woods completed 10 of 44 starts, had a 13-21 record, 25 games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
, 3 saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
, and an ERA of 3.97. In 378.2 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
he struck out 124 and walked 206. Good with the bat and glove, he hit .190 (24-for-126) and handled 112 out of 115 total chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
in the field successfully for a fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
of .974.
Woods died at the age of 67 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.