Preston Ward
Encyclopedia
Preston Meyer Ward was a lefty-hitting, righty-throwing first baseman/outfielder/third baseman, who played 9 seasons in the major leagues, playing in both the National
and American
Leagues. In the National League, he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers
(1948), Chicago Cubs
(1950 and 1953) and Pittsburgh Pirates
(1953–1956). In the American League, he played for the Cleveland Indians
(1956–1958) and the Kansas City A's
(1958–1959).
Ward got opportunities in the major leagues twice—in 1948 and 1950—before finally "sticking" in 1953. He became a utility player/platoon player, seeing most of his action as a first baseman (438 games at first base vs. 95 in the outfield vs. 74 at third base).
His batting numbers are low for a first baseman. His career batting average is .253, while the league average for the years he played is .269. His highest home run total was 12, and his highest RBI total was 48. He only twice made double-digits for home runs.
There was a shortage of hitters at first base in the early 1950s. For example, in 1950, 5 National League teams gave the bulk of the playing time at first base to hitters who got less than 10 home runs apiece: (Eddie Waitkus
of league champion Philadelphia
had 2; Tookie Gilbert
of New York
had 4; Preston Ward of Chicago
had 6; Johnny Hopp
of Pittsburgh
had 8; and Rocky Nelson
of St. Louis
had only 1). Despite this dearth of hitting first basemen, Ward did not manage to become a regular. The most at-bats he obtained was 416 in 1958 when he split time between Cleveland
and Kansas City
. His average at-bats per year were just under 230. The biggest variation from that average was in Cleveland in 1957, where he was used mainly as a pinch-hitter. That year he played in only 10 games, getting 11 at-bats and playing only one game in the field.
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
and American
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...
Leagues. In the National League, he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1948), Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1950 and 1953) and 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...
(1953–1956). In the American League, he played 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...
(1956–1958) and the Kansas City A's
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....
(1958–1959).
Ward got opportunities in the major leagues twice—in 1948 and 1950—before finally "sticking" in 1953. He became a utility player/platoon player, seeing most of his action as a first baseman (438 games at first base vs. 95 in the outfield vs. 74 at third base).
His batting numbers are low for a first baseman. His career batting average is .253, while the league average for the years he played is .269. His highest home run total was 12, and his highest RBI total was 48. He only twice made double-digits for home runs.
There was a shortage of hitters at first base in the early 1950s. For example, in 1950, 5 National League teams gave the bulk of the playing time at first base to hitters who got less than 10 home runs apiece: (Eddie Waitkus
Eddie Waitkus
Edward Stephen Waitkus was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who had an 11-year career . He played for the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies in the National League and for the Baltimore Orioles of the American League...
of league champion Philadelphia
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
had 2; Tookie Gilbert
Tookie Gilbert
Harold Joseph "Tookie" Gilbert was an American first baseman who had two trials with the New York Giants of Major League Baseball. He was the son of former major league outfielder and longtime minor league manager Larry Gilbert, and the brother of Charlie Gilbert, also an outfielder...
of New York
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
had 4; Preston Ward of Chicago
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
had 6; Johnny Hopp
Johnny Hopp
John Leonard Hopp was a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He was an All-Star in 1946....
of Pittsburgh
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...
had 8; and Rocky Nelson
Rocky Nelson
Glenn Richard "Rocky" Nelson was a first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals , Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago White Sox , Brooklyn Dodgers and Cleveland Indians .A native of Portsmouth, Ohio, Nelson batted and threw left-handed...
of St. Louis
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
had only 1). Despite this dearth of hitting first basemen, Ward did not manage to become a regular. The most at-bats he obtained was 416 in 1958 when he split time between Cleveland
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...
and Kansas City
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....
. His average at-bats per year were just under 230. The biggest variation from that average was in Cleveland in 1957, where he was used mainly as a pinch-hitter. That year he played in only 10 games, getting 11 at-bats and playing only one game in the field.