Wes Livengood
Encyclopedia
Wesley Amos Livengood was a major league baseball
pitcher
and minor league baseball
manager including some time as a player-manager.
Livengood was signed by the Cincinnati Reds
, and played in their farm system for several years before he broke into the big leagues in 1939
. He pitched a total of five and two-thirds innings for Cincinnati over five games as a reliever during the 1939 season.
He returned to the minors making stops in Knoxville
, Durham
, Portsmouth
, and Milwaukee
. He served in the Navy
for two years during World War II
where, among other things, he played baseball at Pearl Harbor.
After the war Livengood played more minor league ball through the 1952
season and sometimes served as the a player-manager as he did for Kinston in 1951
.
His best year was in 1938
when he went 21-9 with an ERA
of 3.06. Another outstanding campaign was 1943
when he went 18-10 for Milwaukee.
After his playing days were over, he managed in the minors and scouted for the Philadelphia Phillies
for thirty years, where he discovered and/or signed players such as Don Cardwell
, Jimmie Coker
, and Dickie Noles
.
He also owned and operated Carolinas Men's Shop and, later, the Livengood Furniture Company. He died at age 86 and is buried at Salem Cemetery in Winston-Salem.
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...
and minor league baseball
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...
manager including some time as a player-manager.
Livengood was signed by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, and played in their farm system for several years before he broke into the big leagues in 1939
1939 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:*On May 17, 1939, Princeton University and Columbia University played the first televised baseball game. On August 26, the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers played the first televised Major League Baseball game...
. He pitched a total of five and two-thirds innings for Cincinnati over five games as a reliever during the 1939 season.
He returned to the minors making stops in Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, Durham
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
, Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
, and Milwaukee
Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)
The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.-A Milwaukee Tradition:...
. He served in the 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...
for two years 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...
where, among other things, he played baseball at Pearl Harbor.
After the war Livengood played more minor league ball through the 1952
1952 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 8 at Shibe Park: National League, 3-2 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: La Habana *College World Series: Holy Cross...
season and sometimes served as the a player-manager as he did for Kinston in 1951
1951 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:Baseball's Shot Heard 'Round the World gives the New York Giants the National League Pennant in the third game of a best-of-three-games tiebreaker series over the Brooklyn Dodgers.-Major League Baseball:...
.
His best year was in 1938
1938 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Chicago Cubs *All-Star Game, July 6 at Crosley Field: National League, 4-1-Awards and honors:*Most Valuable Player**Jimmie Foxx, Boston Red Sox, 1B...
when he went 21-9 with an 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...
of 3.06. Another outstanding campaign was 1943
1943 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over St. Louis Cardinals *All-Star Game, July 13 at Shibe Park: American League, 5-3-Other champions:*Negro League World Series: Homestead Grays over Birmingham Black Barons...
when he went 18-10 for Milwaukee.
After his playing days were over, he managed in the minors and scouted for the Philadelphia Phillies
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...
for thirty years, where he discovered and/or signed players such as Don Cardwell
Don Cardwell
Donald Eugene Cardwell was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for five National League teams from 1957 to 1970...
, Jimmie Coker
Jimmie Coker
Jimmie Goodwin Coker was a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies , San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds ....
, and Dickie Noles
Dickie Noles
Dickie Ray Noles was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies , Chicago Cubs , Texas Rangers , Cleveland Indians , Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles ....
.
He also owned and operated Carolinas Men's Shop and, later, the Livengood Furniture Company. He died at age 86 and is buried at Salem Cemetery in Winston-Salem.