American Heroes
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(Index)
Chico Carrasquel
Shortstop Righthanded, 6' 170 lbs.; Chicago White Sox 1950-1955;
Cleveland Indians 1956-58; Kansas City A's 1958; Baltimore Orioles 1959
A highly popular player, Chico Carrasquel was born in Caracas, Venezuela and was one of the leading defensive shortstops during the 1950's. In his rookie season with the Chicago White Sox in 1950, Carrasquel collected a 24-game batting streak, ended third in the balloting for Rookie of the Year, he scored 72 runs and batted .282. He played 10 major league seasons, was a four time American League All-Star, led the league 3 times in fielding pct and once in double plays. Chico was an outstanding, graceful fielder, with a strong arm and helped the White Sox with his bat as well as his fielding. In 1954, he hit a career high 28 doubles 12 homers and scored 106 runs while hitting .255. He was traded to the Indians in 1956 when the White Sox brought up future Hall of Fame shortstop Luis Aparicio. Carrasquel was the Indians' starting shortstop in 1956-57. After he retired from active playing, he managed the Carcas Lions and later became one of the White Sox's Spanish language Broadcasters. Alfonso 'Chico' Carrasquel career: .258 BA, 1199 hits, 172 D's, 55 HR's, 568 runs scored and a respectable on-base-pct of .334.
note: this page has moved to: http://www.baseballhistorian.com/fans_favorites.cfm?hero=408
Gus Triandos
Catcher, 1B, Right-handed; New York Yankees 1953-1954;
Baltimore Orioles 1955-1962; Detroit Tigers 1963;
Philadelphia Phillies 1964-65; Houston Astros 1965
Gus Triandos was an All-Star catcher for the Baltimore Orioles in the late 1950's and early '60's. From 1956-1961, Triandos averaged almost 40 extra base hits a year, averaged over 20 home runs and over 70 RBIs per/year. The 6'3", 215 pound catcher led the Orioles' team in 1958 in homers (30) and in RBIs (79) and again in 1959 in HRs (25). Triandos carried a fine .324 life-time on-base-pct and a .413 slugging pct.
Triandos made his' major league debut with the New York Yankees in 1953 and was then shipped to the Orioles in a 18 player trade between the two ball clubs. Well-liked by baseball's fans and the Orioles' pitching staff, who often remarked, "He calls a great game and his' large body provides an excellent back-ground target. He's tops at relaxing us in pressure situations." Gus Trandos Career: .244 BA, 954 hits, in 1206 games, 147 doubles, 167 HRs, 608 walks, fanned only 636 times in 3907 at bats. Baseballhistorian.com
note: this page has moved to: http://www.baseballhistorian.com/fans_favorites.cfm?hero=543
Jackie Jensen
Outfielder Right-handed; New York Yankees 1950-1952; Washington
Senators 1953; Boston Red Sox 1954-1961
Jackie Jensen was a big star during the 1950s. He won three American League RBI titles and was the Most Valuable Player in 1958 when he clouted 31 doubles, 35 home runs along with 122 RBIs and hit .286.
Jensen was a All-American football player at UCLA and set a school record by running for 1,080 yards in 1948. In six consecutive years with the Red Sox, he hit at least 20 homers and only once missed the 100 RBI mark in those six years.
A fine defensive outfielder, Jensen could do it all - run, field and hit with the best of them. He retired early stating, "My fear of flying in an airplane and being away from home with a baseball team 7 months a year doesn't represent the kind of life I want or my wife and children want." Jackie Jensen career: .279 BA, 1463 hits, 259 Ds, 199 HRs, 929 RBIs in 5236 at bats.
Claude Osteen
Pitcher LH, Cincinnati Reds 1957, 1959-61; Washington Senators
1962-64; Los Angeles Dodgers 1965-73; Houston Astros 1974;
Chicago White Sox 1975 - Born Caney Springs, Tennessee
Claude Osteen chalked up 196 wins and pitched 40 lifetime shutouts in his' big league career. He was a star high school pitcher and signed for a large bonus with the Cincinnati Reds.
Claude Osteen made his MLB debut for the Reds on July 7, 1957 at the age 17. After playing four years mostly in the minor leagues and for the Reds he was traded to Washington in 1962 and in 1964 went 15-13, 3.33 ERA. The Senators traded Claude Osteen in 1965 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In his 9 seasons with the Dodgers, he won 15 games seven times, 20 games twice and was selected for three All-Star games. Claude Osteen lifetime: 196-195, 3.30 ERA, 541 Games, 488 GS, 140 GC, 40 shutouts, allowed 3471 hits in 3460 innings.
Johnny Podres
Pitcher Left-handed; Brooklyn - Los Angeles Dodgers 1953-1966;
U.S. Navy 1956; Detroit Tigers 1967; San Diego Padres 1969
Born Witherbee, N.Y. 9/30/1932
Left-hander Johnny Podres pitched in the big leagues for 17 years, had a lifetime 148-116 record (.561) and pitched for the Dodgers in four World Series, 1953, 1955, 1957 and 1963. He was a hero of the 1955 World Series, winning 2 games.
Podres spent the entire 1956 year in the U.S. Navy, returned in 1957 and although he recorded only a 12-9 record, he led the league in shutouts (6) and in ERA (2.66). In 1961, Podres won his career best 18 games (18-5) and led the NL in pct (.783).
Johnny Podres is best remember for his hard curveball, fine changeup and good control. For his career, he walked only 743 batters in 2265 innings - an average of 3 per/9 innings. In 1964, he was hit by a pitch, underwent elbow surgery in mid-year and missed the rest of the season. He was sold to the Detroit Tigers in 1966 but only pitched part-time from then on. Johnny Podres lifetime: 148-116, .561 pct., 3.68 ERA, 440 Games, 24 shutouts, 2239 hits in 2265 innings, 1435 strike outs.
Frank Malzone
Third Baseman Right-handed; Boston Red Sox 1955-1965;
California Angels 1966
Hard-hitting Frank Malzone was baseball's star third basemen during the late 50's and early 60's. As a Red Sox regular from 1957 through 1965, he made the All-Star team six times. An exceptional defensive player, Malzone lined 393 extra bases in his 11 year career, drove in over 79 or more runs six times and clouted 133 lifetime home runs.
In 1957, his first full year, he led the league in fielding pct., batted .292 with 103 RBIs and set a since broken AL record 10 assists in one game. In 1959 Malzone punched out 34 doubles, 19 homers, scored 90 runs along with 92 RBIs. Frank Malzone's career stats: .274 BA, 1486 hits, 239 Ds, 133 HRs, 647 Runs, 728 RBIs, 337 Walks, only 434 Ks in 5428 at bats, 1441 Games.
Gus Bell
David Russell 'Gus' Bell, Outfielder, Bats Left, Throws RH;
Pittsburgh Pirates 1950-52; Cincinnati Reds 1953-61; New York
Mets 1962; Milwaukee Braves 1963-64
Gus Bell was a well-known power-hitter during the 1950s and as a member of the Cincinnati Reds made the NL All-Star team in 1953, 1954, 1956 and 1957. In his best season, 1953, Bell hit .300, 37 doubles, 5 triples, 30 home runs, scored 102 runs and rang-up 105 RBIs. From 1953 to 1957, he hit .300, .299, .308, .292, .292 and drove in 100 runs in four different years. On Sept. 21, 1955, he slugged three homers in a single game and drove in 8 runs. He lined 583 extra base hits in his stellar career. Gus Bell's career stats: .281 BA, .445 slg/pct in 6478 at bats, 311 Ds, 66 Ts, 206 Hrs, 942 RBIs.
Although, he's now best remembered as baseball's first of three generations to play in the major league's (father of Buddy Bell and grandfather of Jay Bell), Gus Bell was one of the baseball's most feared hitters and as an outfielder ranked high defensively all throughout the 1950s - and was admirably well-liked and is still fondly remembered as one of baseball's "good guys". Manager@baseballhistorian.com
Jim Konstanty
Pitcher, Right-handed, Cincinnati Reds 1944, U.S. Navy 1944-46;
Boston Braves 1946; Philadelphia Phillies 1948-54; New York Yankees
1955-56; St. Louis Cardinals 1956
Ranked by most historians as the best relief pitcher in baseball during the 1950s, Jim Konstanty was virtually a one-man bullpen wonder for the Philadelphia Phillies. In 1949, the bespectacled, 6'2 inches, 205-pounder went 9-5, 3.25 ERA.
In 1950 with his palm ball and 'sliding-slider', Konstanty was a main reason the Phillies won the pennant and he was honored by being voted the first-ever relief pitcher to win the Most Valuable Player Award. In that season he posted a brilliant 16-7 record, 2.66 ERA in 74 games, allowing only 108 hits in 152 innings (.205 opponents batting average).
He was traded to the New York Yankees in 1955 and his 7-2 record, 2.32 helped the Bronx Bombers win that year's pennant. Jim Konstanty lifetime mark: 66-48, .579 pct., 3.46 ERA, 433 Games, 269 Ws, 268 Ks in 945 innings.
Bobby Thomson
Outfielder-3rd Base Right-handed; U.S. Miltary 1943-45; New York
Giants 1946-53; Milwaukee Braves 1954-57; Chicago Cubs 1958-59;
Boston Red Sox 1960
A great team player with a burning will-to-win desire, Bobby Thomson ranks as one of baseball's top clutch hitters. He played 14 seasons in the major leagues and collected over 1,000 career RBIs; including three straight 100+RBI years, 1951-1953.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland on 10/25/1923.
Bobby Thomson hit 31 home runs in 1951 but will always be remembered for his game-winning, 9th inning three-run homer against the Brooklyn Dodgers on the last day of the season (Oct. 3, 1951) that gave the New York Giants the National League pennant; the so-called "the Shot Heard' Round the World".
After serving in the US Military during World War II, in his first full season (1947), he hit 29 homers as the Giants set a team record with 221 homers. One of baseball's fastest runners, Bobby Thomson led the league with 14 triples in 1952, hit 24 homers, 108 RBIs. He was traded to the Milwaukee Braves in February 1954 and missed most of the year with "a triple fracture of an ankle". He rebounded to hit 20 Hrs, 74 RBIs in '56 and as a member of the Chicago Cubs in '57, hit 21 Hrs, 82 RBIs. Bobby Thomson lifetime: .270 BA, 1705 hits in 6305 at bats, 267 Ds, 74 Ts, 264 Hrs, 934 Runs, 1026 RBIs.
note: this page has moved to: http://www.baseballhistorian.com/american_heroes.cfm?hero=609
Gene Woodling
Outfielder - Bats Left, T RH; Cleveland Indians 1943, 1946,
1956-57; Pittsburgh Pirates 1947; New York Yankees 1949-54;
Baltimore Orioles 1955, 1958-60; Wash. Senators 1961-62; N.Y.
Mets 1962
A well-known, highly regarded all-around athlete, Gene Woodling compiled an outstanding 17-year career, hit over .300 five times and won five World Series rings while playing left-field for the New York Yankees, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953.
One of baseball's more popular players during the '50s, Woodling was an outstanding glove man, a line drive hitter with plenty of punch in his bat and a great eye at the plate.
In 1953 for the World Champion Yankees, he hit .306, with 26 doubles, 4 triples, 10 home runs, and walked 82 times while striking out just 29 times - for a robust .429 on-base-pct.
After his batting slipped in the 1954 season, Woodling was traded to Baltimore, then the following year to Cleveland. The 1957 season for the Indians was his best offensive year, Woodling hit .321, third best in the AL, powered 25 Ds, 19 HRs, scored 74 runs, 78 RBIs, 65 Ws, 35 Ks. Gene Woodling's career: .284 BA, 1,585 hits in 5,587 At Bats, 1,796 Games, 257 Ds, 63 Ts, 147 HRs, 830 Runs, 830 RBIs, 921 Ws, 479 Ks, a .388 on-base-pct., .431 slug/pct. Baseballhistorian.com
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Spring Training (1952) Detroit Tigers |
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Let The Season Begin - The Detroit Tigers should be vastly improved in 1952. Injuries to key players led to a disappointing year in '51 when the Tigers finished at 73-81, 5th place in the American League. Manager Red Rolfe thinks '52 will be different and is counting on left-hander Hal Newhouser to overcome a sore arm and lead the pitching staff again.
Newhouser who has won 191 games in his career with the Tigers was only 6-6 in 15 games last year. Injured several times in '51, outfielders Johnny Groth and fly hawk 'Hoot' Evers should recover and supply the Tigers with badly needed long ball power. The Tigers hit only 104 home runs in 1951.
Worth Watching For In 1952 - Right-handed starter Art Houtteman, the ace of 1950, will rejoin the club after a year in the U.S. National Defense Service. In '50, Houtteman chalked up 19 wins for the Tigers. Slugger Vic Wertz was the Tigers' big man in '51 with 27 homers and 94 RBIs. Wertz is proving to be a first magnitude outfield star. Virgil 'Fireball' Trucks led the club in wins in 1951 and finished at 13-8. He might prove to be the ace of the Tigers in '52.
Team Veterans - 33 year old Fred Hutchinson had an off-season and only was 10-10, but proved to be valuable both as a starter and reliever. Paul 'Dizzy' Trout ended with a fine 13-8 in '51 and could win 18 to 20 games this year. 3rd baseman George Kell hit .319 in '51, the 5th year in a row over .300. Kell is still the highest salaried player on the team, and rightly so.
Gerry Priddy has been the Tigers' 2nd baseman for 2 seasons and is regarded as one of the better fielders in the league. His stick work slumped a bit last season, but he's still a solid player. Pat Mullin hit .283 in 110 games in '51. Mullin, still frisky, has been a Tiger outfielder since '41.
Rookies For 1952 - The Tigers will be watching Russ Sullivan who played five late season games for the big club and got 5 hits in 7 at bats. Playing with the Toledo Mudhens, Sully hit .341 in 120 games with 88 RBIs.
Needs Improvement In 1952 - All eyes will focus on the Tigers' aging pitching staff, which is loaded with All-Stars of bygone years, most had off years due to arm injuries. Hal White, the great fireman of '50 was not too effective last year, due partly to recurrent arm miseries. It's hoped both White and starter Ted Gray can come to their previous pitching performances. Gray was the Tigers' workhorse in '51 but fell to 7-14, 4.07 ERA.
Shortstop Johnny Lipon will need to improve on his .265 batting, a big drop from '50 when he hit .293. Lipon still rates as one of the better fielders in the league. Manager Red Rolfe hopes catcher Myron Ginsberg, a rookie last year, will respond and be better than before. Ginsberg hit .260 in 102 games. Veteran catcher Bob Swift in 9th season with the Tigers is still a fine handler of pitchers. Outfielder Steve Souchock, tabbed a draft gem the previous winter, hit 11 homers in his first year will the team. All-in-all things are looking up for the Detroit Tigers for 1952, they should battle most of the year and if they stay healthy have a chance to go all the way to the top. Baseballhistorian.com Manager's Notebook 1952 - Spring Training!
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(Index)
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