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. |