This Day in Baseball - The Daily Rewind
Sports:Baseball
On February 24, 1917 – – Smoky Joe Wood, his arm dead at 26, is sold by the Boston Red Sox to Cleveland for $15,000. He will become an outfielder after one last, losing start on the mound, and will play five more years.
Wood had slipped on wet grass while fielding a bunt in a game against the Detroit Tigers. He fell and broke his thumb, and pitched in pain for the following three seasons. Although he maintained a winning record and a low ERA, his appearances were limited, as he could no longer recover quickly from pitching a game. Wood sat out the 1916 season and most of the 1917 season, and for all intents and purposes ended his pitching career.
When Wood was sold to the Cleveland Indians, he rejoined former teammate Tris Speaker. Always proficient with the bat, he embarked on a second career; like his former teammate Babe Ruth, Wood ended his career as an outfielder. His hitting statistics, however, were far more pedestrian than those of Ruth. Nonetheless, Wood finished in the top 10 in the American League in runs batted in two seasons (1918 and 1922), and in 1918 he also finished in the top ten in home runs, doubles, batting average, and total bases. Wood pitched seven more times, all but one game in relief, winning none and losing one. He also appeared in four games in the 1920 World Series becoming the only player besides Ruth to be a starting pitcher and starting outfielder in a World Series game.
Wood finished his major league career after the 1922 season with a pitching record of 117–57 and an ERA of 2.03. His lifetime batting average was .283. In his final season with the Indians, he had his highest hit total for a season with 150, and also set a personal mark for RBI with 92.
Here is Smoky Joe to tell you his story . . .
CYO Ends relationship with Dodgers because of Leo Durocher March 1
Koufax and Drysdale Holdout February 28 1966
Babe Ruth released February 26
Duke Snider Passes Away February 27
Walter Johnson and The Silver Dollar - February 22
The Ballard of Three Fingers Brown
Cool Papa Bell goes to Cooperstown
Dazzy Vance Wins the MVP February 12
Ozzie Smith Trade Finalized February 11
Allie Reynolds talks about two No Hitters in 1951 February 10
Edd Roush Gets Traded February 9
Connie Mack Passes Away February 8
Frank Robinson Passes away - February 7
Lew Burdette - He was the original Mark Fidrych
Don Hoak unsong hero - February 5
Joe McCarthy the winningest manager in history
Fredric Michael Lynn was born on February 3, 1952
Stan Coveleski and Waite Hoyt are voted into the Hall of Fame
Billy Sullivan Jr the first father son team to play in World Series
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Halos in the infield ( an angels baseball podcast )
The 3 Old Reds Fans Podcast
The 6-1-1 Podcast
Talkin’ Baseball (MLB Podcast)
Baseball Today