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Today Bill Schaefer jumps into our new Mystery Player series with an interesting essay about a fine ballplayer who is not widely recognized for his ability. I’m sure many of our more knowledgeable readers will have no trouble figuring out who Bill has in mind. Hints: Look at the featured photo and also keep in mind that Bill is a lifelong Giants fan!
Come back at 6:00 CT this evening and the identity of Mystery Player Number Two will be revealed…along with a nice photo tribute to him.
You’re correct! It’s Wes Westrum
Mystery Player Number Two!
He was quiet, unassuming, and excelled in all sports. But he was probably best at football, “If you want to know the truth” (as Holden Caulfield might have intoned). Built like the proverbial block of granite, at 5’11” and 185 pounds, schoolmates said trying to bring him down on the gridiron was like trying to tackle a small tank. He would have made some fullback. But he also turned out to be a pretty good baseball player.
When I watched him bat, he always seemed to be swinging with one hand—perpetually banged up with sprained or jammed fingers. He estimated he broke eight fingers during his 11-year baseball career. But yet, during his best years in 1950 and ’51, he was remarkably productive for the minuscule number of hits he produced, hardly able to grip a bat most of the time (.217career hitter). In 1950, he batted .236 with just 103 hits. His bat, though, sent 23 balls flying over the fences and drove 71 runners across home plate. The next year was amazing: He drew 104 walks, batting eighth, produced only 79 hits but nearly 41% were for extra bases: 20 homers and 12 doubles! He had an OBP of .400 and an OPS+ of 120, with 70 RBI. Also, many of his clouts came in the late innings to win games. For my money, that’s the best production for a butchered-hands eighth place .219 hitter on record. If not the best, it’s certainly among ‘em.
This stalwart catcher was also wonderful behind the plate. He gave a great target, had a quick release, and possessed deadly accuracy mowing down base stealers. In fact, in 1950, our Mystery Man led all National League catchers with a .999 fielding percentage, 31 baserunners thrown out, a 54.4% caught-stealing percentage, and 71 assists. His 49.29% career caught-stealing stat ranks 21st all-time among major league catchers. In addition, he blocked the plate like no other, which saved a crucial run in one huge pennant stretch ball game.
Along with Braves slugger Eddie Mathews and umpire Augie Donatelli, his picture appeared on the cover of the August 16, 1954, inaugural issue of Sports Illustrated.
Our taciturn treasure also managed the Mets from 1965-1967, taking over for Casey Stengel. And there were times when he rivaled Ol’ Perfessor in the malapropos department. When paying tribute to his boss, he offered, “Boy, when they made him they threw away the molding.” After an extra inning game, he exclaimed, “Whew! That was a real cliff dweller!”
He’ll never make the Hall but, when his beleaguered throwing hand would allow, he was the equal defensively of “Pudge” Rodriguez, Yadi Molina, Berra, Freehan, Roseboro, Bench, Campanella, or Realmuto.
The burly backstop passed in 2002, at the age of 79, and was remembered with love and respect by all who knew him. Eddie Stanky said, “Pitchers had confidence when he was behind the plate. They loved him.” Monte Irvin observed, “He would have batted .280, with 30 homers a year, if he could have kept his hands healthy.”
Can you name him?
Bill Schaefer
Photos: All found on centerfieldmaz website
Sources: Wikipedia, Wes Westrum; SABR, article, Wes Westrum, Armand Peterson; baseball reference, Wes Westrum.
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