Jack Sanford (first baseman)
Encyclopedia
John Doward Sanford was a first baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played his entire career for the Washington Senators
. Listed at 6 in 3 in (1.91 m) tall and 195 pounds (88.5 kg), Sanford batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Chatham, Virginia
.
Basically a line-drive hitter and a fine defensive player, Sanford was one of many ballplayers who interrupted their careers to serve during World War II
. He signed with the Senators out of the University of Richmond
, where he lettered in baseball
, basketball
, football
and track.
Sanford played for the Washington team in the 1940 and 1941 seasons as a backup for Zeke Bonura
and Mickey Vernon
at first base. He served in the US Air Force from 1941 to 1946, playing and coaching on baseball teams there, then returned to major league action briefly in 1946.
In a three-season career, Sanford was a .231 hitter (32-for-153) with 13 runs
and 11 RBI
in 47 games, including four doubles
and four triples
without home run
s or stolen base
s.
Following his playing career, Sanford earned a masters degree and Ph.D. From 1956 to 1966, he worked as a professor and the chairman of the Department of Health and Physical Education at Elon College. In 10 seasons as the school's head baseball coach, he posted a 184-110 record. After that, he worked for Barton College
from 1966 through 1984 and also coached the baseball team in 1973 and again from 1981 to 1984. He retired after the team won its first conference championship in 1984.
Sanford died in Greensboro, North Carolina
, at the age of 87.
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
in Major League Baseball
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...
who played his entire career for the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. Listed at 6 in 3 in (1.91 m) tall and 195 pounds (88.5 kg), Sanford batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Chatham, Virginia
Chatham, Virginia
Chatham is a town in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States. Chatham's population was 1,338 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Danville, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. Chatham is home to Chatham High School and Hargrave Military Academy. It is also home to Chatham Hall , an...
.
Basically a line-drive hitter and a fine defensive player, Sanford was one of many ballplayers who interrupted their careers to serve 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...
. He signed with the Senators out of the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
, where he lettered in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and track.
Sanford played for the Washington team in the 1940 and 1941 seasons as a backup for Zeke Bonura
Zeke Bonura
Henry John Bonura was a first baseman in Major League Baseball. From through , he played for the Chicago White Sox , Washington Senators , New York Giants and Chicago Cubs . Bonura batted and threw right-handed...
and Mickey Vernon
Mickey Vernon
James Barton "Mickey" Vernon was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators for the majority of his career, as well as four other teams: the Cleveland Indians , Boston Red Sox , Milwaukee Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates...
at first base. He served in the US Air Force from 1941 to 1946, playing and coaching on baseball teams there, then returned to major league action briefly in 1946.
In a three-season career, Sanford was a .231 hitter (32-for-153) with 13 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and 11 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 47 games, including four doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and four triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
without home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s or stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s.
Following his playing career, Sanford earned a masters degree and Ph.D. From 1956 to 1966, he worked as a professor and the chairman of the Department of Health and Physical Education at Elon College. In 10 seasons as the school's head baseball coach, he posted a 184-110 record. After that, he worked for Barton College
Barton College
Barton College is a private liberal arts college located in Wilson, North Carolina. Barton College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, The NC Association of Colleges and Universities; the NC Department of Public Instruction; the NC Board of Nursing; and the Committee...
from 1966 through 1984 and also coached the baseball team in 1973 and again from 1981 to 1984. He retired after the team won its first conference championship in 1984.
Sanford died in Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
, at the age of 87.
See also
- 1940 Washington Senators season1940 Washington Senators seasonThe Washington Senators won 64 games, lost 90, and finished in seventh place in the American League. They were managed by Bucky Harris and played home games at Griffith Stadium.- Notable transactions :...
- 1941 Washington Senators season1941 Washington Senators seasonThe Washington Senators won 70 games, lost 84, and finished in sixth place in the American League. They were managed by Bucky Harris and played home games at Griffith Stadium.- Offseason :...
- 1946 Washington Senators season1946 Washington Senators seasonThe Washington Senators won 76 games, lost 78, and finished in fourth place in the American League. They were managed by Ossie Bluege and played home games at Griffith Stadium.-Offseason:...