Sammy Byrd
Encyclopedia
Samuel Dewey Byrd was an American
professional baseball
player and professional golfer
. He went by both "Sammy" and "Sam".
Byrd was born in Bremen, Georgia
but grew up in Birmingham, Alabama
. He played Major League Baseball
from to for the New York Yankees
and Cincinnati Reds
. Byrd's nickname was "Babe Ruth
's Legs", a reference to the fact that he often would appear as a pinch runner
at the end of games toward the latter part of Ruth's career.
In 1936, Byrd quit baseball to pursue a career in professional golf. He won six events on the PGA Tour
between 1942 and 1946. He lost the final of the 1945 PGA Championship
to Byron Nelson
, 4&3, in match play
.
Byrd is also the only person to have played in a World Series
and competed in golf's Masters Tournament. He made one appearance in the 1932 World Series
(game 4) while playing for the New York Yankees - as a defensive replacement for Babe Ruth - in the bottom of the 9th inning. He finished twice in the top 10 at the Masters: third in 1941
and fourth in 1942
. During his last appearance in 1948 he tallied the highest score ever at the second hole recording a 10. He finished the round with a 12-over-par 84.
Byrd was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
in 1974. He died in Mesa, Arizona
in 1981 at the age of 74.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional 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...
player and professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
. He went by both "Sammy" and "Sam".
Byrd was born in Bremen, Georgia
Bremen, Georgia
Bremen is a city in Haralson County and Carroll County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,227.Locally the name of the city is pronounced BREE-muhn...
but grew up in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. He played 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...
from to for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Byrd's nickname was "Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
's Legs", a reference to the fact that he often would appear as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
at the end of games toward the latter part of Ruth's career.
In 1936, Byrd quit baseball to pursue a career in professional golf. He won six events on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
between 1942 and 1946. He lost the final of the 1945 PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
to Byron Nelson
Byron Nelson
John Byron Nelson, Jr. was an American PGA Tour golfer between 1935 and 1946.Nelson and two other well known golfers of the time, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, were born within seven months of each other in 1912...
, 4&3, in match play
Match play
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents; this is as opposed to stroke play, in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 holes...
.
Byrd is also the only person to have played in a World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
and competed in golf's Masters Tournament. He made one appearance in the 1932 World Series
1932 World Series
The 1932 World Series was played between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs , with the Yankees holding home field advantage. The Yankees swept the Cubs, four games to none...
(game 4) while playing for the New York Yankees - as a defensive replacement for Babe Ruth - in the bottom of the 9th inning. He finished twice in the top 10 at the Masters: third in 1941
1941 Masters Tournament
The 1941 Masters Tournament was contested from April 3 to April 6 at Augusta National Golf Club. It was the 8th Masters Tournament.Craig Wood opened with a 66 and a five-stroke lead. Wood scored a 34 over the Tournament's final nine holes to defeat Byron Nelson by three strokes. Wood became the...
and fourth in 1942
1942 Masters Tournament
The 1942 Masters Tournament was contested from April 9 to April 13 at Augusta National Golf Club. It was the 9th Masters Tournament.Byron Nelson shot five under par in the final 13 playoff holes to defeat Ben Hogan 69-70. Hogan led by three strokes after five holes. This was Nelson's second Masters...
. During his last appearance in 1948 he tallied the highest score ever at the second hole recording a 10. He finished the round with a 12-over-par 84.
Byrd was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is a state museum located in Birmingham, Alabama, dedicated to communicating the state’s athletic history...
in 1974. He died in Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
in 1981 at the age of 74.
PGA Tour wins (6)
- 1942 (1) Greater Greensboro Open
- 1943 (1) Chicago Victory National Open
- 1944 (2) New Orleans OpenNew Orleans OpenThe New Orleans Open is a defunct tennis tournament for male tennis players, held in New Orleans, United States. It was established in 1978 and was played until 1980. Wojtek Fibak, John McEnroe and Roscoe Tanner all won the tournament during its run....
, Philadelphia Inquirer Open Invitational - 1945 (2) Texas Open, Azalea Open
Other wins (5)
this list is probably incomplete- 1939 Philadelphia Open ChampionshipPhiladelphia Open ChampionshipThe Philadelphia Open Championship is an annual golf tournament played in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. It is organized by the Golf Association of Philadelphia. It has been played annually since 1903 at member clubs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. It was considered a PGA Tour...
- 1942 Pennsylvania Open ChampionshipPennsylvania Open ChampionshipThe Pennsylvania Open Championship is the Pennsylvania state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pennsylvania Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1912 at a variety of courses around the state...
- 1944 Michigan OpenMichigan OpenThe Michigan Open is the Michigan state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Michigan section of the PGA of America...
, Michigan PGA ChampionshipMichigan PGA ChampionshipThe Michigan PGA Championship is a golf tournament that is the section championship of the Michigan section of the PGA of America. It has been played annually since 1922 at a variety of courses around the state.-Winners:*2011 Scott Hebert*2010 Ron Beurman... - 1945 Michigan PGA ChampionshipMichigan PGA ChampionshipThe Michigan PGA Championship is a golf tournament that is the section championship of the Michigan section of the PGA of America. It has been played annually since 1922 at a variety of courses around the state.-Winners:*2011 Scott Hebert*2010 Ron Beurman...