Tom Winsett
Encyclopedia
John Thomas Winsett (November 24, 1909 - July 20, 1987) was a left fielder
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Boston Red Sox
(1930–1931, 1933), St. Louis Cardinals
(1935) and Brooklyn Dodgers
(1936–1938). Winsett batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in McKenzie, Tennessee
.
A part-time outfielder for three teams in a span of seven seasons, Winsett enjoyed his most productive year in 1937 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, when he posted career-highs in games played
(118), runs
(32), hits
(83), doubles
(15), triples
(5), home run
s (5) and runs batted in (42).
Winsett was a .237 career hitter with eight home runs and 76 RBI in 118 games.
On April 25, 1938, he was the first baseball player to be featured on the cover of LIFE magazine, with an inside caption which read: "The rubber-legged batter on the cover is John Thomas Winsett, of McKenzie, Tenn. one of the most curious players on the most curious team in the major leagues. He plays right field for the Brooklyn National League Baseball Club, better known as the 'Daffy Dodgers' because of the way they play. First time Winsett batted in a big-league game he hit a homer, but shortly went back to the minors. The Dodgers paid $40,000 for him last year and Winsett hit a dismal .237. Both Dodgers and Winsett are expected to play better this year."
He died in Memphis, Tennessee
, at the age of 77.
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
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 for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1930–1931, 1933), St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1935) and Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1936–1938). Winsett batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in McKenzie, Tennessee
McKenzie, Tennessee
McKenzie is a city at the tripoint of Carroll, Henry, and Weakley counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee. The population was 5,310 at the 2010 census.It is home to Bethel University and the Tennessee Technology Center at McKenzie.-Geography:...
.
A part-time outfielder for three teams in a span of seven seasons, Winsett enjoyed his most productive year in 1937 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, when he posted career-highs in games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
(118), 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...
(32), hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(83), 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....
(15), 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....
(5), 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 (5) and runs batted in (42).
Winsett was a .237 career hitter with eight home runs and 76 RBI in 118 games.
On April 25, 1938, he was the first baseball player to be featured on the cover of LIFE magazine, with an inside caption which read: "The rubber-legged batter on the cover is John Thomas Winsett, of McKenzie, Tenn. one of the most curious players on the most curious team in the major leagues. He plays right field for the Brooklyn National League Baseball Club, better known as the 'Daffy Dodgers' because of the way they play. First time Winsett batted in a big-league game he hit a homer, but shortly went back to the minors. The Dodgers paid $40,000 for him last year and Winsett hit a dismal .237. Both Dodgers and Winsett are expected to play better this year."
He died in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, at the age of 77.