Woody English
Encyclopedia
Elwood George "Woody" English (March 2, 1906 – September 26, 1997) was an American shortstop
who played in Major League Baseball
(MLB) for twelve seasons with the Chicago Cubs
and the Brooklyn Dodgers
.
. He went to Newark High School
, where he played second base on the baseball team. In English's senior season, the team went undefeated. After high school, English worked for Pure Oil
and Firestone Rubber. During breaks, he would play baseball with Pure Oil's local team. In 1924, English played for the Zanesville Greys, a semi-pro
. The league that the Greys played in had other Major League players, including Al Schwietzer.
, for $300 a month. Being the youngest player on his team, 18, English played 131 games at shortstop
and batted .220 and a .946 fielding percentage. The following year played a team-high 162 games and batted a .301 average, a team-high 15 triple
s and a .948 fielding percentage.
. He made his Major League debut on April 26, 1927, a 5-8 losing game against the Cincinnati Reds
. English went 0-2 with one strikeout
. The Cubs finished fourth place, finishing 8.5 games from first place.
, 214 hits
, 17 triples
, 13 stolen base
s, 100 walks
, 156 games – all career highs.
, he worked on airplanes. He got married in 1948 to a women named Katerine. English coached the Grand Rapids Chicks
of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
from 1952 until 1954 when the league folded. After coaching, he worked for State Farm Insurance
until his retirement in 1971. On September 26, 1997, English passed away at Newark, Ohio
at the age of 91 and is buried in Fredonia Cemetery in Fredonia, Ohio.
Notes
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
who played 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...
(MLB) for twelve seasons with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
and the 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...
.
Early life
English was born on March 2, 1906, on a farm in Licking County, OhioLicking County, Ohio
Licking County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 166,492. Its county seat is Newark and is named for the salt licks that were in the area....
. He went to Newark High School
Newark High School (Ohio)
Newark High School is a public high school in Newark, Ohio. It houses a little more than 2,000 students. It is the only high school in the Newark City Schools district. Newark High School previously featured a college campus that is now under construction...
, where he played second base on the baseball team. In English's senior season, the team went undefeated. After high school, English worked for Pure Oil
Pure Oil
Pure Oil Company was an American petroleum company founded in 1914 and sold to what is now Union Oil Company of California in 1965. The Pure Oil name returned in 1993 as a cooperative which has grown to supply 350 members in 10 Southern states.-History:Three companies operating in the United...
and Firestone Rubber. During breaks, he would play baseball with Pure Oil's local team. In 1924, English played for the Zanesville Greys, a semi-pro
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
. The league that the Greys played in had other Major League players, including Al Schwietzer.
Minor leagues
In the following year of 1925, English signed a contract with the Toledo Mud Hens, a Double-A team apart of the American AssociationAmerican Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
, for $300 a month. Being the youngest player on his team, 18, English played 131 games at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
and batted .220 and a .946 fielding percentage. The following year played a team-high 162 games and batted a .301 average, a team-high 15 triple
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....
s and a .948 fielding percentage.
Major leagues
After playing for the Mud Hens, English was purchased for $50,000 by the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. He made his Major League debut on April 26, 1927, a 5-8 losing game against the 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....
. English went 0-2 with one strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
. The Cubs finished fourth place, finishing 8.5 games from first place.
Best season
: .335 BA, 14 HR, 59 RBI, 152 runsRun (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...
, 214 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....
, 17 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....
, 13 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, 100 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, 156 games – all career highs.
Highlights
- 1933 All-Star Game
- Twice led National LeagueNational LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in games played (156, 1930–31) - Finished fourth in National League MVPMLB Most Valuable Player AwardThe Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
vote (1931), behind Frankie FrischFrankie FrischFrancis “Frankie” Frisch , nicknamed the "Fordham Flash" or "The Old Flash", was a German American Major League Baseball player of the early twentieth century....
, Chuck KleinChuck KleinCharles Herbert "Chuck" Klein was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Philadelphia Phillies , Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates ....
and Bill TerryBill TerryWilliam Harold Terry was a Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Terry was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954. In 1999, he ranked number 59 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was a nominee... - Between 1952 and 1954 managed the Grand Rapids ChicksGrand Rapids ChicksThe Grand Rapids Chicks were a women's professional baseball team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 to 1954, winning championships in 1947 and 1953....
of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueAll-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueThe All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
, leading his team to a Championship (1953) and two playoff appearances
Post-baseball life
Following baseball, English decided to work for a factory in Chicago, Illinois. During World War IIWorld 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 worked on airplanes. He got married in 1948 to a women named Katerine. English coached the Grand Rapids Chicks
Grand Rapids Chicks
The Grand Rapids Chicks were a women's professional baseball team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 to 1954, winning championships in 1947 and 1953....
of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
from 1952 until 1954 when the league folded. After coaching, he worked for State Farm Insurance
State Farm Insurance
State Farm Insurance is a group of insurance and financial services companies in the United States. The company also has operations in Canada....
until his retirement in 1971. On September 26, 1997, English passed away at Newark, Ohio
Newark, Ohio
In addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
at the age of 91 and is buried in Fredonia Cemetery in Fredonia, Ohio.
Career statistics
| Year | Team | G 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,... | AB | R 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... | H 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.... | 2B 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.... | 3B 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.... | HR 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... | 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... | SB 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... | BB | SO Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters.... | AVG Batting average Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :... | OBP On base percentage In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes... | SLG | TB Total bases In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total.... | SH | HBP Hit by pitch In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:... | GDP | E Error (baseball) In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National... |
87 | 334 | 46 | 97 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 16 | 26 | .290 | .325 | .365 | 122 | 23 | 1 | 29 | ||
| Chicago Cubs | 116 | 475 | 68 | 142 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 34 | 4 | 30 | 28 | .299 | .343 | .375 | 178 | 15 | 2 | 36 | ||
| Chicago Cubs | 144 | 608 | 46 | 168 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 52 | 13 | 68 | 50 | .276 | .352 | .339 | 206 | 21 | 3 | 29 | ||
| Chicago Cubs | 156 | 638 | 68 | 214 | 36 | 17 | 14 | 59 | 3 | 100 | 72 | .335 | .430 | .511 | 326 | 11 | 6 | 22 | ||
| Chicago Cubs | 156 | 634 | 117 | 202 | 38 | 8 | 2 | 53 | 12 | 68 | 80 | .319 | .391 | .413 | 262 | 18 | 7 | 29 | ||
| Chicago Cubs | 127 | 522 | 70 | 142 | 23 | 7 | 3 | 47 | 5 | 55 | 73 | .272 | .344 | .360 | 188 | 12 | 2 | 20 | ||
| Chicago Cubs | 105 | 398 | 54 | 104 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 41 | 5 | 53 | 44 | .261 | .348 | .342 | 136 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 7 | |
| Chicago Cubs | 109 | 421 | 65 | 117 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 31 | 6 | 48 | 65 | .278 | .353 | .385 | 162 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 14 | |
| Chicago Cubs | 34 | 84 | 11 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 20 | 4 | .202 | .368 | .298 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |
| Chicago Cubs | 64 | 182 | 33 | 45 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 40 | 28 | .247 | .394 | .297 | 54 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | 129 | 378 | 45 | 90 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 42 | 4 | 65 | 55 | .238 | .350 | .299 | 113 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 26 | |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | 34 | 72 | 9 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 11 | .250 | .333 | .278 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| Career | 1261 | 4746 | 801 | 1356 | 236 | 52 | 32 | 422 | 57 | 571 | 536 | .286 | .366 | .378 | 1792 | 123 | 29 | 32 | 235 |
Notes
- The Double Plays Grounded Into (GDP) category only became a unique statistic beginning in 1933.