Billy Goodman
Billy Goodman had bad timing, which cost him a steady position, but he still managed to win a batting title. When the line-drive hitting Goodman debuted with Boston in the late 1940s, he was unable to crack the Red Sox lineup, which featured batting stars and sluggers. But Joe McCarthy was willing to utilize Goodman as a utility player and jack-of-all-trades, and the North Carlina-native thrived. Playing seven different positions, Goodman won the 1950 batting title with a .354 mark. It was one of five times he hit at least .300 - which was exactly his career average.
Played For
Boston Red Sox (1947-1957)
Baltimore Orioles (1957)
Chicago White Sox (1958-1961)
Houston Astros (1962)
Where He Played
Second base (624), first base (406), third base (330), outfield (111), shortstop (7).
Born
William Dale Goodman was born on March 22, 1926, in Concord, NC.
Died
October 1, 1984, Sarasota, FL
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
Primary Position: 2B
Primary Team: BOS
Major League Debut
April 19, 1947
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1947
Nellie Fox
Duke Snider
Larry Doby
Jackie Robinson
Curt Simmons
Mel Parnell
Vic Wertz
Ted Kluszewski
Ferris Fain
Nicknames
One-Man Bench
Post-Season Appearances
1959 World Series
All-Star Selections
1949 AL
1953 AL
Best Strength as a Player
Knowledge of the strike zone.
Largest Weakness as a Player
He had absolutely no power, which is one of the reasons he was underestimated throughout his career. He played in an era in which everyone was expected to poke at least 12-15 homers per year, and defense and bat control were often ignored.
Learn More about Billy Goodman
Search Amazon.com for Books about Billy Goodman ⇒
Search for Billy Goodman at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
