Joe Wood
For one season, Smoky Joe Wood was the best pitcher in baseball, and the most feared. The right-hander whipped his lighting-wuick knee-high fastball past opposing batters, winning 34 games in 1912 for the Red Sox. He won Games One and Four of the World Series, and came back to earn the victory in the final contest in relief. An arm injury ended his stellar career as a pitcher, and after a brief retirement, Wood returned to the majors with Cleveland as a hard-hitting outfielder, before entering the collegiate ranks as a successful head baseball coach for Yale.
Quotes About Wood
"Can I throw harder than Joe Wood? Listen, my friend, there's no man alive can throw harder than Smoky Joe Wood." — Walter Johnson
Played For
Boston Red Sox (1908-1915)
Cleveland Indians (1917-1922)
All-Time Rankings
Smoky Joe Wood ranks #47 among the Top 50 all-time at SP. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1912
At the ripe young age of 22, Wood went 34-5 with a 1.92 ERA for the Red Sox. A great athlete, Wood also batted .290 with 13 doubles and 13 RBI. He struck out 258 batters, pitched 35 complete games, including 10 shutouts. He won three games in the World Series, helping Boston to the championship.
Born
Joe Wood was born on October 25, 1889, in Kansas City, MO.
Died
July 27, 1985, West Haven, CT
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: CLE
Major League Debut
August 24, 1908
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1908
Donie Bush
Larry Gardner
Frank Baker
Amos Strunk
Buck Herzog
Rube Marquard
Slim Sallee
Hippo Vaughn
Joe Jackson
Nicknames
Smoky Joe
Related Players
Wood and Walter Johnson met in several classic duels. In 1912, Wood matched up with the "Big Train" riding a 13-game winning streak. In front of a huge crowd at Fenway Park, Wood defeated Johnson and the Nats, 1-0. He won two more games to run his streak to 16, tying Johnson's AL record.
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1937 |
BBWAA |
13 |
6.5% |
1938 |
BBWAA |
6 |
2.3% |
1939 |
BBWAA |
2 |
.7% |
1942 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.4% |
1946 |
Nominating Vote |
5 |
2.5% |
1947 |
BBWAA |
29 |
18.0% |
1948 |
BBWAA |
5 |
4.1% |
1950 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.6% |
1951 |
BBWAA |
5 |
2.2% |
|
No-Hitter
7/29/1911: For BOS (A) vs. STL (A), 5-0 at BOS. 9 innings pitched.
Post-Season Appearances
1912 World Series
1920 World Series
Pitching Feats
Notes
According to SABR member Marc Witkes, "Smoky Joe Wood was head baseball coach for Yale University and compiled a
record of 283-228-1."
Injuries and Explanation for Missed Playing Time
In May of 1913, Wood slipped on wet grass while fielding a ball and broke the thumb on his pitching hand. In June, he returned but failed to regain the strength in his hand. He pitched the remainder of the season in pain and was inconsistent. He was never again the strikeout pitcher he had been.
Transactions
During the Winter Meetings in December of 1910, the Red Sox offered Wood and catcher Bill Carrigan to the Tigers for catcher Charley Schmidt and pitcher Ed Summers. According to deadball era historian Peter Morris, the Tigers rejected the deal and counter-offered a package that included Schmidt and another pitcher other than Summers. Boston refused. Of course, Carrigan and Wood were instrumental in the Red Sox' 1912 title, and, in the case of Carrigan, other titles in the 1910s.
On February 24, 1917, Wood was purchased by the Cleveland Indians from the Boston Red Sox for $15,000. He had retired after the 1915 season due to his chronic arm problems, which began in 1913 with a broken thumb. With Cleveland, Wood made a comeback as an outfielder. In six seasons with the Indians, two as a regular, he batted .297. But after a solid season as the team's right fielder in 1922, he accepted an offer to coach the Yale baseball team. He stayed at Yale for two decades, establishing an excellent program.
Best Strength as a Player
Command of his fastball.
Largest Weakness as a Player
Arm strength.
Learn More about Joe Wood
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