Dusty Rhodes (outfielder)
| Dusty Rhodes | |
|---|---|
| Outfielder | |
| Born: May 13, 1927 Montgomery County, Alabama |
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| Died: June 17, 2009 (aged 82) Las Vegas, Nevada |
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| Batted: Left | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| July 15, 1952 for the New York Giants | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 27, 1959 for the San Francisco Giants | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .253 |
| Home runs | 54 |
| Runs batted in | 207 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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James Lamar Rhodes (May 13, 1927, Mathews, Alabama – June 17, 2009, Las Vegas, Nevada[1]) was an outfielder with a 7 year career from 1952–1957, 1959. He played for the Giants franchise of the National League (1952-57 in New York, 1959 in San Francisco).
Of him, manager Leo Durocher said "a buffoon is a drunk on a hitting spree". In the 1954 season, he was often used as a pinch-hitter for Monte Irvin, and came through with an incredible number of clutch hits.
In the first game of the 1954 World Series, Rhodes had a pinch hit home run in the bottom of the tenth inning off Bob Lemon to win the game.[2] The next day he delivered a pinch hit single in the fifth inning and then remained in the game to play left field. In the seventh inning he hit a homer off Early Wynn to help ensure the victory.[3]
Roy Campanella, the Brooklyn Dodger catcher, said of Durocher and his action of pinch-hitting Rhodes: "If they have to pinch hit Rhodes for Irvin, they must be hurting." Willie Mays mocked this assumption in his autobiography. Mays considered Rhodes to be a "fabulous hitter", as did Durocher, who wrote in his autobiography, "...boy could he hit!", while commenting on Rhodes atrocious fielding abilities.[4]
After his sports career, Dusty Rhodes worked for a friend on a tug boat for 25 years, a job which Dusty said he loved. Dusty stated after his career when asked why his career was so short, "After Durocher left the Giants, baseball wasn't fun anymore."
[edit] References
- ^ Madden, Bill (2009-06-17). "Dusty Rhodes, hero for Giants of 1954 World Series vs. Indians, dies". New York: Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2009/06/18/2009-06-18_dusty_rhodes_hero_of_1954_series_dies.html. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ 1954 World Series, Game 1 (box score) – Retrosheet.
- ^ http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1954/B09300NY11954.htm 1954 World Series, Game 2 (box score) – Retrosheet.
- ^ Madden, Bill (June 18, 2009). "Dusty Rhodes, hero for Giants of 1954 World Series vs. Indians, dies". Daily News (New York). http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2009/06/18/2009-06-18_dusty_rhodes_hero_of_1954_series_dies.html.
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Weber, Bruce. "Dusty Rhodes, Star Pinch-Hitter in '54 Series, Dies at 82," The New York Times, Friday, June 19, 2009.
- "Rhodes took 'fast track' to pro career," Las Vegas Sun, Monday, May 5, 2003.
- Obituary by the Associated Press
- Dusty Rhodes (outfielder) at Find a Grave
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Billy Martin |
Babe Ruth Award 1954 |
Succeeded by Johnny Podres |
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