A TRIO OF POTENTIAL ALBIE WILLIE AND SAM

A TRIO OF POTENTIAL ALBIE, WILLIE AND SAM Bob Davids SABR Chapter Meeting January 24, 2009

Albie Pearson • Originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 1953. • Traded after the 1957 season with Norm Zauchin to the Washington Senators for Pete Runnels. • Voted MLB Rookie of the Year in 1958 and The Sporting News Rookie of the Year.

• At 23, Pearson played in 146 games, collected 146 hits, including 25 doubles and batted. 275. • MVP voting: Pearson 14, Ryne Duren of the Yankees, 7, and Gary Bell of the Indians, 3. • Sophomore slump: Batted. 188 in 25 games; traded to the Orioles for Lenny Green on May 29, 1959.

• Batted. 244 in 48 games for the Orioles in 1960; spent most of the season in Rochester. • Drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the expansion draft at age 26. • Played regularly for the Angels for five years.

• Led AL in runs (115) in 1962; batted. 305 in 1963, fourth in the league behind Yaz (. 321), Kaline (. 312) and Rollins (. 307). Named to the 1963 AL All-Star team. • Back problems resurfaced in 1964. Two years later, he was out of baseball at age 31. • Lifetime: Pearson played in 988 games in nine seasons and batted. 270.

• Debuted with the Orioles at age 25 on Sept. 18, 1958, after eight years in the minors. • In 1959, played in 142 games, hit 13 homers and batted. 275. Named one of The Sporting News Rookie Stars of ‘ 59 and voted to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team.

• Once played in the Orioles outfield with no shoes during a storm; he was afraid the spikes would attract lightning. • In 1960, Orioles were pennant contenders; traded Tasby to the Red Sox for outfielder Gene Stephens on June 29. • Drafted by the Senators in the expansion draft in Dec. 1960.

• Was Senators’ Opening Day centerfielder in 1961. Played 141 games and had a careerhigh 17 homers and 63 RBI. • Just 11 games into the 1962 season, he was traded to Cleveland for pitchers Steve Hamilton and Don Rudolph. • Played 127 games over two seasons for the Indians and retired after the ‘ 63 season at age 30.

• Played in the Negro Leagues for the Nashville Elite Giants from 1957 -58; played for Rochester in 1962 -63. • As a 25 -year-old rookie in 1964, he slugged 22 homers, drove in 71 runs and batted. 263. Tied Orioles’ rookie home run record. • Never came close to matching his rookie numbers; hit just 22 more homers in five seasons.

• Beaned by Earl Wilson of the Red Sox on Aug. 19, 1964, in the second inning. Batted. 215 the remainder of the season. • “It affected my hitting. I’d pull my head out up there at the plate. I wouldn’t stay with the inside pitches. I would bail out and drop my hands. ”

• Played 89 games for the O’s in 1966 and hit just. 210. Didn’t play in the World Series. • After batting. 183 in 62 games, his contract was sold to the Senators in November 1967. • Batted. 191 in 57 games in 1968 and. 193 in 33 games in 1969. • Played final game on July 26, 1969 at age 30.

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