Bill Voiselle--1944
As a rookie in 1944, Bill Voiselle hurled a
league-leading 312 innings in winning 21
games for the New York Giants as he
earned All-Star honors for the only time
in his career. The rangy right-hander
would also lead the Senior Circuit in
strikeouts (161) and games started (41),
while coughing up the most home runs
(31).
He was 74 games up and 84 games
down in his 9-year career, which saw him
move from the New York Giants to the
Boston Braves and the Chicago Cubs.
Voiselle's 21-16 mark in '44 was the only
season in which he topped the .500
watermark. His ERA went from 2.00 in his
debut '42 season, steadily climbing to
5.79 in his final year.
Voiselle appeared in the 1948 World
Series for the Braves, losing to
Cleveland's Bob Lemon in the deciding
Game 6.
He would hit .147 during his career,
never connecting on a long ball, but
finding enough gaps in the defense to
rap out 10 doubles.
Fielding would be a rough spot for
Voiselle, as he committed 20 errors to
post a lifetime .934 fielding percentage.
However, of all the numbers in Voiselle's
career, it was the digits on his back that
distinguished him amongst players
during his era.
Raised in Ninety Six, SC, the
right-hander showed pride in his
hometown by wearing number 96 during
the later part of his career.
Traded by the Giants to the Braves in
1947, Voiselle petitioned and received
permission from Commissioner Happy
Chandler to wear uniform number 96 in
tribute to his hometown.
His number would remain the highest
number worn by a major league player
until Philadelphia's Mitch Williams wore
#99 in the early 1990's.
Editor's Note: For more insights on
Voiselle's career, here's his obit from
TheDeadballEra.com
Bill Voiselle's Obituary, Index Journal,
2/2/05
(10/26/10)
league-leading 312 innings in winning 21
games for the New York Giants as he
earned All-Star honors for the only time
in his career. The rangy right-hander
would also lead the Senior Circuit in
strikeouts (161) and games started (41),
while coughing up the most home runs
(31).
He was 74 games up and 84 games
down in his 9-year career, which saw him
move from the New York Giants to the
Boston Braves and the Chicago Cubs.
Voiselle's 21-16 mark in '44 was the only
season in which he topped the .500
watermark. His ERA went from 2.00 in his
debut '42 season, steadily climbing to
5.79 in his final year.
Voiselle appeared in the 1948 World
Series for the Braves, losing to
Cleveland's Bob Lemon in the deciding
Game 6.
He would hit .147 during his career,
never connecting on a long ball, but
finding enough gaps in the defense to
rap out 10 doubles.
Fielding would be a rough spot for
Voiselle, as he committed 20 errors to
post a lifetime .934 fielding percentage.
However, of all the numbers in Voiselle's
career, it was the digits on his back that
distinguished him amongst players
during his era.
Raised in Ninety Six, SC, the
right-hander showed pride in his
hometown by wearing number 96 during
the later part of his career.
Traded by the Giants to the Braves in
1947, Voiselle petitioned and received
permission from Commissioner Happy
Chandler to wear uniform number 96 in
tribute to his hometown.
His number would remain the highest
number worn by a major league player
until Philadelphia's Mitch Williams wore
#99 in the early 1990's.
Editor's Note: For more insights on
Voiselle's career, here's his obit from
TheDeadballEra.com
Bill Voiselle's Obituary, Index Journal,
2/2/05
(10/26/10)
