Jake Woods--1966
I can honestly say that I had never
heard of Jake Wood until I saw this
card. Having been ensconced in
baseball for close to 50 years, not
many names escape me--- until now.
Yes, there was a Jake Wood. He was
the Tigers starting second baseman
in the early 1960s, taking over for
Frank Bolling, who yes, I have heard
of. After holding down the keystone
sack for three seasons during a
period of mild prosperity for the
Tigers, Wood was replaced by Jerry
Lumpe, who I have also heard of.
An accomplished minor league hitter,
who hit .300 at every stop whether it
be in Durham, Knoxville or Fox Cities
(wherever they are); Wood would
transform himself into a .250 hitter in
the major leagues.
He burst onto the scene in 1961 to
lead the American League in triples
with 14. While waiting for a ball he
could shoot into the cavernous Tiger
Stadium gaps, Wood would establish
a then-major league record of
fanning 141 times in a season. He
also lead AL second sackers in
errors, which helps explain why in
later years he would have this "Oh
crap, here comes another ground
ball" expression on his face, as
displayed on this 1966 card. Yet
somehow Wood managed to place
sixth in the '61 AL Rookie of the Year
voting, losing to a forgettable Don
Schwall who won 15 games for the
Red Sox.
We also note that Wood possessed
speed, as the infielder swiped
enough bases in his first three major
league campaigns to finish third in
the junior circuit in each season
(1961-63). Later in his career,
somehow the free-swinger would
have a degree of success as a
pinch-hitter, as he hit .360 off the
bench in 1965 according to this card.
And now I know about Jake Wood as
my life moves closer to being
complete.
(9/19/09)
heard of Jake Wood until I saw this
card. Having been ensconced in
baseball for close to 50 years, not
many names escape me--- until now.
Yes, there was a Jake Wood. He was
the Tigers starting second baseman
in the early 1960s, taking over for
Frank Bolling, who yes, I have heard
of. After holding down the keystone
sack for three seasons during a
period of mild prosperity for the
Tigers, Wood was replaced by Jerry
Lumpe, who I have also heard of.
An accomplished minor league hitter,
who hit .300 at every stop whether it
be in Durham, Knoxville or Fox Cities
(wherever they are); Wood would
transform himself into a .250 hitter in
the major leagues.
He burst onto the scene in 1961 to
lead the American League in triples
with 14. While waiting for a ball he
could shoot into the cavernous Tiger
Stadium gaps, Wood would establish
a then-major league record of
fanning 141 times in a season. He
also lead AL second sackers in
errors, which helps explain why in
later years he would have this "Oh
crap, here comes another ground
ball" expression on his face, as
displayed on this 1966 card. Yet
somehow Wood managed to place
sixth in the '61 AL Rookie of the Year
voting, losing to a forgettable Don
Schwall who won 15 games for the
Red Sox.
We also note that Wood possessed
speed, as the infielder swiped
enough bases in his first three major
league campaigns to finish third in
the junior circuit in each season
(1961-63). Later in his career,
somehow the free-swinger would
have a degree of success as a
pinch-hitter, as he hit .360 off the
bench in 1965 according to this card.
And now I know about Jake Wood as
my life moves closer to being
complete.
(9/19/09)
