Earl Webb
From SoSH
| Born: | September 17, 1897 |
| Birthplace: | Bon Air, Tennessee |
| Hometown: | |
| Height: | 6' 1" |
| Weight: | 185 lbs |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Right |
| Drafted: | |
| College: | |
| High School: | |
| Other Teams: | New York Giants 1925 Chicago Cubs 1927-1928 Detroit Tigers 1932-1933 Chicago White Sox 1933 |
| Years with Boston: | 1930 - 1932 |
Contents |
Overall Career
William Earl Webb (September 17, 1897 - May 23, 1965), an outfielder and first baseman, came up through the New York Giants system, though his first regular major league job came with the Cubs in 1927. He made his major league debut on August 13, 1925 and joined the Red Sox in 1931.
After having a good year in 1927, Webb played poorly in 1928 and did not see major league action again until 1930, when he appeared with the Red Sox. In 1930, Webb had a very good year, posting an OPS over .900 for the first time in his career.
Webb had perhaps his best year statistically in 1932. However, around the middle of the season, Webb realized that he had a chance to break the record for most doubles in a season, held at the time by George Burns (who had hit 64 in 1926). For the last two months of the season, Earl did nothing else at the plate except attempt to hit doubles; he would often stop at second on sure triples and would routinely (and often unsuccessfully) attempt to stretch singles into doubles. Webb broke the record in late September and ended the season with 67, a record which still stands.
After his record-breaking season, Webb declined rapidly; a fall in batting average, combined with a transformation from a doubles hitter to a singles hitter, spelled the end for Earl. After playing for three teams (the Red Sox, Tigers, and White Sox) in the next two years, Webb retired at the end of the 1933 season. He played his final game on October 1, 1933, and he died on May 23, 1965 in Jamestown, TN.
Moment in the Sun
- Webb holds the record for doubles in a season with 67
Awards
- Finished 6th in the AL MVP voting in 1931
Transactions
- August 8, 1925: Traded by Toledo (American Association) to the New York Giants for Pip Koehler (PTBNL) and Hack Wilson.
- December 12, 1925: Sent by the New York Giants as a PTBNL, to Louisville (American Association) for Ty Tyson.
- October 7, 1929: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds from the Chicago Cubs in the 1929 rule V draft.
- April 4, 1930: Selected off waivers by the Washington Senators from the Cincinnati Reds.
- April 26, 1930: Traded by the Washington Senators to the Boston Red Sox for Bill Barrett.
- June 12, 1932: Traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Detroit Tigers for Dale Alexander and Roy Johnson.
- May 9, 1933: Selected off waivers by the Chicago White Sox from the Detroit Tigers.
External Links
- Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
