Books and articles about Billy Goodman

The versatile Goodman led the AL in batting with a .354 mark in 1950, one of five times he hit .300. He hit .290 or better 11 straight years (1948-58). But despite his steady hitting and versatile fielding, Goodman never quite achieved stardom.

RELATED LINKS » 1959: Team Scores 11 Runs in One Inning on One Hit Book Excerpts » Billy Goodman from Tales from the Red Sox Dugout Around the Web » Billy Goodman from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Starting out as the regular first baseman for the powerful 1948 Red Sox, he led AL first basemen in total chances per game in 1948 and in fielding in 1949 while hitting .298. Because the lefthanded batter had no home run power and was capable at almost every position, he moved aside to accommodate the arrival of slugging first baseman Walt Dropo in 1950. Goodman won his batting championship that season while playing the outfield and all four infield positions. He took over as the regular at second base in 1952 after Bobby Doerr retired, and he led AL second basemen in total chances per game. He kept the job through 1956, finishing third in the AL in batting in 1953 (.313) and second in walks in 1955 (99). After leading the league's second basemen in errors in 1956 and starting out batting .063 in 1957, he was traded to the Orioles for Mike Fornieles. From then on, he played mainly third base, backing up George Kell for a year and then moving on to the White Sox in 1958. He was a dependable reserve on the White Sox' 1959 pennant-winners. (WOR)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 29, 1948: The Red Sox rout the Tigers, 8–1, behind Jack Kramer's 10th straight win. Billy Goodman's grand slam, along with homers by Kramer and Bobby Doerr, pace the attack. The victory extends the Red Sox American League-lead to a half-game over the idle A's. » May 1, 1950: The Red Sox bring up slugger Walt Dropo from their Louisville farm club to replace the injured Billy Goodman at 1B. » June 4, 1952: Billy Goodman of the Red Sox goes 5-for-5 in a 13-11 slugfest with Cleveland. The Indians Larry Doby hits for the cycle. » May 8, 1953: After 13 straight losses to New York, the Red Sox win a dramatic 11-inning 2–1 thriller at Fenway. Billy Goodman's homer off starter Johnny Sain gives starter Hal Brown the win. Dick Gernert's 2nd inning home run is the other Boston score. In Boston's last win over New York, August 9, 1952, all the scores came on solo homers. » May 10, 1953: Vic Raschi makes his 1st relief appearance in two years, limiting the Red Sox to three hits in four innings, as the Yankees win, 7–4. Billy Goodman sustains a freak rib accident, which will keep him out of action for three weeks, when Jim Piersall picks him up and lugs him from the field to break up Goody's argument with umpire Jim Duffy. Del Wilber hits his 2nd consecutive pinch homer in the 8th; his first came on May 6th. » May 1, 1954: Red Sox IF Billy Goodman's single in the 6th spoils Virgil Trucks's bid for another no-hitter. Trucks, now with the White Sox, wins 3–0. » December 3, 1957: Al Lopez, who traded Larry Doby when he was managing, Cleveland, does it again in Chicago. The Orioles swap P Ray Moore, Billy Goodman, and OF Tito Francona to the White Sox for Doby, pitchers Jack Harshman and Russ Heman, and infielder Jim Marshall. » September 4, 1960: After a major-league record 798 consecutive games at 2B, the White Sox' Nellie Fox is hospitalized with a virus. Fox would have gone 1,072 straight games had manager Marty Marion not rested him on August 5, 1955. Billy Goodman replaces Fox as the Sox split a doubleheader with the Tigers, losing 6–4 before winning 5–4.