Books and articles about Willie Kamm

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After two years of stopgap at third base, for the 1923 season, the White Sox found Willie Kamm to replace the banished Buck Weaver. He cost them $100,000, then the highest price ever paid for a rookie. Kamm never had Weaver's flair, but he was a more polished third baseman. He had exceptional hands and good instincts, and got his throws away quickly. He led his league in fielding eight times in a 13-year career. He was also adept at the hidden-ball play, claiming success once or twice a season. Kamm attributed his high number of fielding chances to canny White Sox pitchers Ted Lyons and Red Faber; Lyons's low curves and Faber's spitballs induced hitters to top the ball, often to third. Kamm was not as successful as a hitter, although he had a reputation for coming through in the clutch. In 1931 he was sent to Cleveland for first baseman Lew Fonseca. In 1936-37 he managed the San Francisco Missions (Pacific Coast League). Although his highest baseball salary was $13,500, he retired in comfort, having survived the 1929 crash to make a substantial gain in the stock market. (ADS)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » April 18, 1922: Willie Kamm makes his debut for the White Sox in a 6–5 loss at Cleveland. He hits a double and handles two chances afield. The first $100,000 priced minor league player (bought from the San Francisco Seals), Kamm will be voted by Chicago fans the all-time White Sox 3B. » May 7, 1923: Tigers 3B Bob Jones ties an American League record with nine assists; Willie Kamm will match it for the White Sox on September 30th. » May 17, 1931: Willie Kamm, star White Sox 3B, is traded to Cleveland for Lew Fonseca, who will manage Chicago next season. » August 2, 1934: Walter Johnson is hospitalized with pleurisy, and Willie Kamm takes over as interim Cleveland manager. » May 23, 1935: Cleveland has an internal problem between manager Walter Johnson and two veterans, 3B Willie Kamm and Glenn Myatt. Judge Landis refuses to intervene, and Kamm is eventually made a scout while Myatt is released. Johnson continues his shaky tenure, which will not last the season.