Books and articles about George Selkirk

Canadian George Selkirk played eight years in the minors before being called upon to replace Babe Ruth as the Yankees' right fielder in 1935, taking Ruth's number 3. While he could not come close to Ruth's home run output (he hit 21 at his best in 1939), he batted better than .300 in five of his first six seasons. He was a valuable part of Joe McCarthy's dynasty, playing for six Yankee pennant winners and five world champions from 1936 through 1942. In 1936 he was one-third of an all-.300 outfield with Joe DiMaggio and Jake Powell. A patient hitter, four times he drew two walks in an inning, and he walked 103 times in 1939. Selkirk hit five home runs in four consecutive games in 1939, and drove in more than 100 runs in 1936 and 1939.

RELATED LINKS Book Excerpts » "Tommy Henrich ended a long apprenticeship and replaced George Selkirk in the outfield": Dick Johnson and Glenn Stout Greatest Teams » 1939 Yankees Ask The Experts » Who wore numbers 1, 3, 6, and 9 for the 1936 New York Yankees? » Who replaced Babe Ruth in right field for the Yankees? Around the Web » George Selkirk from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Selkirk was given the nickname Twinkletoes by his teammates at Newark (International League) because he ran with his weight on the balls of his feet. He served in the WWII Navy, managed in the minors, and was a minor league coordinator for the A's and Orioles. In 1962 he became the Senators' GM, and later added the title of vice-president. He returned to the Yankees as a scout in 1970. (GB)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 24, 1934: Yankee CF Earle Combs crashes into the wall at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis and suffers a fractured skull. New York calls up George Selkirk but learns he broke his arm the same day playing for Newark. » June 1, 1935: At Yankee Stadium, the Bombers hit a record six solo home runs in beating Boston, 7–2. Bill Dickey 2, Frank Crosetti, Ben Chapman, George Selkirk, and Red Rolfe are the sluggers. All the Sox scoring comes on a two-run homer by pitcher Mel Almedo. » July 1, 1935: Yankees OF George Selkirk suggests a cinder path, 6 feet wide, be installed in the outfield so a player knows when he is nearing the wall. » August 10, 1935: George Selkirk drives in eight runs, one short of Jimmie Foxx's AL record, with two HRs and a single. » June 7, 1936: George Selkirk's HR in the 16th gives Red Ruffing a 5-4 win over Oral Hildebrand of the Indians. Ruffing has three hits, including a HR. There are no strikeouts in the long game. » September 30, 1936: In the WS opener, Carl Hubbell scatters 7 hits and limits the Yankees to a solo HR by George Selkirk. The Giants take a decisive 6-1 win. » May 10, 1937: Monte Pearson pitches a one hitter in stopping the White Sox, 6–0. Joe DiMaggio hits his 1st two homers of the year and George Selkirk his 5th for NY. Chicago's only hit is a one-out first inning single by Larry Rosenthal, who was erased on a DP. » May 28, 1939: Robert Joyce, who gave up two home runs to New York's George Selkirk yesterday, relieves for the A's. Selkirk hits two more home runs off Joyce, giving him four home runs in four at bats against the same pitcher in two successive games. Yankees win, 9–5. The Yanks release vet Wes Ferrell, who never came back after arm surgery over the winter. Ferrell will appear with the Dodgers in '40 and the Braves in 1941. » May 28, 1941: The New York Yankees edge the Washington Senators, 6–5, before 25,000 in the first night game at Griffith Stadium. George Selkirk twinkles with a pinch grand slam, and Joe DiMaggio triples against Sid Hudson.