Books and articles about Dick Wakefield

The 6'4", lefthanded-hitting Wakefield was paid a then-record $52,000 bonus to sign with the Tigers off the University of Michigan campus in 1941. He lived up to expectations - but only for a season and a half. As a rookie in 1943 he led the AL with 200 hits, 38 doubles, and 633 at bats; his .316 average was second only to Luke Appling's .328. When the season ended, he entered the Navy as an aviation cadet, but the program was soon discontinued, and he returned in mid-1944 to bat .355 in 78 games.

RELATED LINKS Around the Web » Dick Wakefield from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

After naval duties forced Wakefield to miss the 1945 season, he came back to the Tigers in 1946 with his skills diminished, and with what some felt was a lackadaisical attitude. He missed part of the season with a broken arm. He was traded to the Yankees in December 1949 but balked at a cut in pay and was sent down and later released. He tried comebacks with the Indians and Giants, playing three games with New York in 1952 when Monte Irvin was permanently injured and Willie Mays was in the army. His father, Howard Wakefield, was a catcher with the Indians and Senators in 1905-07. (CTA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 13, 1944: A .300 hitter as a rookie for the Tigers in 1943, Dick Wakefield finishes Navy air training and then is released from the service pending assignment. He rejoins the Tigers and will hit .355 the rest of the season, pushing Detroit near the flag despite the loss of 12 of its first 13 home games. In the first week after the All-Star Game, Wakefield homers twice, and goes 9-for-24. » April 23, 1947: At Detroit, the Tigers use consecutive solo homers in the 8th from Roy Cullenbine, Dick Wakefield, and Hoot Evers to beat the White Sox, 7–4. Cullenbine adds an earlier homer and Eddie Lake adds a 5th Bengal blast to back Fred Hutchinson's win over Eddie Lopat. » May 9, 1949: At Detroit, the Tigers set back the first-place Yankees, 4–1, behind the five-hit pitching of Ted Gray. Vic Raschi also allows just five hits, including a homer by Dick Wakefield, in taking the loss. » December 17, 1949: The Yankees and Detroit swap first baseman, the Tigers getting Dick Kryhoski while New York takes Dick Wakefield, signed by the Tigers in 1941 with a $52,000 bonus. » April 28, 1950: The Yankees sell OF Dick Wakefield to the White Sox for OF John Ostrowski and cash. Wakefield, a hot hitter in 1943 who has since lost his sparkle, refuses to report unless the Sox restore a $5,500 salary cut inflicted by the Yankees. Wakefield says the Yankees talked him into signing for $17,500 with the "guarantee" that he'd earn $5,000 as a World Series share. New York refuses to return Ostrowski and the Sox refuse Wakefield's request. Happy Chandler rules in favor of the Sox and Ostrowski and Wakefield return to their teams. » May 11, 1950: Commissioner Happy Chandler voids the Dick Wakefield deal between the Yankees and the White Sox. The Yanks immediately suspend the outfielder. » May 17, 1950: The Yankees reinstate Dick Wakefield, but he is not asked to rejoin the team. » May 25, 1950: The Oakland Oaks of the PCL buy recalcitrant OF Dick Wakefield from the Yanks. New York will not allow him to buy out his own contract.