Woodward signed with the Braves for a $50,000 bonus in 1963 and made it to the majors
to stay before the end of the year, mostly on the strength of his
glove. When in
1970 he hit his only homer, off Ron Reed of the Braves (his former team), Reds teammate
Wayne Granger said, "We've figured it out. It will take him 4,189 years to catch
Babe Ruth."
He was a utility man in the beginning, playing all four infield positions
in 1964 while batting .209, but by 1964 he was the Braves' regular second baseman,
batting .264. In 1965 he led NL second basemen in fielding average. Woodward was
acquired by the Reds in a big 1968 trade that included Clay Carroll, Tony Cloninger,
and Milt Pappas, and was expected to be their regular shortstop. Instead, he lost
the job twice to rookies, first to Darrel Chaney and then to Dave Concepcion.
In
1980, after two years as the Reds' minor league field coordinator, Woodward was named
their assistant general manager. From there, he went on to become the Yankees' general
manager in 1984 and the Mariners' GM in 1988. He retired in 1999 after 11 years in Seattle. Actress Joanne Woodward is his first cousin.
(SFS)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»June 11, 1968: The Reds send P Milt Pappas, pitchers Ted Davidson, and IF Bob Johnson to the Braves for pitchers Tony Cloninger and Clay Carroll and IF Woody Woodward. Davidson, who made 54 relief appearances in 1966, has never been the same since his estranged wife shot him in the stomach prior to the 1967 season.
»July 10, 1970:
Reds SS Woody Woodward goes deep for his first and only ML homer, off Ron Reed in Atlanta. It comes in his 684 ML game. It is too little as the Braves top the Reds, 11–9. The Reds take the nitecap, 3–1, scoring two runs when Pat Corrales hits a long drive that glances off the glove of Hank Aaron and over the fence for a home run. Pete Rose is 5-for-5, all singles.
»April 5, 1971:
In 45 degree weather, the Reds play their first opener at Riverfront Stadium, dropping a 7–4 decision to the Braves. The Reds make six errors, three by 3B Woody Woodward. The win goes to 6' 6" reliever Cecil Upshaw, who missed last season after almost losing the ring finger on his pitching hand. Upshaw was dunking a basketball and his hand got entangled in the net causing the injury.
»September 4, 1971: In Los Angeles, the Reds lose to the Dodgers, 2–1, and almost lose SS Woody Woodward. A 10-pound sack of flour dropped from a passing airplane, explodes 15 feet from where Woodward is positioned in the 9th inning.
»September 17, 1999:
Seattle GM Woody Woodward announces his retirement.
»September 22, 1999:
Mariners GM Woody Woodward announces his retirement. With more than a decade as GM, he had the longest tenure in the ML.
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