Billy Goodman was a good-hitting second baseman for the Red Sox from 1947 to 1957, leading the American League in 1950 with a .354 mark. While in the field, he had the habit of chewing on blades of grass between pitches. "He ate so much of the infield around second base, the ground had a curve in it," claims Mickey McDermott. "One time I asked him: `What do you do in the wintertime, farm yourself out?' His teeth were like a leprechaun's."

In 1950, the year he captured the American League batting title, Billy Goodman had no regular fielding position and was called the "one-man bench." In the days before the DH, Billy Goodman couldn't readily break into the strong Sox infield. His third full season with the Red Sox was 1950. That year, the Red Sox had Walt Dropo at first. He led the league with 144 RBI in his rookie year. Bobby Doerr was, at that point, a veteran seven-time All-Star second baseman who hit .294 and led the league in triples that year, tied with Sox center fielder Dom DiMaggio. Vern Stephens played short and played in his sixth All-Star Game in 1950. Stephens hit .300. Not wanting to be overshadowed by the rookie Dropo, Stephens also knocked in 144 runs to tie for the league lead. Johnny Pesky held down the hot corner and sported a .312 average. The outfield didn't offer many openings either. The outfielders were Dom DiMaggio (.328), Al Zarilla (.325) and Ted Williams (a disappointing .317, after breaking his elbow in the All-Star Game.)

So what could Goodman do? A true utility player, he fit in where he could, when he could, and amassed 150 hits in 424 at-bats, for a league-leading .354. Not bad for a guy who didn't have a steady position.

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