Al Wingo
Encyclopedia
Absalom Holbrook Wingo nicknamed "Red" http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=wingoal01, was an outfielder
for the Philadelphia Athletics (1919) and Detroit Tigers
(1924–28).
Born in Norcross, Georgia
, Wingo attended Oglethorpe University
where he played for the "Stormy Petrels" -- the nickname of the Oglethorpe team. http://www.baseball-reference.com/schools/oglethrpga.shtml
Wingo's older brother Ivey Wingo
reached the Major Leagues in 1911 and became a fixture for the Cardinals and Reds in 17 seasons. Al Wingo got his first shot at the majors in 1919, where he played 15 games for the Philadelphia Athletics. Brought up at the end of the 1919 season, Wingo hit .305, but did not play another game in the Major Leagues for five years.
He was later picked up by the Detroit Tigers
, playing 5 seasons in the Detroit outfield. Wingo had only two seasons, 1925 and 1926, where he played in more than 90 games.
In 1925, Wingo played in 130 games and hit .370 -5th best in the American League, trailing Detroit's other starting outfielders, Harry Heilmann
(who won the batting championship with a .393 average) and Ty Cobb
(who hit .378 in 1925). This was the only time in MLB history that every member of an outfield hit .370 or better. Wingo was also among the AL leaders in 1925 with a .456 on base percentage (5th in the AL), an OPS
of .938 (8th best), and 104 runs scored (9th best). At the end of the season, he came in 12th in the American League Most Valuable Player voting.
Wingo's production dropped off dramatically in 1926, with a .282 batting average in 108 games. Wingo never equalled his 1925 performance, finishing his career batting .234 in 1927 and .285 in 1928. At the end of the 1927 season, the Tigers traded Wingo to San Francisco of the Pacific Coast League
for Roy Johnson
.
In 6 seasons, Wingo played in 493 Games, scored 224 Runs, collected 409 hits (including 115 extra base hits), 191 RBIs, and 211 bases on balls. Boosted by his 1925 season, Wingo had a career .308 batting average, with a .404 on base percentage and a .423 slugging percentage.
He died in a road accident in Detroit, Michigan
in 1964 at age 66.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Philadelphia Athletics (1919) and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1924–28).
Born in Norcross, Georgia
Norcross, Georgia
As of 2010 Norcross had a population of 9,116. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 40.8% white , 19.8% black or African American , 0.7% Native American, 2.1% Asian Indian, 10.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 21.5% from some other race and 4.3% reporting two or more races...
, Wingo attended Oglethorpe University
Oglethorpe University
Oglethorpe University is a private liberal arts college in Brookhaven, Georgia, an inner suburb of Atlanta. It was chartered in 1835 and named after James Edward Oglethorpe, the state's founder.-History:...
where he played for the "Stormy Petrels" -- the nickname of the Oglethorpe team. http://www.baseball-reference.com/schools/oglethrpga.shtml
Wingo's older brother Ivey Wingo
Ivey Wingo
Ivey Brown Wingo was a Major League Baseball catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds. Wingo spent the first four years of his career with the Cardinals and last thirteen years with the Reds....
reached the Major Leagues in 1911 and became a fixture for the Cardinals and Reds in 17 seasons. Al Wingo got his first shot at the majors in 1919, where he played 15 games for the Philadelphia Athletics. Brought up at the end of the 1919 season, Wingo hit .305, but did not play another game in the Major Leagues for five years.
He was later picked up by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, playing 5 seasons in the Detroit outfield. Wingo had only two seasons, 1925 and 1926, where he played in more than 90 games.
In 1925, Wingo played in 130 games and hit .370 -5th best in the American League, trailing Detroit's other starting outfielders, Harry Heilmann
Harry Heilmann
Harry Edwin Heilmann , nicknamed “Slug,” was a Major League Baseball player who played 17 seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952.Heilmann was a line drive hitter who won four American League batting crowns: in 1921, 1923, 1925 and...
(who won the batting championship with a .393 average) and Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
(who hit .378 in 1925). This was the only time in MLB history that every member of an outfield hit .370 or better. Wingo was also among the AL leaders in 1925 with a .456 on base percentage (5th in the AL), an OPS
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
of .938 (8th best), and 104 runs scored (9th best). At the end of the season, he came in 12th in the American League Most Valuable Player voting.
Wingo's production dropped off dramatically in 1926, with a .282 batting average in 108 games. Wingo never equalled his 1925 performance, finishing his career batting .234 in 1927 and .285 in 1928. At the end of the 1927 season, the Tigers traded Wingo to San Francisco of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
for Roy Johnson
Roy Johnson
Roy Cleveland Johnson was a left fielder/right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees and Boston Bees . A native of Pryor, Oklahoma, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
.
In 6 seasons, Wingo played in 493 Games, scored 224 Runs, collected 409 hits (including 115 extra base hits), 191 RBIs, and 211 bases on balls. Boosted by his 1925 season, Wingo had a career .308 batting average, with a .404 on base percentage and a .423 slugging percentage.
He died in a road accident in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
in 1964 at age 66.
External links
- Al Wingo Photograph: (http://www.thedeadballera.com/Photos/WingoAl_photo.html)