Bud Stewart
Encyclopedia
Edward Perry "Bud" Stewart (June 15, 1916 — June 21, 2000) was an American
professional baseball
player. He had a nine-season (1941–1942; 1948–1954) career in Major League Baseball
as an outfielder
and pinch hitter
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
, New York Yankees
, Washington Senators
and Chicago White Sox
. Stewart batted left-handed
, threw right-handed, stood 5 in 11 in (1.8 m) tall and weiged 160 pounds (72.6 kg).
Stewart was born in Sacramento, California
, and attended UCLA from 1934–1937. In the summer of 1937, he signed with the San Diego Padres
of the Pacific Coast League
. He was a teammate of Ted Williams
on the 1937 Padres, who won the 1937 PCL Championship. While Williams moved on to a Hall of Fame career in the Majors, Stewart remained with the Padres until October 1, 1940, when he was purchased by the Pirates. He debuted for manager
Frankie Frisch
's 1941 Pirates on April 19.
A speedy and versatile defensive outfielder, Stewart also led the National League
in pinch hits
, with ten in 1941. He remained with the Pirates until June 1942, when he enlisted in the United States Army
, serving until December 1945. Stewart then spent 1946 with the Hollywood Stars
of the PCL until March 1947, when he was traded to the Yankee organization. After spending 1947 with the Kansas City Blues
of the American Association
, he began the 1948 season with the Yankees as a teammate of Joe DiMaggio
. But on May 13, Stewart was traded to the Washington Senators, where he placed second in the American League
in triples
(13) in 1948. On December 11, 1950, Stewart was traded to the White Sox, and ended his career as a pinch hitter, retiring on June 9, 1954.
During and after his playing days, he was a physical education instructor in Hawthorne, California
, and appeared as an extra
in several Hollywood films. A story, told by Stewart himself, had him facing legendary pitcher
Satchel Paige
in a 1948 game — and hitting a triple through Paige's legs.
Bud Stewart died in Palo Alto, California
, at the age of 84.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He had a nine-season (1941–1942; 1948–1954) career in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
as an outfielder
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...
and pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. Stewart batted left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
, threw right-handed, stood 5 in 11 in (1.8 m) tall and weiged 160 pounds (72.6 kg).
Stewart was born in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, and attended UCLA from 1934–1937. In the summer of 1937, he signed with the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres (PCL)
The San Diego Padres were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1936 through 1968. The team that would eventually become the Padres was well traveled prior to moving to San Diego. It began its existence in 1903 as the Sacramento Solons, a charter member of the PCL...
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...
. He was a teammate of Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
on the 1937 Padres, who won the 1937 PCL Championship. While Williams moved on to a Hall of Fame career in the Majors, Stewart remained with the Padres until October 1, 1940, when he was purchased by the Pirates. He debuted for manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Frankie Frisch
Frankie Frisch
Francis “Frankie” Frisch , nicknamed the "Fordham Flash" or "The Old Flash", was a German American Major League Baseball player of the early twentieth century....
's 1941 Pirates on April 19.
A speedy and versatile defensive outfielder, Stewart also led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in pinch hits
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
, with ten in 1941. He remained with the Pirates until June 1942, when he enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, serving until December 1945. Stewart then spent 1946 with the Hollywood Stars
Hollywood Stars
The Hollywood Stars were a minor league baseball team that played in the Pacific Coast League during the early and mid 20th century. They were the arch-rivals of the other Los Angeles based PCL team, the Los Angeles Angels.-Hollywood Stars :...
of the PCL until March 1947, when he was traded to the Yankee organization. After spending 1947 with the Kansas City Blues
Kansas City Blues
Kansas City Blues may refer to::*Kansas City Blues , a 1902-1954 minor-league baseball team*Kansas City Blues , a Rugby Super League team founded in 1966*Kansas City Blues , a minor-league hockey team...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
, he began the 1948 season with the Yankees as a teammate of Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
. But on May 13, Stewart was traded to the Washington Senators, where he placed second in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(13) in 1948. On December 11, 1950, Stewart was traded to the White Sox, and ended his career as a pinch hitter, retiring on June 9, 1954.
During and after his playing days, he was a physical education instructor in Hawthorne, California
Hawthorne, California
Hawthorne is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California. The city at the 2010 census had a population of 84,293, up from 84,112 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, and appeared as an extra
Extra (actor)
A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background...
in several Hollywood films. A story, told by Stewart himself, had him facing legendary pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Satchel Paige
Satchel Paige
Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige was an American baseball player whose pitching in the Negro leagues and in Major League Baseball made him a legend in his own lifetime...
in a 1948 game — and hitting a triple through Paige's legs.
Bud Stewart died in Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
, at the age of 84.