Earl Torgeson
Encyclopedia
Clifford Earl Torgeson was an American
, left-handed hitting and throwing first baseman in Major League Baseball
. He had a 15-year career (1947–1961), playing for the Boston Braves
(1947–1952) and Philadelphia Phillies
(1953–1955), both of the National League
, and the Detroit Tigers
(1956–1957), Chicago White Sox
(1957–1961) and New York Yankees
(1961) of the American League
.
He was known by his middle name, Earl, and his nickname was the “The Earl of Snohomish,” a nickname originally owned by Hall of Famer Earl Averill, also of Snohomish, Washington.
His best batting average for a full season was .290 and his highest home run total was 24. His career .OBP was .385 (the league average for the years he played is .339) and in , when he led the National League
in runs with 120, his .OBP was .412. Most years that he played over 100 games, he was in the league's top 10 for drawing walks. His peak years for drawing walks were and , when he drew 119 and 102, respectively. On April 22, 1959, during an inning against Kansas City where his White Sox scored 11 runs on only one hit, fittingly, Earl chipped in with a pinch-hit walk.
In , the only two National League
regulars at first base to outpace him in home run totals were Ted Kluszewski
, with 25 home runs, and Gil Hodges
, with 32 home runs. Torgeson’s 23 home runs that year were far ahead of the other first basemen in the league. Eddie Waitkus
of league champion Philadelphia
had 2; Tookie Gilbert
of New York
had 4; Preston Ward
of Chicago
had 6; Johnny Hopp
of Pittsburgh
had 8; and Rocky Nelson
of St. Louis
had only 1.
Earl was a regular player for 9 years, and he would have been a regular in 1949 if not for an injury, then he played another five years as a role player. As a pinchitter, as per earlier in his career, his batting eye was key to his value. Even when his hits were few, he still got on base. In , for example, playing out the string for the New York Yankees
, he hit only .111 in 18 at-bats, but drew 8 walks for a .385 .OBP.
Torgeson also deserves some mention for his basestealing. Although his highest total for a year was only 20, it came during a period in baseball when almost no one stole bases, especially not first basemen. For the short period (1950–1952) that they had Sam Jethroe
(who won basestealing crowns in and ) and Torgeson, the Braves
had the best basestealing tandem in baseball. In , with a combined total of 50 steals, the Jethroe-Torgeson duo stole more bases than every other team in the National League
, except for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, left-handed hitting and throwing first baseman 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...
. He had a 15-year career (1947–1961), playing for the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(1947–1952) and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1953–1955), both of 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...
, and 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...
(1956–1957), 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...
(1957–1961) and 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...
(1961) of 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...
.
He was known by his middle name, Earl, and his nickname was the “The Earl of Snohomish,” a nickname originally owned by Hall of Famer Earl Averill, also of Snohomish, Washington.
His best batting average for a full season was .290 and his highest home run total was 24. His career .OBP was .385 (the league average for the years he played is .339) and in , when he 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 runs with 120, his .OBP was .412. Most years that he played over 100 games, he was in the league's top 10 for drawing walks. His peak years for drawing walks were and , when he drew 119 and 102, respectively. On April 22, 1959, during an inning against Kansas City where his White Sox scored 11 runs on only one hit, fittingly, Earl chipped in with a pinch-hit walk.
In , the only two 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...
regulars at first base to outpace him in home run totals were Ted Kluszewski
Ted Kluszewski
Theodore Bernard "Big Klu" Kluszewski was a Major League first baseman from 1947 through 1961. He batted and threw left-handed.-Career:...
, with 25 home runs, and Gil Hodges
Gil Hodges
Gilbert Ray Hodges was an American Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played in 1943 and from 1947–63, spending most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
, with 32 home runs. Torgeson’s 23 home runs that year were far ahead of the other first basemen in the league. Eddie Waitkus
Eddie Waitkus
Edward Stephen Waitkus was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who had an 11-year career . He played for the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies in the National League and for the Baltimore Orioles of the American League...
of league champion Philadelphia
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
had 2; Tookie Gilbert
Tookie Gilbert
Harold Joseph "Tookie" Gilbert was an American first baseman who had two trials with the New York Giants of Major League Baseball. He was the son of former major league outfielder and longtime minor league manager Larry Gilbert, and the brother of Charlie Gilbert, also an outfielder...
of New York
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
had 4; Preston Ward
Preston Ward
Preston Meyer Ward was a lefty-hitting, righty-throwing first baseman/outfielder/third baseman, who played 9 seasons in the major leagues, playing in both the National and American Leagues. In the National League, he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates...
of Chicago
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
had 6; Johnny Hopp
Johnny Hopp
John Leonard Hopp was a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He was an All-Star in 1946....
of Pittsburgh
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...
had 8; and Rocky Nelson
Rocky Nelson
Glenn Richard "Rocky" Nelson was a first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals , Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago White Sox , Brooklyn Dodgers and Cleveland Indians .A native of Portsmouth, Ohio, Nelson batted and threw left-handed...
of St. Louis
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
had only 1.
Earl was a regular player for 9 years, and he would have been a regular in 1949 if not for an injury, then he played another five years as a role player. As a pinchitter, as per earlier in his career, his batting eye was key to his value. Even when his hits were few, he still got on base. In , for example, playing out the string for the 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...
, he hit only .111 in 18 at-bats, but drew 8 walks for a .385 .OBP.
Torgeson also deserves some mention for his basestealing. Although his highest total for a year was only 20, it came during a period in baseball when almost no one stole bases, especially not first basemen. For the short period (1950–1952) that they had Sam Jethroe
Sam Jethroe
Samuel Jethroe, nicknamed "The Jet" , was an American center fielder in Negro League and Major League Baseball. With the Cincinnati & Cleveland Buckeyes he won a pair of batting titles, hit .340 over seven seasons from 1942 to 1948, and helped the team to two pennants and the Negro League World...
(who won basestealing crowns in and ) and Torgeson, the Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
had the best basestealing tandem in baseball. In , with a combined total of 50 steals, the Jethroe-Torgeson duo stole more bases than every other team in 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...
, except for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
External links
- The Deadball Era
- Earl Torgeson at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...