Eddie Joost
Encyclopedia
Edwin David Joost was a shortstop
and manager
in American
Major League Baseball
. In 1954, Joost became the third and last manager in the 54-year history of the Philadelphia Athletics
. Under Joost, the A's finished last in the American League
and lost over 100 games. After that season, they relocated to Kansas City
.
, Boston Braves
, Athletics and Boston Red Sox
, Joost smashed 134 home run
s, with a batting average
of .239. In 1943, as a Boston Brave, Joost batted .185 in 421 at bats.
His poor contact hitting notwithstanding, Joost was a central figure in the brief revival of the Athletics in the late 1940s. For three seasons — 1947 through 1949 — the A's, after over a decade of futility, played over .500 baseball. Joost was their regular shortstop and one of the team's leaders. He twice hit over 20 home runs, and batted .289 in 1951.
Joost was an integral part of an Athletics’ infield that registered the still-unmatched feat of turning more than 200 doubles plays in three consecutive seasons, between 1949-51. The Athletics’ 1949 season mark of 217 double plays remains the all-time best in Major League history.
One factor contributing to Joost's performance with the A's was his decision to wear eyeglasses on the field, which he had avoided earlier in his career because of the negative stereotype of athletes with eyewear at the time. After speaking with A's manager Connie Mack
, Joost began to wear his glasses while playing — and improved his hitting.
Despite his low lifetime batting average, Joost had excellent patience at the plate, resulting in six straight seasons of 100 walks
or more, and a career on-base percentage of .361. In 1949, he had an OBP of .429, hitting 23 home runs, scoring 128 runs and walking 149 times.
But the Athletics' resurgence after World War II
was brief. Beset by a poor farm system and limited finances, the Mackmen could not compete with the Yankees
, Indians
and Red Sox
. Mack, the team's Hall of Fame patriarch and manager, retired at age 87 after the 1950 campaign. Veteran Jimmie Dykes took the helm from 1951–53, and — thanks to the American League MVP
, pitcher
Bobby Shantz
— sparked one last revival in 1952. But the A's fell to seventh in 1953, prompting Dykes' departure, and Joost, who had appeared in only 51 games in '53, became player-manager in '54. He batted .362 in 47 at bats, but the team went 51-103 (.331) and Joost was fired after the season ended.
Joost continued his playing career as a utility infielder for the Red Sox in 1955, and in 1956 briefly managed the Pacific Coast League
's San Francisco Seals, then the top Bosox farm club, in his hometown before leaving the game.
When the Oakland Athletics played the Philadelphia Phillies
for the first time in interleague play in June 2003
at Veterans Stadium
, the Phillies invited former-Philadelphia A's Joost and Gus Zernial
to the games. When the Phillies played the Athletics in Oakland in June 2005, the A's invited Joost to throw out the first pitch before the series opening game on June 17, 2005.
Joost was the last living member of the Reds team that won the 1940 World Series
. At the time of his death, no living player had played on an earlier World Series-winning team.
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
and 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...
in American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
. In 1954, Joost became the third and last manager in the 54-year history of the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. Under Joost, the A's finished last 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...
and lost over 100 games. After that season, they relocated to Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
.
Career
An outstanding defensive player, the right-handed-hitting Joost hit for power but had trouble making contact. In a 17-year major league playing career (1936–37; 1939–43; 1945; 1947–55) for the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, 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....
, Athletics and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, Joost smashed 134 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, with a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .239. In 1943, as a Boston Brave, Joost batted .185 in 421 at bats.
His poor contact hitting notwithstanding, Joost was a central figure in the brief revival of the Athletics in the late 1940s. For three seasons — 1947 through 1949 — the A's, after over a decade of futility, played over .500 baseball. Joost was their regular shortstop and one of the team's leaders. He twice hit over 20 home runs, and batted .289 in 1951.
Joost was an integral part of an Athletics’ infield that registered the still-unmatched feat of turning more than 200 doubles plays in three consecutive seasons, between 1949-51. The Athletics’ 1949 season mark of 217 double plays remains the all-time best in Major League history.
One factor contributing to Joost's performance with the A's was his decision to wear eyeglasses on the field, which he had avoided earlier in his career because of the negative stereotype of athletes with eyewear at the time. After speaking with A's manager Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
, Joost began to wear his glasses while playing — and improved his hitting.
Despite his low lifetime batting average, Joost had excellent patience at the plate, resulting in six straight seasons of 100 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
or more, and a career on-base percentage of .361. In 1949, he had an OBP of .429, hitting 23 home runs, scoring 128 runs and walking 149 times.
But the Athletics' resurgence after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was brief. Beset by a poor farm system and limited finances, the Mackmen could not compete with the 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...
, Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
and Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Mack, the team's Hall of Fame patriarch and manager, retired at age 87 after the 1950 campaign. Veteran Jimmie Dykes took the helm from 1951–53, and — thanks to the American League MVP
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
, 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...
Bobby Shantz
Bobby Shantz
Robert Clayton Shantz was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics , Kansas City Athletics , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates , Houston Colt .45's , St...
— sparked one last revival in 1952. But the A's fell to seventh in 1953, prompting Dykes' departure, and Joost, who had appeared in only 51 games in '53, became player-manager in '54. He batted .362 in 47 at bats, but the team went 51-103 (.331) and Joost was fired after the season ended.
Joost continued his playing career as a utility infielder for the Red Sox in 1955, and in 1956 briefly managed 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...
's San Francisco Seals, then the top Bosox farm club, in his hometown before leaving the game.
When the Oakland Athletics played the 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...
for the first time in interleague play in June 2003
2003 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies season was the 121st season in the history of the franchise. The Phillies finished in third-place in the National League East, 15 games behind the Atlanta Braves, and five games behind the 2003 World Series champion Florida Marlins, who were the NL's wild-card winner...
at Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
, the Phillies invited former-Philadelphia A's Joost and Gus Zernial
Gus Zernial
Gus Edward Zernial was a Major League Baseball left-fielder and right-handed batter who played for the Chicago White Sox , Philadelphia Athletics , Kansas City Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
to the games. When the Phillies played the Athletics in Oakland in June 2005, the A's invited Joost to throw out the first pitch before the series opening game on June 17, 2005.
Joost was the last living member of the Reds team that won the 1940 World Series
1940 World Series
The 1940 World Series matched the Cincinnati Reds against the Detroit Tigers, with the Reds winning the Series in seven games for their second championship, their first since the scandal-tainted victory in...
. At the time of his death, no living player had played on an earlier World Series-winning team.
External links
- Baseball Library - profile and chronology
- Baseball Reference statistics and analysis
- Baseball Hall of Fame Legends interview, August 2008