Stan Wentzel
Encyclopedia
Stanley Aaron Wentzel was an American
professional baseball
player. A longtime minor league
outfielder and, later, a manager
, Wentzel's only stint in Major League Baseball
came at the end of the season, when he appeared in four games in centerfield
for the Boston Braves
. The 28-year-old rookie
was a native of Lorane, Pennsylvania
. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighed 200 pounds (90.7 kg).
Wentzel is one of many ball players who only appeared in the Major Leagues during the World War II
period. After batting
.321 with the Indianapolis Indians
of the AA (then the minors' top level) American Association
, he was called up by Boston and started four games for the Braves in the last week of the season, all against the New York Giants
. He got only four hits
in 19 at bats (.211), but had six runs batted in. He also scored three runs
. In the field, Wentzel recorded eight putouts with no errors
.
Wentzel returned to Indianapolis for and after that season, on September 30, he was included in a multiplayer trade that sent him to the Pittsburgh Pirates
with future Hall of Fame second baseman
Billy Herman
, pitcher
Elmer Singleton
and infielder
Whitey Wietelmann
for third baseman
Bob Elliott
and catcher
Hank Camelli
. Herman was promptly named playing manager of the 1947 Pirates
, but he was aghast at the cost the Pirates had paid for him. "Why, they've gone and traded the whole team on me," he said. Elliott would win the National League Most Valuable Player award and lead Boston to the 1948 National League pennant
. Herman's 1947 Pirates lost 92 games and finished tied for seventh in the NL, and he resigned before the season's final game.
Wentzel never appeared in a game for the Pirates, but he played and managed in the Pittsburgh farm system through 1958. He died at the age of 74 in St. Lawrence, Pennsylvania
.
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. A longtime minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
outfielder and, later, a 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...
, Wentzel's only stint 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...
came at the end of the season, when he appeared in four games in centerfield
Centerfield
Centerfield is an album by musician John Fogerty, released in 1985. It was his most popular post-Creedence album, containing the hit singles "The Old Man Down the Road", "Rock and Roll Girls" and the title track "Centerfield". Fogerty played all the instruments on this album himself, thanks to...
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....
. The 28-year-old rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
was a native of Lorane, Pennsylvania
Lorane, Pennsylvania
Lorane is a census-designated place in Exeter Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,994 at the 2000 census...
. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighed 200 pounds (90.7 kg).
Wentzel is one of many ball players who only appeared in the Major Leagues during the 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...
period. After batting
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 :...
.321 with the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
of the AA (then the minors' top level) 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 was called up by Boston and started four games for the Braves in the last week of the season, all against the New York Giants
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....
. He got only four hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 19 at bats (.211), but had six runs batted in. He also scored three runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
. In the field, Wentzel recorded eight putouts with no errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
.
Wentzel returned to Indianapolis for and after that season, on September 30, he was included in a multiplayer trade that sent him to 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...
with future Hall of Fame second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Billy Herman
Billy Herman
William Jennings Bryan "Billy" Herman was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball during the 1930s and 1940s. He was known for his stellar defense and consistent batting...
, 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...
Elmer Singleton
Elmer Singleton
Bert Elmer Singleton , was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or part of seven seasons in the majors, between and , for the Boston Braves, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Washington Senators...
and infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
Whitey Wietelmann
Whitey Wietelmann
William Frederick "Whitey" Wietelmann was an American professional baseball player who played infielder in the Major Leagues from - for the Boston Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates...
for third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Bob Elliott
Bob Elliott (baseball)
Robert Irving Elliott was an American third baseman and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Braves. He contributed some of the happiest memories to the Braves' final Boston years, winning the 1947 National League Most Valuable...
and catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Hank Camelli
Hank Camelli
Henry Richard Camelli was an American professional baseball player. A catcher, he appeared in Major League Baseball between and for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Braves...
. Herman was promptly named playing manager of the 1947 Pirates
1947 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Offseason :* October 2, 1946: Steve Nagy was purchased by the Pirates from the Brooklyn Dodgers.* Prior to 1947 season **Joe Muir was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates....
, but he was aghast at the cost the Pirates had paid for him. "Why, they've gone and traded the whole team on me," he said. Elliott would win the National League Most Valuable Player award and lead Boston to the 1948 National League pennant
1948 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves *All-Star Game, July 13 at Sportsman's Park: American League, 5-2-Other champions:*College World Series: USC*Little League World Series: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania...
. Herman's 1947 Pirates lost 92 games and finished tied for seventh in the NL, and he resigned before the season's final game.
Wentzel never appeared in a game for the Pirates, but he played and managed in the Pittsburgh farm system through 1958. He died at the age of 74 in St. Lawrence, Pennsylvania
St. Lawrence, Pennsylvania
St. Lawrence is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,812 at the 2000 census.-Geography:St. Lawrence is located at ....
.