Wayne Terwilliger
Encyclopedia
Willard Wayne "Twig" Terwilliger (born June 27, 1925 in Clare, Michigan
) is a former second baseman
, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball
.
and Iwo Jima
, and had his tank knocked out at Saipan
. "We were hit and the tank bogged down,” he told The Sporting News on April 26, 1950. “We had to abandon the tank. Everybody scattered into the nearest fox holes. But at just about that time a Jap tank rolled up and began blasting away. I knew I had to get out of there, so I ran for the beach, zigzagging in and out with the tank chasing me. I'm sure I'd be lying out there somewhere now, if it hadn't been for one of our own tanks, which luckily showed up while I was doing all that broken field running. They knocked out the Jap tank."
Terwilliger was discharged in late 1945 and attended Western Michigan College
where he quickly became a star shortstop. As early as 1946, he was attracting attention from major league scouts and St Louis Browns’ scout Jack Fournier, was particularly keen to sign him.
. The Cubs assigned him to the Single-A Des Moines Bruins
of the Western League
where he finished the season. In 1949, Terwilliger was promoted to the AAA Los Angeles Angels
of the Pacific Coast League, where he batted .275 in 115 games, before being called up to the Cubs in August and playing in 36 games. Terwilliger spent the 1950 season as the Cubs' starting second baseman, hitting .242 with 10 home runs, 32 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. However, after getting off to a poor start to the 1951 season, Terwilliger was included in a trade that sent outfielder Andy Pafko
, pitcher Johnny Schmitz
, and catcher Rube Walker
to the Brooklyn Dodgers
for catcher Bruce Edwards (baseball)
, pitcher Joe Hatten
, outfielder Gene Hermanski
, and infielder Eddie Miksis
.
After spending the 1952 season with the AAA St. Paul Saints
, Terwilliger was claimed off waivers by the Washington Senators
following the 1952 season and spent the next two seasons as the Senators' second baseman. Prior to the start of the 1955 season, Terwilliger switched teams again after the New York Giants
purchased him from the Senators. He spent the 1955 and '56 seasons shuttling between New York and AAA Minneapolis
and the entire 1957 season at AAA. Following the 1957 season, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers
in a swap for fellow journeymen infielder Jack Dittmer
.
After spending 1958 with the Tigers' AAA Charleston Senators
, he was acquired by the Kansas City A's
from the Detroit Tigers in the December 1958 Rule 5 draft
. In 1959, Terwilliger saw his last large stretch of time in the majors, playing 74 games at second and shortstop for the A's. After starting the 1960 season with the A's, Terwilliger was unofficially traded to the New York Yankees
, a transaction that was common at the time between the two teams when the Yankees were accused of using the A's as a major league farm club and the two teams often seemed to have mutual rights to each others players, and played the rest of the season at AAA Richmond Virginians
before retiring as a full-time player.
. After taking the 1962 season off, Terwilliger would be hired by the Washington Senators
to manage their single-A team, the Wisconsin Rapids Senators
in the Midwest League
. He would spend the following six seasons managing in the Senators organization, the last two at AAA.
Under manager Ted Williams
, Terwilliger was the third-base coach of the Senators from 1969 to 1971 and of the Texas Rangers in their first season, 1972. Following the season, Terwilliger was let go by the Rangers, following Williams' retirement, and would manage the Houston Astros'
AA Columbus in 1973 and Texas' single-A Lynchberg Rangers in 1975 before spending the next four season away from baseball. In 1980, he was hired as the manager of Texas' AA Tulsa Drillers
. Terwilliger returned as a major league coach after being hired to Don Zimmer's
1981 Rangers staff and would stay with the team for four years. He would coach first for Zimmer, and then Darrell Johnson
, Doug Rader
, and Bobby Valentine
. In 1986, he was hired as first-base coach on Ray Miller's Minnesota Twins
staff. He would stay on with rookie manager Tom Kelly
, handling the job when the team won the World Series
in 1987
and 1991
before leaving following the 1994 season.
Staying in Minnesota, in 1995 Terwilliger returned the St. Paul Saints, this time as the manager of the team in the independent Northern League. He would remain with the team until 2002. In 2003, he would be named manager of the Fort Worth Cats
in the independent Central Baseball League
, and won the Central League championship. After retiring from managing following the end of the 2005 season, Terwilliger accepted the position as firstbase coach for the Cats, at the age of 81, and remains with team in the new American Association through the 2010 season.
Throughout his career, Terwilliger managed 12 minor-league teams and compiled a record of 1,224 wins and 1,089 losses. In 2006, Terwilliger's autobiography, Terwilliger Bunts One, was released.
Clare, Michigan
Clare is a city in Clare and Isabella counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located primarily in Clare County, the city had a population of 3,173 at the 2000 census....
) is a former 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...
, coach, and manager 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...
.
Early life
After growing up in Michigan, Terwilliger joined the Marines in 1943 following his 18th birthday and seved as a radioman on an amphibious tank in the Pacific Theater of World War II. While overseas, Corporal Terwilliger participated in the invasions of TinianTinian
Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.-Geography:Tinian is about 5 miles southwest of its sister island, Saipan, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel. It has a land area of 39 sq.mi....
and Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
, and had his tank knocked out at Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
. "We were hit and the tank bogged down,” he told The Sporting News on April 26, 1950. “We had to abandon the tank. Everybody scattered into the nearest fox holes. But at just about that time a Jap tank rolled up and began blasting away. I knew I had to get out of there, so I ran for the beach, zigzagging in and out with the tank chasing me. I'm sure I'd be lying out there somewhere now, if it hadn't been for one of our own tanks, which luckily showed up while I was doing all that broken field running. They knocked out the Jap tank."
Terwilliger was discharged in late 1945 and attended Western Michigan College
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
where he quickly became a star shortstop. As early as 1946, he was attracting attention from major league scouts and St Louis Browns’ scout Jack Fournier, was particularly keen to sign him.
Playing career
In , after finishing college, Terwilliger was playing second base with the semi-pro Benton Harbor Buds when he was signed as a free agent in July by the Chicago CubsChicago 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...
. The Cubs assigned him to the Single-A Des Moines Bruins
Des Moines Bruins
Based in Des Moines, Iowa, the Des Moines Bruins were a minor league baseball team that played in the Western League from 1947 to 1958. Their home ballpark was Sec Taylor Stadium, and they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers .-Year-by-year record:...
of the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
where he finished the season. In 1949, Terwilliger was promoted to the AAA Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels (PCL)
The Los Angeles Angels were a team based in Los Angeles, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1957, after which they transferred to Spokane, Washington to become the Spokane Indians. Los Angeles would later become the host city to a Major League Baseball team, the...
of the Pacific Coast League, where he batted .275 in 115 games, before being called up to the Cubs in August and playing in 36 games. Terwilliger spent the 1950 season as the Cubs' starting second baseman, hitting .242 with 10 home runs, 32 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. However, after getting off to a poor start to the 1951 season, Terwilliger was included in a trade that sent outfielder Andy Pafko
Andy Pafko
Andrew Pafko is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1943 through 1959, Pafko played for the Chicago Cubs , Brooklyn Dodgers and Milwaukee Braves . He batted and threw right-handed...
, pitcher Johnny Schmitz
Johnny Schmitz
John Albert Schmitz, nicknamed "Bear Tracks" , was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played 13 seasons between and , missing 1943 to 1945 due to World War II. His nickname was inspired by the way he shuffled to the mound and his size 14 feet...
, and catcher Rube Walker
Rube Walker
Albert Bluford "Rube" Walker was an American Major League Baseball catcher and longtime pitching coach....
to the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
for catcher Bruce Edwards (baseball)
Bruce Edwards (baseball)
Charles Bruce Edwards was an American professional baseball player. He played for ten seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to and from to , most notably for the Brooklyn Dodgers.- Baseball career:...
, pitcher Joe Hatten
Joe Hatten
Joseph Hilarian Hatten was a Major League Baseball pitcher.Hatten started in pro ball with Crookston in the old Northern League in 1937. Acquired by the Montreal Royals from the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association in the 1941-42 off-season, Hatten pitched for the Royals briefly in 1942...
, outfielder Gene Hermanski
Gene Hermanski
Eugene Victor Hermanski was a Major League Baseball outfielder. A native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, he attended Seton Hall University....
, and infielder Eddie Miksis
Eddie Miksis
Edward Thomas Miksis was an American Major League Baseball player. Born in Burlington, New Jersey, he stood 6' 0" and weighed 185 lbs...
.
After spending the 1952 season with the AAA St. Paul Saints
St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints are a professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
, Terwilliger was claimed off waivers by the 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...
following the 1952 season and spent the next two seasons as the Senators' second baseman. Prior to the start of the 1955 season, Terwilliger switched teams again after 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....
purchased him from the Senators. He spent the 1955 and '56 seasons shuttling between New York and AAA Minneapolis
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
and the entire 1957 season at AAA. Following the 1957 season, he was traded to 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...
in a swap for fellow journeymen infielder Jack Dittmer
Jack Dittmer
John Douglas "Jack" Dittmer is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He played six seasons in the majors, from until , for the Boston and Milwaukee Braves and Detroit Tigers....
.
After spending 1958 with the Tigers' AAA Charleston Senators
Charleston Senators
The Charleston Senators were an American minor league baseball team based in Charleston, West Virginia. They were the first professional baseball team to play in Charleston, beginning play in 1910. The team was inactive during a few periods, playing their last game in 1960....
, he was acquired by the Kansas City A's
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....
from the Detroit Tigers in the December 1958 Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. In 1959, Terwilliger saw his last large stretch of time in the majors, playing 74 games at second and shortstop for the A's. After starting the 1960 season with the A's, Terwilliger was unofficially traded to 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...
, a transaction that was common at the time between the two teams when the Yankees were accused of using the A's as a major league farm club and the two teams often seemed to have mutual rights to each others players, and played the rest of the season at AAA Richmond Virginians
Richmond Virginians
The Richmond Virginians was the name of a minor league baseball Class AAA International League franchise that played in Richmond, Virginia, from 1954 through 1964....
before retiring as a full-time player.
Coaching career
After his playing days were over, Terwilliger started a successful career as coach and minor-league manager in the Yankees' organization with the Greensboro Yankees of the B-level Carolina LeagueCarolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. After taking the 1962 season off, Terwilliger would be hired by the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
to manage their single-A team, the Wisconsin Rapids Senators
Wisconsin Rapids Senators
The Wisconsin Rapids Senators were a Midwest League minor league baseball team that played during the 1963 season. Managed by Wayne Terwilliger, they went 58-62.Notable players include Jim French and Dick Nold....
in the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
. He would spend the following six seasons managing in the Senators organization, the last two at AAA.
Under manager 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...
, Terwilliger was the third-base coach of the Senators from 1969 to 1971 and of the Texas Rangers in their first season, 1972. Following the season, Terwilliger was let go by the Rangers, following Williams' retirement, and would manage the Houston Astros'
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
AA Columbus in 1973 and Texas' single-A Lynchberg Rangers in 1975 before spending the next four season away from baseball. In 1980, he was hired as the manager of Texas' AA Tulsa Drillers
Tulsa Drillers
The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major-league club.-Stadium:...
. Terwilliger returned as a major league coach after being hired to Don Zimmer's
Don Zimmer
Donald William "Popeye" Zimmer is a former infielder, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball, currently serving as a senior advisor to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball organization...
1981 Rangers staff and would stay with the team for four years. He would coach first for Zimmer, and then Darrell Johnson
Darrell Johnson
Darrell Dean Johnson was an American Major League Baseball catcher, coach, manager and scout.-Playing career:...
, Doug Rader
Doug Rader
Douglas Lee Rader , nicknamed "The Red Rooster", is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who was known primarily for his defensive ability, winning five straight Gold Glove Awards from 1970 to 1974....
, and Bobby Valentine
Bobby Valentine
Robert John "Bobby V" Valentine is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets as well as the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan...
. In 1986, he was hired as first-base coach on Ray Miller's Minnesota Twins
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...
staff. He would stay on with rookie manager Tom Kelly
Tom Kelly (baseball)
Jay Thomas Kelly , is the former manager of the Minnesota Twins baseball team from to . Currently, he serves as a Special Assistant to the General Manager for the Twins....
, handling the job when the team won the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
in 1987
1987 World Series
The 1987 World Series pitted the Minnesota Twins versus the St. Louis Cardinals.Minnesota was victorious in a World Series that was the first in which the home team won every game...
and 1991
1991 World Series
The 1991 World Series pitted the Minnesota Twins of the American League against the Atlanta Braves of the National League. The series was played from Saturday, October 19 to Sunday, October 27....
before leaving following the 1994 season.
Staying in Minnesota, in 1995 Terwilliger returned the St. Paul Saints, this time as the manager of the team in the independent Northern League. He would remain with the team until 2002. In 2003, he would be named manager of the Fort Worth Cats
Fort Worth Cats
The Fort Worth Cats are a professional baseball team based in Fort Worth, Texas, in the United States. The Cats are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2002 season the Cats...
in the independent Central Baseball League
Central Baseball League
The Central Baseball League, formerly the Texas-Louisiana League, was a minor league whose member teams were independent of any Major League Baseball affiliations.In 1991, potential owners, Dallas businessman Byron Pierce and U. S...
, and won the Central League championship. After retiring from managing following the end of the 2005 season, Terwilliger accepted the position as firstbase coach for the Cats, at the age of 81, and remains with team in the new American Association through the 2010 season.
Throughout his career, Terwilliger managed 12 minor-league teams and compiled a record of 1,224 wins and 1,089 losses. In 2006, Terwilliger's autobiography, Terwilliger Bunts One, was released.
External links
- Baseball-Almanac.com- career statistics and analysis
- Wayne Terwilliger's Home Page