Al Evans

From BR Bullpen

Alfred Hubert Evans

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 190 lb.
• School Oak Ridge Military Academy
• Debut September 13, 1939
• Final Game August 5, 1951
• Born September 28, 1916 in Kenly, NC USA
• Died April 6, 1979 in Wilson, NC USA

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[edit] Biographical Information

Before the 1937 season, catcher Al Evans signed with the Washington Senators as an amateur free agent. The 20-year-old was assigned to the New Bern Bears of the class D Coastal Plain League and appeared in only 33 games, hitting .221. He would then spend 1938 and '39 with the class B Charlotte Hornets, hitting .302 and .298 respectively and get a late season call-up with the Senators in 1939. Al would appear in seven games and hit .333; he would remain a solid fixture with the Washington club through 1950.

His only absence from the Senators during this long stretch would be the time he spent with the United States Navy in World War II from November of 1942 until May of 1944. The War Time layoff did not hurt his game as in 1945 he hit at a .260 pace with a .339 OBP.

Evans was a light-hitting but stellar defensive catcher. He shared the Senators receiving duties with fellow North Carolina native Jake Early during the 1940s. Evans had his best season late in his career in 1949 when he would lead all American League catchers in fielding while playing in over 100 games for the only time. Al would conclude his major league playing time with the Boston Red Sox in 1951 with a .250 lifetime mark.

Evans would play four more years (1952-55) in the high minors, ending an 18-year playing career with the Norfolk Tars in 1955. Spread out through the years, his minor league stats show that he appeared in 510 contests, had 1607 at-bats with 447 base hits for a .274 batting average.

After his playing days were over, he managed for eight years - one stint of five seasons from 1955-59 and a three-year term from 1963-65. After his managing days, he became a scout for the Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins and the San Francisco Giants.

Evan's death came on April 6, 1979, at age 62 in Wilson, NC.

[edit] Sources

Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page

[edit] Year-by-Year Managerial Record