Pee-Wee Wanninger
From BR Bullpen
Paul Louis Wanninger
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 5' 7", Weight 150 lb.
- Debut April 22, 1925
- Final Game June 27, 1927
- Born December 12, 1902 in Birmingham, AL USA
- Died March 7, 1981 in North Augusta, SC USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Pee-Wee Wanninger was the regular shortstop for the 1925 New York Yankees. He was the same age as teammate Lou Gehrig.
He replaced Everett Scott at shortstop on May 6, 1925 to end Scott's then-record consecutive games streak at 1,307. Less than a month later, on June 1, he would make way for another record-long consecutive streak to start, when a rookie named Lou Gehrig pinch-hit for him. He hit only .236 for the season, with one homer and 22 RBI in 117 games, very poor statistics for the beginnings of the live ball era (this line was worth a terrible 43 OPS+).
After the season the Yankees traded Wanninger to the minor league St. Paul Saints. Wanninger went on to play many years for St. Paul (1926-1932), and then other teams through 1940. He also returned to the major leagues briefly in 1927, getting into 18 games for the Boston Red Sox and 28 for the Cincinnati Reds. He also managed for one full and two partial seasons in the minors. He skippered the Anniston Rams in 1939 to a 5th place finish in the Southeastern League. He then also manged in 1940 with the Huntington Aces and in 1941 with the Montgomery Rebels.
