Tod Davis
From BR Bullpen
Thomas Oscar Davis
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.
- Debut April 27, 1949
- Final Game May 15, 1951
- Born July 24, 1924 in Los Angeles, CA USA
- Died December 31, 1978 in West Covina, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
19-year-old infielder Tod Davis started his baseball career in 1943 with the Hollywood Stars of the PCL. The young shortstop appeared in 103 games, hitting .221 and fielding at a .930 clip. Tod would be back with the Stars again in 1944, this time appearing in 169 games and hitting for a .248 average.
Davis would spend the next two years (1945-46) in the United States Military but would get back in time for the 1947 season, again with the Hollywood club. Tod would hit .234 in 119 games and would show up with the Stars again in 1948. Still at the shortstop position, Davis appeared in 122 games and hit a solid .252.
On November 10, 1948 he was drafted by the Philadelphia Athletics from the Chicago White Sox in the Rule V Draft. An infielder who had never hit better than .252 in his prior four years, Tod hit better in the majors with a .267 average in 1949. But in another trial with the Athletics in 1951 he hit .200 points less at .067 to finish at .233 in 42 games in the major leagues.
Davis would go back to the Pacific Coast League and spend the next three seasons (1951-53) with the Los Angeles Angels. He was used mainly as a back-up infielder and appeared in only 165 games during this three year stretch. Tod did finish out his pro career with his best seasonal batting average of .294 in 1953, his final year in pro baseball.
A native of Los Angeles, Davis died December 31, 1978, at age 53 in West Covina, CA.
[edit] Sources
Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page
