Wayne Terwilliger
From BR Bullpen
Willard Wayne Terwilliger (Twig)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 170 lb.
- School Western Michigan University
- Debut August 6, 1949
- Final Game May 16, 1960
- Born June 27, 1925 in Clare, MI USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
In a career that has spanned seven decades, Wayne "Twig" Terwilliger was signed out of Western Michigan University by the Chicago Cubs in 1948. Playing for the Los Angeles Angels in the Pacific Coast League in 1949, he was called up to Chicago in August. He was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers partway through the 1951 season and backed up Jackie Robinson at second base that season. After spending the 1952 season in the minors, he was the starting second baseman for the Washington Senators in 1953 and 1954. He hit a career-high .252 with 24 doubles and 64 walks that first year in what was his most productive season in the majors. He also played for the New York Giants and Kansas City Athletics.
In 1960, he fully retired to the dugout. Among his stops as a coach were with the Washington Senators and Texas Rangers under manager Ted Williams from 1969 to 1972, the Rangers again from 1981 to 1985, and with the Minnesota Twins from 1986 to 1994, where he won two World Series. He coached with the independent league St. Paul Saints from 1995 to 2002.
"Twig" managed 12 minor league teams, winning 1224 games. Most recently he managed the Ft. Worth Cats and in 2005 won the league championship of the Central Baseball League. He retired as manager but returned as first-base coach. He plans to return in 2008 for his 60th season in professional baseball.
In 2006, he published his autobiography entitled: Terwilliger Bunts One
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 1958 MVP American Association Charleston Senators
