Woodie Held
From BR Bullpen
Woodson George Held
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 10½", Weight 180 lb.
- High School Sacramento High School
- Debut September 5, 1954
- Final Game September 28, 1969
- Born March 25, 1932 in Sacramento, CA USA
- Died June 11, 2009 in Dubois, WY, USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Woodie Held played 14 seasons in the major leagues, getting nearly 5,000 at-bats and hitting 179 home runs. A versatile player, he appeared in 100-500 games at each of shortstop, second, third, center, left and right field. He played for seven different teams, all in the American League.
As a teenager in the mid 1940s, Held was the batboy for the Pacific Coast League Sacramento Solons.
Held played the heart of his career with the Cleveland Indians. He came to the Indians in 1958 in a trade that involved the young Roger Maris.
After his playing days he was a backhoe operator and frequent participant in Cleveland Indians fantasy camps.
In fan balloting to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Cleveland Indians, Woodie Held was voted one of the 100 greatest Cleveland Indians' players of all-time.
Held died of brain cancer in June 2009.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 4 (1957 & 1959-1961)
- Won a World Series with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966 (he did not play in the World Series)
