Earl Torgeson

Clifford Earl Torgeson(January 1, 1924 – November 8, 1990) was an AmericanMajor League Baseballplayer fromSnohomish, Washington.Afirst baseman,he played on five teams for 15 years, from 1947 through 1961. He was known by his middle name, Earl, and his nickname was "The Earl of Snohomish", a nickname originally owned byBaseball Hall of Famer,Earl Averill,also from Torgeson's hometown. In 1950, Torgeson led theNational League(NL) with 120runs scoredand in 1957, he led the American League (AL) with a.999fielding averageas a first baseman.

Earl Torgeson
First baseman
Born:(1924-01-01)January 1, 1924 Snohomish, Washington,U.S.
Died:November 8, 1990(1990-11-08)(aged 66) Everett, Washington,U.S.
Batted:Left Threw:Left
MLB debut
April 15, 1947, for the Boston Braves
Last MLB appearance
August 23, 1961, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
Batting average	.265
Home runs	149
Runs batted in	740
Teams
Boston Braves(1947–1952) Philadelphia Phillies(1953–1955) Detroit Tigers(1955–1957) Chicago White Sox(1957–1961) New York Yankees(1961)
Career highlights and awards
World Serieschampion (1961)

Early years and baseball

Torgeson was born in the lumber town of Snohomish, Washington onNew Year's Dayof 1924. He attendedSnohomish High Schooland he served in theU.S. Armyduring World War II from 1943 to 1945. After the war, he played for Seattle in thePacific Coast League.

Major League baseball

Torgeson had a lifetime.265batting averagewith 149home runs,740RBIand a.989fielding percentage.His best batting average for a full season was.290 and his highest home run total was 24. His careeron-base percentagewas.385 (the league average for the years he played is.339) and in1950,when he led theNational Leaguewith 120 runs scored, his on-base percentage was.412. Torgeson's peak years for drawing walks were1950and1951,when he drew 119 and 102 respectively. In 1959, he helped the White Sox win the American League Pennant. In one game in 1959, during an inning againstKansas Citywhere theWhite Soxscored 11 runs on one hit, he got apinch-hitwalk.

Torgeson was a regular player for nine years, and he would have been a regular in 1949 if not for a shoulder injury in May and broken thumb in August 1949 (also a broken rib whenhit by a pitchin 1950). He played another five years as a role player. As apinch hitter,as per earlier in his career, his patience at the plate was key to his value. In1961,for example, playing out the string for theNew York Yankees,he hit only.111 in 18at-bats,but drew eight walks for a.385 on-base percentage.

In Torgeson's final season of1961,he was sold by theWhite Soxto the New York Yankees. Torgeson managed only three total hits in 33 at-bats between the two teams, playing also exclusively as a pinch hitter. The Yankees converted Torgeson from a player to a coach on September 2; the Yankees went on to defeat theCincinnati Redsin the World Series later that year. Torgeson did not appear in the World Series as a player, but was still part of the team as a coach.

Torgeson also deserves some mentionfor hisbase stealing.Although his highest total for a baseball season was only 20, it came during a period in baseball when almost no one stole bases, especially not first basemen. For the short period (1950–1952) that they hadSam Jethroe(who won bases stealing crowns in1950and1951) and Torgeson, theBraveshad the best base stealing tandem in baseball. In1950,with a combined total of 50stolen bases,the Jethroe-Torgeson duo stole more bases than every other team in theNational League,except for theBrooklyn Dodgers.

Personal life and death

Torgeson returned to Snohomish County and served as acounty commissionerand later the director of the county Department of Emergency Management. He died ofleukemiaat his home inEverett, Washingtonon November 8, 1990. He was 66 years old.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orBaseball Reference,orBaseball Reference (Minors)
• The Deadball Era
• Earl TorgesonatFind a Grave