Gary Woods

For the footballer, seeGary Woods (footballer).

Gary Lee Woods(July 20, 1954 – February 19, 2015)was aprofessional baseballplayer. He played all or parts of nine seasons inMajor League Baseball,between 1976 and 1985, for theOakland Athletics,Toronto Blue Jays,Houston Astros,andChicago Cubs,primarily as anoutfielder.

Gary Woods
Outfielder
Born:(1954-07-20)July 20, 1954 Santa Barbara, California,U.S.
Died:February 19, 2015(2015-02-19)(aged 60) Solvang, California,U.S.
Batted:Right Threw:Right
MLB debut
September 14, 1976, for the Oakland Athletics
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 1985, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Batting average	.243
Home runs	13
Runs batted in	110
Teams
Oakland Athletics(1976) Toronto Blue Jays(1977–1978) Houston Astros(1980–1981) Chicago Cubs(1982–1985)

Early life and education

Woods graduated fromSan Marcos High Schoolin 1971 and then attendedSanta Barbara City Collegebefore starting his professional baseball career. After a 14-year professional career Woods returned to his studies where he earned an MBA atPepperdine University.

Baseball career

Oakland A's

On May 12, 1973, theOakland Athleticssigned Woods as a nondrafted free agent. He spent 1973 playing outfield for the A's Class A minor leagueLewiston Broncs,and in 1974 for the Class ABurlington Bees.In 1975, he was promoted to theDouble-ABirmingham A'sin theSouthern League,and in 1976, Woods advanced to theTriple-ATucson Toros.

On September 14, 1976, Woods made his major league debut in the second game of a doubleheader, a 4–3 loss to theMinnesota Twins.Woods entered the game as a defensive replacement, playingcenter field.He got a base hit in his onlyat batin the top of the 9th inning.In six games for the A's in 1976, he went 1 for 8.

Toronto Blue Jays

On November 5, 1976, Woods was selected by theToronto Blue Jaysin the1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft.He was in the Blue Jays' opening day lineup for the debut game on April 7, 1977, batting fifth. "I remember the snow on the field and I rememberDoug Aultand I remember the excitement in the city, "Woods told theToronto Starin an article that was published on October 8, 1985. "I was a young ballplayer very excited to be part of a building experience. It was a really neat feeling. But of course we played like an expansion team and I played like a guy who wasn't quite ready for the major leagues."

Woods was sent out toTriple-Aduring the 1977 season as he struggled with the bat, and was later brought back to Toronto to get some more playing time. 1978 was a different story as Woods did not make the team in the spring, spent the full Triple-A season in the minors, finally getting a call up when the Major League rosters expanded in September. By then he was no longer in the Jays' plans.

Houston Astros

On December 5, 1978, Woods was traded to theHouston Astrosfor minor league outfielder Don Pisker. Woods spent 1979 and most of 1980 in the minors, playing again for the Triple-ATucson Toros,which by this point had shifted affiliations from Oakland to Houston. In late 1980, Woods was called up to the majors, hitting.377 in 19 games. Woods also went 2-for-8 in four games in the Astros'League Championship Series in 1980.

In the strike-shortened 1981 season, Woods platooned withTerry Puhlin the outfield, helping the Astros reach theWest Divisionplayoffs against theLos Angeles Dodgers."I really felt I was a big part of them getting there," he told theChicago Tribunein an article that was published on September 11, 1986, referring to the playoffs."Of course, I may have also played a big part in them not getting to the World Series when I left third base too soon in one of the games."

Chicago Cubs

On December 9, 1981, Woods was traded to theChicago CubsforJim Tracyand was pressed into service as a starting center fielder when prospectTy Wallerfailed early. "I was batting about.350 after 150 at-bats," Woods told the Chicago Tribune in the September 11, 1986 article. "But they decided to putKeith (Moreland)in the outfield and they wanted to playSteve Hendersonto see if they could trade him. I sat down and never got a chance to get back in. "Woods finished the 1982 hitting.269 in 117 games and never committing an error.

Woods played for the Cubs in limited amounts in the 1983, 1984 and 1985 seasons. One highlight was getting to play in the1984 National League Championship Seriesagainst theSan Diego Padres.In one game, Woods went 0-for-1 and played outfield.

Woods tried to continue his career in 1986 after being cut by the Cubs in spring training despite hitting.286. At that point, Padres then-minor league managerLarry Bowaasked the Padres to sign Woods to a minor league contract, and Woods played a full season at the Padres AAA Las Vegas minor league club before retiring.

"I have no regrets," Woods told the Chicago Tribune in the September 11, 1986 article. "There are a whole lot of guys with more talent than I ever had who never got the opportunity. I went to the big leagues, went down, made it back and stayed for six years. I know I can look in the mirror and say I did all I could to be the best possible player I could be."

Life after baseball

When his playing career ended, Woods entered the business world and coached at a youth level. He had returned to professional baseball and was a Southern Californiaarea scoutfor theChicago White Sox,also serving as hitting coach during the summer for theSanta Barbara Foresters,one of the top teams in theCalifornia Collegiate League.

Woods died from aheart attackon February 19, 2015, inSolvang,California.Woods was living in the Santa Ynez Valley at the time of his death.

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orBaseball Reference,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet,orVenezuelan Winter League
• Obituary