Fred Whitfield (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fred Whitfield |
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: January 7, 1938 Vandiver, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Died: January 31, 2013 (aged 75) Gadsden, Alabama, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 27, 1962, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 11, 1970, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .253 | ||
| Home runs | 108 | ||
| Runs batted in | 356 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Fred Dwight Whitfield (January 7, 1938 – January 31, 2013) was an American professional baseball player. He played as a first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). Fred played from 1962 to 1970. His main team was the Cleveland Indians. He also played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and Montreal Expos. People called him "Wingy" because of his special way of throwing the ball. He threw and batted with his left hand.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Fred Whitfield was born in Vandiver, Alabama. He was one of four children. He went to Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, Alabama. When he was 19, he married Helen Leverton. They had six children together.
Joining the Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals signed Fred in 1956. He was an amateur free agent. This means he was not drafted. He made his first big league game at age 24. This was on May 27, 1962.
In his first game, he was a pinch-hitter. He walked to first base. But he was out in a double play. Two days later, he started his first game. He got his first hit. It was an RBI single that scored a run.
Major League Career Highlights
Fred Whitfield played nine seasons in the Major Leagues. He was known for hitting home runs. His best years were from 1963 to 1966.
Top Seasons and Achievements
In 1965, Fred had a great year. His batting average was .293. He also had 90 runs batted in (RBIs). In 1966, he hit 27 home runs. This was his highest number in one season. It was the fifth-highest in the American League that year.
Because of his strong performance, he was honored. He was named the first baseman on the 1965 The Sporting News American League all-star team.
Career Statistics
Overall, Fred Whitfield had a career batting average of .253. He hit a total of 108 home runs. He also had 356 runs batted in. These numbers show he was a solid player.
Life After Baseball
After his baseball career, Fred worked as a shipping clerk. He worked at Anderson Electric in Vandiver. He loved being outdoors. He also enjoyed playing music. He played bluegrass and gospel music on his guitar. He was part of a gospel music group. His wife and other family members were in the group too.
Fred Whitfield passed away on January 31, 2013. He was 75 years old. He died from problems related to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was survived by his wife, Helen. They had been married for almost 56 years. He also had a daughter, five sons, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
