Jake Wood (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jake Wood |
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Wood in 1966
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| Second baseman | |||
| Born: June 22, 1937 Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 11, 1961, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 11, 1967, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .250 | ||
| Home runs | 35 | ||
| Runs batted in | 168 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Jacob Wood Jr. (born June 22, 1937) is an American former baseball player. He played in 608 games over seven years in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Detroit Tigers (1961–1967) and the Cincinnati Reds (1967). Jake mostly played as a second baseman. He threw and hit with his right hand. He was 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighed 163 pounds.
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Early Life and Education
Jake Wood was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on June 22, 1937. He was the second oldest of nine children. His parents were Jacob Sr. and Roberta Wood. Jake grew up in a diverse neighborhood. He learned to play stickball and baseball when he was young.
He went to Thomas Jefferson High School. He graduated in 1955. After high school, he received a scholarship to Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware. He played college baseball there for one season.
Baseball Career
Joining the Tigers
The Detroit Tigers signed Jake Wood as a young player in early 1957. He went to the Tigers' training camp for younger players in Lakeland, Florida. Jake worked his way up through the Tigers' minor league teams. He hit over .300 with five different teams in the minor leagues.
Major League Debut
Jake made his first major league appearance at age 23. This was on the Tigers' opening day, April 11, 1961. He started at second base and was the first batter in the lineup. The Tigers lost 9–5 to the Cleveland Indians at home.
In the seventh inning, Jake faced Indians pitcher Jim Perry. It was his fourth time batting in the game. Jake hit his first career hit, which was a two-run home run. This hit scored Bobo Osborne.
Breaking Barriers
Jake Wood was the first African-American player to start for the Detroit Tigers. He was developed through their own team system. Another player, Jim Proctor, was the first black player developed by the Tigers' system. Proctor debuted for Detroit on September 14, 1959.
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Key Seasons (1961-1963)
Jake was a quiet, quick, and skilled player. He was the Tigers' main second baseman from 1961 to 1963. He was one of the top players in the American League for stolen bases. He had 30 stolen bases in 1961, 24 in 1962, and 18 in 1963.
In his first year, 1961, Jake was also a leader in other areas. He scored 96 runs and had 171 hits. He also played in all 162 games that season. Jake led the American League in triples in 1961 with 14. However, he also led the league in strikeouts with 141. At that time, this was a record for the most strikeouts in one season.
Later Career and Retirement
Jake injured a finger in late July 1963. He missed the rest of that season. In 1964, the Tigers got an experienced second baseman named Jerry Lumpe. After that, Jake became a utility infielder. This meant he could play different positions in the infield. He was also a backup second baseman.
He remained a reserve player for the rest of his career. For example, in 1966, he played in 98 games and hit for a .252 batting average. On June 23, 1967, the Cincinnati Reds bought his contract. He played 16 games for the Reds. His last major league game was on August 11, 1967.
Jake ended his major league career with a .250 batting average. He hit 35 home runs and had 168 runs batted in. He also stole 70 bases.
Life After Baseball
Jake Wood lives in Pensacola, Florida. As of 2012, he was still very active. He played in softball leagues and tournaments for people over 70. He also played racquetball.
Jake helps inmates at the Escambia County, Florida jail. He does this as part of a program called "A Will and a Way" ministry. He also takes part in Tigers' team reunions. He attends autograph shows and fantasy camps. He also participates in events related to the Negro leagues.
Family and Recognition
Jake's brother, Richard Wood, was also a professional athlete. Richard played professional football from 1975 to 1984. He played for the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jake Wood is a member of the Union County, New Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
- SABR Biography by Jim Sargent
