Joe Adcock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joe Adcock |
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Adcock in 1954 with the Milwaukee Braves
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| First baseman / Outfielder / Manager | |||
| Born: October 30, 1927 Coushatta, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| Died: May 3, 1999 (aged 71) Coushatta, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 23, 1950, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 1966, for the California Angels | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .277 | ||
| Home runs | 336 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,122 | ||
| Managerial record | 75–87 | ||
| Winning % | .463 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Joseph Wilbur Adcock (October 30, 1927 – May 3, 1999) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from 1950 to 1966. He is best known for being a key player for the Milwaukee Braves. With the Braves, he helped the team win two National League pennants and the 1957 World Series.
Adcock was chosen as an All-Star player twice. He was famous for hitting very long home runs. In 1954, he even hit four home runs in a single game! He ranks third in Milwaukee Braves history for hits, home runs, and runs batted in. Adcock was also a great defensive player. When he retired in 1966, he had one of the best fielding percentages for a first baseman. During his career, he also played for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, and Los Angeles / California Angels.
His nickname, "Billy Joe," was made popular by sportscaster Vin Scully. It was inspired by a basketball star named Billy Joe Adcock. In 2022, Joe Adcock was inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Start
Joe Adcock was born in Coushatta, Louisiana. He went to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Interestingly, he had never played baseball before going to college. He joined the university's baseball team there.
Playing Career Highlights
Adcock was first signed by the Cincinnati Reds. However, the team already had a strong first baseman, Ted Kluszewski. So, Adcock played in left field from 1950 to 1952. He was not happy playing this position and asked to be traded, which he was.
First Season with the Braves
His first season with the Milwaukee Braves was very exciting. On April 29, 1953, he hit a huge home run at the Polo Grounds. The ball landed in the center-field bleachers. This was a rare feat that only two other players, Hank Aaron and Lou Brock, would achieve later.
Hitting Four Home Runs in One Game
On July 31, 1954, Adcock did something amazing. He hit four home runs in one game! This happened against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. He also hit a double off the top of the wall. This gave him 18 total bases in the game. This record stood for 48 years until 2002. What's more, he hit his four home runs off four different Dodgers pitchers. He was only the seventh player in baseball history to do this.
The Famous 13th-Inning Hit
Another memorable hit was on May 26, 1959. This was during a long game between Lew Burdette and Harvey Haddix. Haddix had pitched a near-perfect game into the 13th inning. Adcock hit a ball that looked like a home run. However, his teammate Hank Aaron was on first base. Aaron thought the hit was only a double and walked back to the dugout. Because of this, Adcock was called out for passing Aaron on the bases. The official ruling changed Adcock's hit to a double with one RBI. The Braves won the game 1–0.
Being a Top Player
Adcock was sometimes overshadowed by his famous teammates, Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews. Other great first basemen like Kluszewski and Gil Hodges also played at the same time. Still, Adcock was an All-Star in 1960. He was often among the league leaders in home runs. In 1956, he finished second in the National League for home runs, runs batted in, and slugging average.
Pitcher Sal Maglie once said about Adcock, "Pitch Adcock close and then low and away and he'll never hit."
Managerial Career
After his playing career, Joe Adcock became a manager. He managed the Cleveland Indians for one year in 1967. The team finished eighth in the league that season. After that, he managed in the minor leagues for two more years. Then, he retired to his ranch in Coushatta, Louisiana. There, he raised horses.
Managerial Record Overview
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
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| Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| CLE | 1967 | 162 | 75 | 87 | .463 | 8th in AL | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 162 | 75 | 87 | .463 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
Later Life and Passing
Joe Adcock passed away in Coushatta in 1999 at the age of 71. He died from Alzheimer's disease. He is buried in Social Springs cemetery, about 15 miles from Coushatta.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball single-game home run leaders
