#99

Smokey Joe Wood

BORN: October 25, 1889, Kansas City, MO DIED: July 27, 1985

Wood is best know for his performance during the 1912 season and World Series. During the regular season, he had a 16-game winning streak. In the Series, he won 3 games as the Sox were victorious over the New York Giants.

Said Walter Johnson of Wood: "Can I throw harder than Joe Wood? Listen mister, no man alive can throw any harder than 'Smoky' Joe Wood."

Wood had a career record of 116-57 with an ERA of 2.03. In 1912, he had one of the finest seasons ever, going 34-5 with a 1.91 ERA. After leading the Red Sox to a World Series title again in 1915, Wood sat out all of 1916 trying to recover from a lingering arm injury. 1917 found him playing for the Cleveland Indians. He would pitch in only seven more games the rest of his career. He began playing outfield in 1918.

He would finish his career after the 1922 season, his most prolific as a batter. He played in 142 games, hit 8 HRs, batted .297, and drove in 92 runs. In 1920, he was on the Indians teams that won the World Series.

Wood pitched in an era that was dominated by the pitcher, and yet he had the respect of his peers. In 1915, he and the then unknown Babe Ruth combined for 33 wins (15 for Wood), but he was already on the downside of his pitching career. With Wood gone in '16, Ruth won 23 games, followed by 24 in 1917. The torch had been passed.