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Eugene Richard Woodling
Cleveland Indians
Outfield
Born: August 16, 1922, Akron, OH
Signed: Signed by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent before 1940 season
Major League Teams: Cleveland Indians 1943, 1946; Pittsburgh Pirates 1947; New York Yankees 1949-1954; Baltimore Orioles 1955; Cleveland Indians 1955-1957; Baltimore Orioles 1958-1960; Washington Senators 1961-1962; New York Mets 1962
Died: June 2, 2001, Barberton, OH (age 78)
Gene Woodling was a key contributor to the Yankees dynasty that won five consecutive World Series titles between 1949 and 1953. As the regular left fielder for those teams, he played solid defense and batted .318 (27 for 85) in the postseason although he was often overshadowed by the likes of superstars Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle (#135). Woodling was originally drafted by the Indians and missed two seasons early in his career while serving during World War II. He'd play in the Bronx between 1949 and 1954 and was dealt to the Orioles before the start of the 1955 season in a massive 17-player trade. Woodling continued his steady production and defense, having a career year with the Indians in 1957 when he achieved his personal career-high triple crown with a .321 average, 19 home runs and 78 RBIs. Back with the Orioles, Woodling made his sole All-Star Game in 1959. He wrapped up his playing career with two seasons with the Senators and a final season in 1962 with the expansion Mets.
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Woodling batted .284 with 1,585 hits over 1,796 games, with 257 doubles, 147 home runs and 830 RBIs. He had a career fielding percentage of .989 as a left fielder which is currently 18th all-time. Woodling would later serve as a first base coach for the Orioles between 1964 and 1967, working with former teammate and current Orioles manager Hank Bauer (#177), and winning yet another World Series ring with the Orioles in 1966.
Building the Set
December 25, 2006 from Mays Landing, NJ - Card #280
I was officially given this card on Christmas Day in 2006, but my Dad had purchased it several weeks (months?) earlier at a baseball card show held at the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing, New Jersey.
This was one of nine cards I received that Christmas from my Dad, and he spent a total of $210 on all nine cards with the Hank Aaron (#31) card being the big ticket item at $150. Like all his purchases, he was extremely proud of this card's condition and I'm sure there was a negotiation story that went along with the acquisition.
Our first son Doug was born a few weeks before Christmas that year and we brought him home just in time for the big day. He obviously doesn't remember much from his first Christmas, but he spent the holidays being held and loved by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. The picture shown here is from Christmas Day 2006, shortly after I had added those nine cards to our (and one day Doug's) 1956 Topps set. One of the great joys of my life was seeing how proud my Dad was to have a grandson.
Building the Set
December 25, 2006 from Mays Landing, NJ - Card #280
I was officially given this card on Christmas Day in 2006, but my Dad had purchased it several weeks (months?) earlier at a baseball card show held at the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing, New Jersey.
This was one of nine cards I received that Christmas from my Dad, and he spent a total of $210 on all nine cards with the Hank Aaron (#31) card being the big ticket item at $150. Like all his purchases, he was extremely proud of this card's condition and I'm sure there was a negotiation story that went along with the acquisition.
Our first son Doug was born a few weeks before Christmas that year and we brought him home just in time for the big day. He obviously doesn't remember much from his first Christmas, but he spent the holidays being held and loved by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. The picture shown here is from Christmas Day 2006, shortly after I had added those nine cards to our (and one day Doug's) 1956 Topps set. One of the great joys of my life was seeing how proud my Dad was to have a grandson.
The Card / Indians Team Set
The head shot of Woodling is the same used for his 1955 Topps card, except that Topps has replaced the Orioles logo from the original photo with an Indians logo. At first glance, I thought the beige blob behind Woodling was the disembodied hand of an infielder. Then I realized Woodling is probably sliding into home plate and that's a discarded bat. The cartoons on the back highlight his trade back to the Indians, his fine fielding and his World Series experience with the Yankees.
1956 Season
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First Mainstream Card: 1951 Bowman #219
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (12): 1952-1963
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1994 Topps Archives 1954 #101
127 - Woodling non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 7/24/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
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