Dusty Rhodes (outfielder)

Dusty Rhodes
Outfielder
Born: May 13, 1927(1927-05-13) Montgomery County, Alabama
Died: June 17, 2009(2009-06-17) (aged 82) Las Vegas, Nevada
Batted: Left	Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 15, 1952 for the New York Giants
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 1959 for the San Francisco Giants
Career statistics
Batting average	.253
Home runs	54
Runs batted in	207
Teams
New York / San Francisco Giants (1952–1957, 1959)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (1954) 1954 Babe Ruth Award

James Lamar Rhodes (May 13, 1927, Mathews, Alabama – June 17, 2009, Las Vegas, Nevada^[1]) was an outfielder with a 7 year career from 1952–1957, 1959. He played for the Giants franchise of the National League (1952-57 in New York, 1959 in San Francisco).

Of him, manager Leo Durocher said "a buffoon is a drunk on a hitting spree". In the 1954 season, he was often used as a pinch-hitter for Monte Irvin, and came through with an incredible number of clutch hits.

In the first game of the 1954 World Series, Rhodes had a pinch hit home run in the bottom of the tenth inning off Bob Lemon to win the game.^[2] The next day he delivered a pinch hit single in the fifth inning and then remained in the game to play left field. In the seventh inning he hit a homer off Early Wynn to help ensure the victory.^[3]

Roy Campanella, the Brooklyn Dodger catcher, said of Durocher and his action of pinch-hitting Rhodes: "If they have to pinch hit Rhodes for Irvin, they must be hurting." Willie Mays mocked this assumption in his autobiography. Mays considered Rhodes to be a "fabulous hitter", as did Durocher, who wrote in his autobiography, "...boy could he hit!", while commenting on Rhodes atrocious fielding abilities.^[4]

After his sports career, Dusty Rhodes worked for a friend on a tug boat for 25 years, a job which Dusty said he loved. Dusty stated after his career when asked why his career was so short, "After Durocher left the Giants, baseball wasn't fun anymore."

See also

Biography portal

• 1954 World Series

References

1. ^ Madden, Bill (2009-06-17). "Dusty Rhodes, hero for Giants of 1954 World Series vs. Indians, dies". New York: Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2009/06/18/2009-06-18_dusty_rhodes_hero_of_1954_series_dies.html. Retrieved 2009-06-17. 
2. ^ 1954 World Series, Game 1 (box score) – Retrosheet.
3. ^ http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1954/B09300NY11954.htm 1954 World Series, Game 2 (box score) – Retrosheet.
4. ^ Madden, Bill (June 18, 2009). "Dusty Rhodes, hero for Giants of 1954 World Series vs. Indians, dies". Daily News (New York). http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2009/06/18/2009-06-18_dusty_rhodes_hero_of_1954_series_dies.html. 

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
• Weber, Bruce. "Dusty Rhodes, Star Pinch-Hitter in '54 Series, Dies at 82," The New York Times, Friday, June 19, 2009.
• "Rhodes took 'fast track' to pro career," Las Vegas Sun, Monday, May 5, 2003.
• Obituary by the Associated Press
• Dusty Rhodes (outfielder) at Find a Grave

Awards
Preceded by Billy Martin	Babe Ruth Award 1954	Succeeded by Johnny Podres

Persondata
Name	Rhodes, Dusty
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	May 13, 1927
Place of birth	Montgomery County, Alabama
Date of death	June 17, 2009
Place of death	Las Vegas, Nevada