Howard ellsworth smoky joe wood october 25, 1889 july 27, 1985 was a professional baseball player for 14 years. Howard ellsworth smoky joe wood october 25, 1889 july 27, 1985 was a. Howard ellsworth smoky joe wood october 25, 1889 july 27, 1985 was a professional. This smoked prime rib begins with garlic cloves and rosemary sprigs pressed down into a plump rib roast, followed by a dry rub. One of the hardest throwing pitchers from the early 20th century. Smoky joe wood unl digital commons university of nebraska. Without a doubt, ty cobb later recalled, joe wood was one of the best pitchers i ever faced throughout my entire career. In 2019, the connecticut smoky joe wood chapter produced a book exploring a hall of fame hometown hero, houston astros slugger jeff. He played for the boston red sox from 1908 to 1915, where he was primarily a pitcher, and for the cleveland indians from 1917 to 1922, where he was primarily an outfielder.
In 1911 and 1912, smoky joe wood won 57 games for the boston red sox, including a. Wood, a retired english professor not related to the pitcher, and is likely to clue in fans whose knowledge of the onetime great pitcher on many more aspects of his life that they knowif they know anything. Smoky joe earned his nickname in 1912 with the boston red sox. This book will stand as the definitive authority on joe wood and corrects several errors reported over the years in other publications. It may be an overstatement to say that smoky joe wood was the forrest gump of major league baseball, but not much of one. From pork, chicken and beef to bbq sauce and rubs, youre sure to find what youre looking for. In 1911 and 1912, smoky joe wood won 57 games for the boston red sox. We had both read lawrence ritters brilliant book, the glory of their. Whether youre smoking low and slow or charcoal grilling, we have the recipe for you.
Joe wood played for the boston red sox and the cleveland indians. Joe wood was born on friday, october 25, 1889, in kansas city, missouri. In 2019, the connecticut smoky joe wood chapter produced a book exploring a hall of fame hometown hero, houston astros slugger jeff bagwell, with jeff bagwell in connecticut, edited by karl cicitto, bill nowlin, and len levin. Smoky joe wood, who walter johnson called the fastest pitcher in. Wood got his start impersonating a female on the national bloomer girls team. Wood recounted in the seminal 1966 book the glory of their times, i threw so hard i thought my arm would fly right off my body.
Winner of the 2014 seymour medal sponsored by the society for. A natural athlete, he pitched for the boston red sox at eighteen, won twentyone games and threw a nohitter at twentyone, and had a 345 record plus three wins in the 1912 world series. Smoky joe wood society for american baseball research. He went 345 in that miracle season, and then won three games in the sox world series victory over the new york giants. Wood was also interviewed for ritters famous book, the glory of their times. Joe wood s reign as one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball history lasted a brief two seasons, but it left an indelible impression on those who witnessed his greatness firsthand. Wood is one of only pitchers to win 30 or more games in one season going 345 in 1912 since 1900. The author exhaustively researched joe wood, relying on much information provided by joe s son.
He was a three time world series champion, 1912,1915,1920. Smoky joe wood chronicles the singular life befitting such a baseball legend. Winner of the 2014 seymour medal sponsored by the society for american baseball research and finalist for 2014 sabr larry ritter award though his pitching career lasted only a few seasons, howard ellsworth smoky joe wood was one of the most dominating figures in baseball historya man many consider the best baseball player who is not in the hall of fame. Joe woods reign as one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball history lasted a brief two seasons, but it left an indelible impression on those who witnessed his greatness firsthand. He earned the nickname smoky joe because of his blazing fastball. Clearly a labor of love, the book still treats subjects evenly and with little prejudice. Publishes books and journals especially in american history, the american west.
R, 2x wl% leader, born in mo 1889, died 1985, smoky joe. Wood was 18 years old when he broke into the big leagues on august 24, 1908, with the boston red sox. Smoky joe wood provides a voice from the past hartford courant. Halloffame pitcher and contemporary walter johnson, when asked who threw harder, he or wood, said, nobody. Click here for more details or to download a free e book copy.