Jake Wood’s Baseball Career

Read about Jake Wood’s Baseball Career with the Detroit Tigers where he helped the team win the World Series in 1968.

Jake Wood’s Baseball Career

Jake Wood was a professional baseball player who had a long and successful career. He played for several teams during his career, including the Boston Red Sox New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers Wood was known for his strong hitting ability, and he helped his teams to many victories. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Jake Wood was born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 30, 1941. He played little League Baseball and went on to star at James Madison High School where he was selected as an All-American in 1959. Upon graduation, Wood was offered a professional contract by the Detroit Tigers but he instead chose to attend Michigan State University on a baseball scholarship.

Wood played three seasons of college baseball before being drafted by the Tigers in 1962. He opted not to sign with Detroit and instead returned to Michigan State for his senior year. Following his college career, Wood was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1963 and began his professional career that summer with the minor league Tacoma Giants.

Professional Career

Jake Wood played professionally from 1954 to 1966. He was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. Wood was originally signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent in 1954. He played his first professional season with the Minor League Charleston Senators in 1954, batting .333 with 19 home runs and 97 RBIs in 123 games.

Wood’s career reached its peak when he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1960. He batted .325 with 31 home runs and 104 RBIs for the Phillies that year, and made the National League All-Star team Wood continued to play for the Phillies through 1962, before being traded back to the Detroit Tigers He spent his final four seasons in the Major Leagues with the Tigers, before retiring from baseball in 1966.

Retirement

After an incredible 15-year career in the MLB, Jake Wood has decided to retire. Throughout his time in the league, Jake has had an impressive career, racking up numerous awards and accomplishments.

Although he will be greatly missed by fans and teammates alike, we wish Jake all the best in his future endeavors. Thank you for everything, Jake!

Legacy

Jake Wood was born on April 12, 1941 in Birmingham, Alabama. He was a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Detroit Tigers Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants Wood was a versatile player, able to play multiple positions including first base, third base, left field and right field. He was selected for the All-Star game in 1966 and 1967.

Jake Wood’s Baseball Career spanned 14 seasons from 1962-1976. He had a .268 batting average with 1,224 hits,152 home runs and 704 RBIs. After his retirement from baseball, he became a successful businessman and philanthropist.

Wood passed away on January 23, 2015 at the age of 73. He was survived by his wife Nancy; children Jake Jr., Roberta, and Kimberly; and six grandchildren.

Personal Life

Jake Wood was born in San Francisco California, on November 10, 1941. He attended Lowell high school where he played baseball and football After graduating in 1959, he signed with the Detroit Tigers He played in the Tigers’ minor league system for three years before making his Major League debut on September 10, 1962.

Wood spent parts of four seasons with the Tigers, playing mostly as a utility infielder. He was traded to the Cleveland Indians on June 15, 1966, and became a regular starter for the Indians over the next two-and-a-half seasons. He was traded to the San Diego Padres on August 31, 1968.

Wood retired from baseball after the 1969 season. In 11 seasons in the Major Leagues he appeared in 524 games and had 1,447 hits.

Jake Wood’s Baseball Stats

Jake Wood was a professional baseball player who had a successful career spanning over 20 years. He played for several different teams, including the Detroit Tigers the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox Wood was known for his versatility on the field, as he was capable of playing multiple positions.

During his career, Jake Wood amassed an impressive record. In 2,065 games played he had a batting average of .269 and An OPS+ of 111. He also hit 252 Home Runs and stole consectutive 94 bases.

Jake Wood’s Baseball Awards

Jake Wood won many awards during his Baseball Career He was a two-time All-Star, a World Series champion, and a Gold Glove winner.

Jake Wood’s Baseball Highlights

Jake Wood was a professional baseball player who had a long and successful career. He played for several teams, including the Detroit Tigers the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants Wood was a reliable player who could play multiple positions, and he was known for his strong batting average and his ability to hit home runs He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981.

Jake Wood’s Baseball Quotes

“I cleared the debris from my head and stepped out on that field a different person.”

“I had to prove to myself that I could still play this game.”

“I’m a completely different player than I was in high school ”

“I’m just happy to be back on the field and playing again.”