Eddie Mayo

Edward Joseph Mayo
(Hotshot, Steady Eddie)

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 178 lb.
• High School Clifton (NJ) High School
• Debut May 22, 1936
• Final Game October 3, 1948
• Born April 15, 1910 in Holyoke, MA USA
• Died November 27, 2006 in Banning, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

The son of Polish immigrants, infielder Eddie Mayo played in the majors with the New York Giants in 1936 and the Boston Bees in 1937 and 1938 before being sent to the Chicago Cubs organization and playing five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League. He hit .332 for the Angels in 1938 but was later suspended from the club for a year after spitting in the face of umpire Ray Snyder in 1941.

Mayo was drafted by the Philadelphia Athletics from the Cubs in the 1942 Rule V Draft and returned to the majors in 1943 as the Athletics' regular third baseman. After that season, he was purchased by the Boston Red Sox but was quickly taken away by the Detroit Tigers in the 1943 Rule V Draft. He became the Tigers' starting second baseman in 1944 and had his best year in 1945, when he hit .285 with 10 home runs, was an All-Star, and was second in the 1945 American League Most Valuable Player Award voting. He hit .250 in that year's World Series, as the Tigers beat the Cubs in seven games. He continued with Detroit until 1948.

After his playing career, Mayo was third base coach for the Boston Red Sox in 1941 and the Philadelphia Phillies from 1952 to 1954. He also managed the Toledo Mud Hens in 1949 and 1950. After leaving baseball, he owned several restaurants. He eventually retired to Southern California and was an active supporter of several children's charities. Mayo died in 2006 at age 96.

Notable Achievements

• AL All-Star (1945)
• Won a World Series with the Detroit Tigers in 1945

Related Sites

• Eddie Mayo at the SABR Bio Project