George Case

George Washington Case, Jr.

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 183 lb.
• High School Peddie School
• Debut September 8, 1937
• Final Game August 3, 1947
• Born November 11, 1915 in Trenton, NJ USA
• Died January 23, 1989 in Trenton, NJ USA

BR page

Biographical Information

“His raw speed and ability to read pitchers and catchers made him the most feared basestealer in either league.” - Mark Stang, in his 2005 book The Washington Senators On Parade

Speedy outfielder George Case played eleven seasons in the majors, leading the American League in stolen bases in six of them.

The most famous of the major leaguers named after President George Washington, Case began his pro career in 1936 and was in the majors with the Washington Senators the following year at 21. He stole 51 bases in 1939 to lead the AL for the first time and earned a spot on the All-Star team on the strength of a .302/.369/.377 line and 103 runs scored. He had his finest year at the plate in 1942, hitting .320/.377/.407 while stealing 44 bases and scoring 101 times. The next summer, he posted a career-best 61 steals while leading the AL with 102 runs scored. As a Senator, he scored 100 runs four times while making four All-Star Games, including three straight from 1943 to 1945, though no game was played in 1945.

Following the 1945 season, Case was dealt to the Cleveland Indians for Jeff Heath. He led the American League in stolen bases for the final time in 1946 with 28. Traded back to Washington after the year in Ohio, he appeared in just 36 games in 1947 before his career was ended by injuries. With the Indians, master showman and new owner Bill Veeck put Case's speed to test against legendary Olympian Jesse Owens in a foot race. Both were perhaps a bit past their prime at the time, but Owens beat Case by a small margin. Clyde Milan, a former Senators player, coach and scout, rated Case's speed greater than any big leaguer he ever saw.

After his playing days, Case coached at Rutgers University from 1950 to 1960. He was a member of the new Washington Senators coaching staff from 1961 to 1963 and the first base coach of the Minnesota Twins in 1968, who happened to be the new incarnation of the old Senators. He died of emphysema at 73 in 1989.

Notable Achievements

• 4-time AL All-Star (1939 & 1943-1945)
• AL Runs Scored Leader (1943)
• 6-time AL Stolen Bases Leader (1939-1943 & 1946)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 4 (1939, 1940, 1942 & 1943)
• 50 Stolen Bases Seasons; 2 (1939 & 1943)

Records Held

• Hits, doubleheader, 9, 7/4/40 (tied)

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1965	Hawaii Islanders	Pacific Coast League	75-72	6th (t)	Washington Senators
1966	Hawaii Islanders	Pacific Coast League	63-84	10th	Washington Senators
1967	York White Roses	Eastern League	26-51	8th	Washington Senators		Replaced Billy Klaus (17-44) on June 27
1969	Oneonta Yankees	New York-Penn League	52-27	1st	New York Yankees	none League Champions
1970	Oneonta Yankees	New York-Penn League	41-28	2nd	New York Yankees
1971	Oneonta Yankees	New York-Penn League	45-23	1st	New York Yankees	none League Champions
1972	Oneonta Yankees	New York-Penn League	45-25	2nd	New York Yankees

Related Sites

• George Case at the SABR Bio Project
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