Pete Ward
Peter Thomas Ward
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 200 lb.
- School Lewis & Clark College
- High School Jefferson High School (Portland)
- Debut September 21, 1962
- Final Game September 25, 1970
- Born July 26, 1937 in Montreal, QC CAN
- Died March 16, 2022 in Lake Oswego, OR USA
Biographical Information[edit]
Known for his unorthodox batting stance, Pete Ward played nine seasons in the majors and was the Chicago White Sox's starting third baseman for much of the 1960s.
The son of Jim Ward, who played in the NHL for eleven seasons, Pete grew up in Portland, Oregon, after his father moved there following World War II to coach hockey. He was born in Montreal, QC, but his date of birth is in dispute; it may have been 1935. After attending Lewis & Clark College, he was signed by the Baltimore Orioles organization in 1958. In 1960, he hit .345 for the Fox Cities Foxes to lead the Three-I League, and with the Rochester Red Wings two years later, he paced the International League with 34 doubles before earning a late season call-up with the Orioles in 1962.
Prior to the 1963 season, Ward was traded to the White Sox as part of the deal that sent Luis Aparicio to the O's. He was the Opening Day third baseman for the Sox and went on to put together an 18-game hitting streak in June, before ending the year with a .295 average, 22 home runs, and 84 RBIs. He was runner-up to teammate Gary Peters for the 1963 American League Rookie of the Year Award and won The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award that season.
In his second season with the Sox, Ward hit 23 homers (including 3 grand slams) and finished sixth in American League Most Valuable Player voting. However, in 1965, he suffered a neck injury in a car accident, and the following year, he struggled with a back injury. He returned with 18 home runs in 1967 but had lost his regular position and was moved around between first base, third base, and the outfield. Following the 1969 season, he was traded to the New York Yankees for pitcher Mickey Scott, and he ended his big league career after playing the 1970 season in New York.
Following his playing days, Ward managed in the minors and was a coach for the Atlanta Braves in 1978.
As of 2006, Ward is one of only two major league players to play come out of Lewis & Clark College (Justin Baughman is the other).
Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]
Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1972 | Fort Lauderdale Yankees | Florida State League | 64-65 | 7th | New York Yankees | ||
1973 | Fort Lauderdale Yankees | Florida State League | 67-72 | 7th | New York Yankees | ||
1974 | Fort Lauderdale Yankees | Florida State League | 82-49 | 1st | New York Yankees | Lost League Finals | |
1975 | West Haven Yankees | Eastern League | 66-71 | 4th | New York Yankees | ||
1976 | West Haven Yankees | Eastern League | 80-59 | 2nd | New York Yankees | League Champs | |
1977 | Syracuse Chiefs | International League | 70-70 | 5th | New York Yankees | ||
1980 | Iowa Oaks | American Association | 32-42 | -- | Chicago White Sox | -- | replaced by Sam Ewing (27-35) on June 30 |
1981 | Portland Beavers | Pacific Coast League | 72-65 | 3rd (t) | Pittsburgh Pirates |
Notable Achievements[edit]
- 1963 Topps All-Star Rookie Team
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 2 (1963 & 1964)
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