Johnny Watwood
Born: 8/17/1905 in Alexander City, AL, USA
Died: 3/1/1980 in Goodwater, AL, USA
MLB Debut: 1929-04-16 | Final Game: 1939-05-29
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 186 lbs
Full name: John Clifford Watwood
Biography
Johnny Watwood was a professional baseball player born in 1905, whose career spanned from 1929 to 1939. As a position player, he made a notable impact in Major League Baseball over the course of 469 games. Watwood was known for his solid batting skills, finishing his career with a .283 batting average, which reflected his ability to consistently make contact and get on base. He recorded a total of 403 hits, including 5 home runs and 158 runs batted in (RBIs), contributing to his teams' offensive efforts during a period characterized by the transition from the deadball era to a more power-oriented game.
In addition to his hitting prowess, Watwood showcased his speed on the basepaths, stealing 27 bases throughout his career. His playing style was emblematic of the era, where agility and batting average were highly valued. While he may not have reached the fame of some contemporaries, Watwood's contributions to the game during a decade of significant evolution in baseball history remain noteworthy. His career, which concluded on May 29, 1939, left a lasting impression on those who followed the game during the late 1920s and 1930s.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 469 | 1423 | 192 | 403 | 66 | 16 | 5 | 158 | 27 | 154 | 103 | 0.283 | 0.356 | 0.363 | 0.718 | -715.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | CHW | AL | 85 | 278 | 33 | 84 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 6 | 22 | 21 | 0.302 | -42.3 |
| 1930 | CHW | AL | 133 | 427 | 75 | 129 | 25 | 4 | 2 | 51 | 5 | 52 | 35 | 0.302 | -10.8 |
| 1931 | CHW | AL | 128 | 367 | 51 | 104 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 47 | 9 | 56 | 30 | 0.283 | 370.9 |
| 1932 | BOS | AL | 95 | 266 | 26 | 66 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 7 | 20 | 11 | 0.248 | -975.8 |
| 1932 | CHW | AL | 13 | 49 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.306 | -975.8 |
| 1933 | BOS | AL | 13 | 30 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0.133 | 0.0 |
| 1939 | PHI | NL | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.167 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 86 | 0 | 771 | 58 | 15 | 77 |
| OF | 299 | 0 | 707 | 29 | 40 | 4 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | CHA | OF | 77 | 0 | 188 | 7 | 12 | 2 |
| 1930 | CHA | 1B | 62 | 0 | 590 | 41 | 7 | 59 |
| 1930 | CHA | OF | 52 | 0 | 117 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| 1931 | CHA | 1B | 4 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1931 | CHA | OF | 102 | 0 | 259 | 13 | 16 | 2 |
| 1932 | BOS | 1B | 18 | 0 | 149 | 16 | 7 | 17 |
| 1932 | BOS | OF | 46 | 0 | 101 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 1932 | CHA | OF | 13 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1933 | BOS | OF | 9 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1939 | PHI | 1B | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 85 |
| Left Field | 21 |
| Center Field | 197 |
| Right Field | 90 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University | Auburn | AL | 1927, 1928 |