He then signed with the Giants in December of 1990, and spent 5 years there, until he signed with the Red Sox in 1995. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The incipient fatherhood of Daunte Wright is but one example. Willie Mcgee - Warehouse Associate at Clopay Building Products - Wiza Dee Strange-Gordon was the premiere base stealer in the majors in the 2010s, leading all players with 330 steals, and made a little bit of history in 2015 when he became the first player to lead the National League in batting average and stolen bases since Jackie Robinson in 1949. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Then, Willie McGees fictional wife Rosalee McGee (the real Eliza Jane Patton was long gone to Las Vegas) took up the torch. Now, all of us know what happened in that 1985 year, "the call" during the I-70 World . He's still the only person to ever play in both the Super Bowl and World Series. Teams: Kansas City/Oakland Athletics (1964-76), Texas Rangers (1977-79), California Angels (1979-81), New York Rangers (1983), Career highlights: Three-time World Series champion (1972-74), six-time All-Star (1968, 1972-75, 1977). While these events are clearly specific to the McGee family, the upending of Black families by the structures of white supremacy is not. Why not? He starred in the Negro Leagues but failed to crack the majors once Jackie Robinson broke the color line in 1947. Hochman: On Willie McGee's birthday, 51 reasons St. Louis - STLtoday 0. To contact Jaclyn, email her at. These are the fastest players in Major League Baseball history. Diablo Valley College (Pleasant Hill, CA). The stolen base should come back, but probably won't Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Willie Nelson 90 Day 1: Neil Young and Stephen Stills play fast and To that end, Reyes led the National League in stolen bases three times and triples four times, and in 2005 and 2006, he led the NL in both categories. 6/23/84: Willie McGee becomes the first Cardinals player since Lou Brock in 1975 to hit for the cycleCheck out http://MLB.com/video for more!About MLB.com: F. Willie McGee - 1987 Donruss Autographed Baseball card # 84 - Cardinals Born: Dec. 9, 1960 (San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic), Teams: Philadelphia Phillies (1983-89), New York Mets (1989), Los Angeles Dodgers (1990-92), Kansas City Royals (1992, 1995), Cincinnati Reds (1993), Detroit Tigers (1994-95), Toronto Blue Jays (1996-98), Career highlights: Three-time All-Star (1984, 1987, 1991), Silver Slugger Award (1987). Hi! (the real Eliza Jane Patton was long gone to Las Vegas) took up the torch. The average time for right-handed hitters from home to first is 4.3 seconds, and it's 4.2 seconds for left-handed hitters. He set the single-game steals target for Rickey Henderson a hundred years later, with 7. Having the advantage of living in KC, you know I never hear the end of that one, but hey, what else have those fans got? Fifty witnesses watched as McGee was strapped down and killed in an electric chair placed in front of the jury box, while five hundred white men, women, and children celebrated on the courthouse lawn. Was it hisuminteresting hitting style? My Favorite Player: Willie McGee - The Athletic Willie McGee was born in New Orleans, LA. Willie McGee (c. 1916 - May 8, 1951) was an African American man from Laurel, Mississippi, who was sentenced to death in 1945 and executed on Tuesday, May 8, 1951, after being controversially convicted for the rape of a white woman on November 2, 1945. The Cardinals made the trade on the recommendation of Smith, a Cardinals scout, who watched McGee play for the Yankees' Nashville farm club and liked what he saw. Henderson, who led the AL in stolen bases 12 times, played in the majors until he was almost 45 years old and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. When Willie McGee was executed by the state of Mississippi in 1951, his loss was felt deeply by progressives and leftists who spent years trying to exonerate him. Willie McGee stole 56 bases. 13, 2015, 3:06 p.m. One more stunning stat about Wilson was that he led the American League in triples five times, with the fifth occurrence coming in his 13th season in the majors. He ranks 10th all time in career stolen bases with 723, and is among the list of most runs scored with 1,739. After more than a month in confinement, McGee confessed and was quickly tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. Born: June 11, 1983 (Villa Gonzalez, Santiago, Dominican Republic), Teams: New York Mets (2003-11, 2016-18), Miami Marlins (2012), Toronto Blue Jays (2013-15), Colorado Rockies (2015), Career highlights: Four-time All-Star (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011), Silver Slugger Award (2006), National League batting champion (2011). Jaclyn Nolan is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Georgia in the Department of Communication Studies with a Ph.D from the University of Kansas. Gore turned down scholarship offers from big-time college football programs to play baseball. Coleman was a two-time All-American punter and kicker at Florida A&M. Lets face it, Willie McGee is not the best looking man in the history of professional sports. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. When he died, he was one of the richest men in the South, with an estate worth in excess of $100 million in today's money. For all the attention Willie McGee attracted, his most ardent support came from an unlikely corner: the communist-affiliated Civil Rights Congress. I am a middle school teacher by day, and a mom at night. Mickey Rivers, he was fast. As many as 1,000 onlookers gathered at the Jones County Courthouse in Laurel for his electrocution for the alleged rape of white homemaker Willette Hawkins. Contact SABR, LnRiLWhlYWRpbmcuaGFzLWJhY2tncm91bmR7cGFkZGluZzowfQ==, LnRiLWZpZWxke21hcmdpbi1ib3R0b206MC43NmVtfS50Yi1maWVsZC0tbGVmdHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOmxlZnR9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1jZW50ZXJ7dGV4dC1hbGlnbjpjZW50ZXJ9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1yaWdodHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOnJpZ2h0fS50Yi1maWVsZF9fc2t5cGVfcHJldmlld3twYWRkaW5nOjEwcHggMjBweDtib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOjNweDtjb2xvcjojZmZmO2JhY2tncm91bmQ6IzAwYWZlZTtkaXNwbGF5OmlubGluZS1ibG9ja311bC5nbGlkZV9fc2xpZGVze21hcmdpbjowfQ==, 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, https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/McGeeWillie.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png, https://www.bnd.com/sports/mlb/st-louis-cardinals/article78108362.html, https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/OAKLAND-Willie-McGee-goes-to-bat-for-students-2734852.php. Born: April 22, 1990 (Fort Wayne, Indiana), Career highlights: Three-time Gold Glove Award winner (2015, 2016, 2019). var cid='3035317757';var pid='ca-pub-5507458519664785';var slotId='div-gpt-ad-baseballscouter_com-medrectangle-3-0';var ffid=1;var alS=1021%1000;var container=document.getElementById(slotId);var ins=document.createElement('ins');ins.id=slotId+'-asloaded';ins.className='adsbygoogle ezasloaded';ins.dataset.adClient=pid;ins.dataset.adChannel=cid;ins.style.display='block';ins.style.minWidth=container.attributes.ezaw.value+'px';ins.style.width='100%';ins.style.height=container.attributes.ezah.value+'px';container.style.maxHeight=container.style.minHeight+'px';container.style.maxWidth=container.style.minWidth+'px';container.appendChild(ins);(adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({});window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'stat_source_id',44);window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'adsensetype',1);var lo=new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent);lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId+'-asloaded'),{attributes:true});The stolen base can be among the most-exciting plays in a Major League Baseball game. Career highlights: World Series champion (2017), American League MVP (2017), ALCS MVP (2019), Gold Glove Award (2015), six-time All-Star (2012, 2014-18), five-time Silver Slugger Award winner (2014-18). His storymuch like the names we encounter todayis one of ordinary humanity, names not of public record until their lives were cut short and too soon on the basis of unequal structures. That includes policing and the criminal-justice system. Born: Nov. 2, 1958 (San Francisco, California), Teams: St. Louis Cardinals (1982-90), Oakland Athletics (1990), San Francisco Giants (1991-94), Boston Red Sox (1995), St. Louis Cardinals (1996-99), Career highlights: World Series champion (1982), National League MVP (1985), four-time All-Star (1983, 1985, 1987, 1988), three-time Gold Glove Award winner (1983, 1985, 1986), Silver Slugger Award (1985). "Time is crazy, and it's just flying by all the time," McGee said, while shaking his head. High School. Part of a stolen base renaissance in the 1970s, Wilson used his elite speed to propel the fledgling Kansas City Royals into constant contention from his arrival in 1976, continuing for many years thereafter including a World Series appearance in 1980 and world title in 1985. He led the National League in strikeouts four times and averaged 136 strikeouts over 16 seasons. Fastest Players in MLB History | Stadium Talk Tim Raines showed off his elite speed in high school on the baseball field, but more so on the football field as one of the most sought-after running back recruits in the nation. Phone: 602.496.1460 Known for. Then, Willie McGees fictional wife Rosalee McGee. }, Cronkite School at ASU On the first pitch he stole second base, barely avoiding a tag, and then on the next pitch raced home on a base hit to score and tie the game. Hamilton's 303 career stolen bases in essentially just six full-time MLB seasons jump off the page, but so do his struggles at the plate with just a .241 career batting average. Learn more - Top Rated Plus - opens in a new window or tab. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Willie McGee - 1987 Donruss Autographed Baseball card # 84 - Cardinals - OF at the best online prices at eBay! From there, the McGee family migrated westto Las Vegas, Nev.,, an arguably easier place to be Black in the world in the late 1940s. In 1965, Campaneris became the first player in MLB history to play all nine positions in a single game. McGees case captured the nations attention as he had gone through three trials and three convictions between 1945 and 1951. 1 on this list. Campaneris was one of the mainstays for the Oakland Athletics on three consecutive World Series championship teams in the early 1970s and led the American League in stolen bases six times. So, how much is Willie McGee worth at the age of 65 years old? Phoenix, AZ 85004 (2000-07-14) (aged 83) Baltimore [1] Occupation. Maury Wills changed that when he stole 102 bases for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1962 and the stolen base era had begun. 1993 Topps Gold #435 Willie McGee Giants | eBay More recent incidents of police violence have produced newfound activists such as Gwen Carr and Erica Garner, respectively the mother and daughter of Eric Garner, whom a police officer killed with a chokehold in New York City. He also owns the single-season record with 130 stolen bases. Heard quotes . Billy Hamiltons electric debut #SpeedKills #RunBillyRun pic.twitter.com/SV9jUCla8a. He set the MLB rookie record with 72 stolen bases in 1984. Lorraine Hansberry, the playwright, wrote a poem about McGee, , and Tennessee Williams referred to McGees case in his play Orpheus Descending., For all the attention Willie McGee attracted, his most ardent support came from an unlikely corner: the communist-affiliated Civil Rights Congress. Fifty witnesses watched as McGee was strapped down and killed in an electric chair placed in front of the [] All rights reserved. In December of 1995, he came back to the Cardinals, where he ended his career in 1999. Altuve has led the American League in stolen bases twice and has been clocked at a blazing 3.3 seconds from home plate to first base. Willie McGee Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac At the time of McGees electrocution, news outlets across the United States, Europe and Asia covered what was dubbed a legal lynching., In life and in death, Willie McGee assumed a newfound function as an icon of southern injustice. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Having played baseball at the school and college levels, I gained a decent amount of knowledge about the game, along with insiders tips on little things that can help you win. Who would he join in this immortal realm? His running style? Willie McGee was born on Sunday, November 2, 1958, in San Francisco, California. I am a life-long Cardinals' fan from the west side (of MO). Few if any analyses of fastest MLB players would be complete without including The RIckey the MLBs all-time leader in stolen bases (1,406), most runs scored (2,295), and most seasons leading the league in stolen bases (12). Only the likes of Ozzie, Schoendienst, The Man, Slaughter, Boyer, Dizzy Dean, Lou Brock, Whitey Herzog, Jackie Robinson (in all of baseball), Sutter, Bob Gibson, August Busch and Jack Buck. There's something different about baseball speed. The major league stolen base record-holder for many years until Maury Wills made the SB en vogue in the early 1960s, the Georgia Peach was known as much for his base-running antics and spikes-high slides than he was for getting more base hits than anyone else and toying with a .400 batting average year in, year out. Where was Willie McGee born? He is one of only two people to play in the Final Four and the World Series and is the MLB career leader in postseason stolen bases. Willie McGee has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. Born: Sept. 9. physicist. Lofton led the American League in stolen bases five times and is No. William Faulkner, Albert Einstein, Josephine Baker, Jessica Mitford, Norman Mailer, Richard Wright and Frida Kahlo all weighed in on McGees plight. Willie McGee - Society for American Baseball Research Alex Heard, whose 2010 book , recounted the case in detail, remarked: Somewhere along the line, it stopped being only about verifiable facts. We must remember Willie McGees name and the tragedies left in the aftermath of his electrocution. Part-timer Lonnie Smith stole 12, and so on down the line.. Willie McGee - Assistant Coach | St. Louis Cardinals - MLB Willie Dean McGee (born November 2, 1958) is an American professional baseball coach and former outfielder who is an assistant coach for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Exceeded rookie limits during 1982 season, View Player Bio His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. Willie McGee was the fastest.. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. , a grim milestone in the history of civil rights in Mississippi. us. On Oct. 22, 1981, the Cardinals completed one of their best trades in team history (second only to Brock-for-Broglio), acquiring Willie McGee from the Yankees for Bob . The event was broadcast live on the radio. In summary, Willie McGee looked like a man with 300-year-old joints running downhill in a hailstorm. Willie McGee (convict) - Wikipedia In December of 1995, he came back to the Cardinals, where he ended his career in 1999. Willie McGee's age is 64. Teams: Kansas City Royals (1986-90), Chicago White Sox (1991, 1993), California Angels (1994), Career highlights: MLB All-Star Game MVP (1989), All-Star (1989). He's been clocked rounding the bases in a blazing 14.7 seconds and another time moving at 29.58 feet per second on the basepaths. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Gov. mavmil (21146) 100% positive feedback . background-color:#ba3434; Rick Hummel. Crawford originally signed with Nebraska to play football but turned to baseball after Tampa Bay made him a second-round pick. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'baseballscouter_com-leader-1','ezslot_8',123,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-baseballscouter_com-leader-1-0');A precursor to Cobb, Wagner is more known for his hitting prowess and for being on the most-valued baseball card ever, but in his day he could fly. What was Willies contribution to these teams? Dee Strange-Gordon's dad may have actually gotten the nickname that was more appropriate for his son. July 14, 2000. That's comparable to the fastest players in the NFL. (Age 40-335d) Well, Willie never met a pitch he didn't like. Delino Deshields Jr. plays for the Cleveland Indians, and Diamond Deshields plays for the WNBA's Chicago Sky. A conversation with Willie McGee | Belleville News-Democrat Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. Samuel's career could have gone much better if he'd figured out how to take on some pitches. I live in Kansas City, MO with my two kids. Echoes of Willie McGee's Execution, on NPR - The New York Times Free shipping for many products! Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936, Cobb is firmly entrenched in Americana lore for his life and career. The state Supreme Court upheld this decision, and the US Supreme Court rejected several appeals over the next three years. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Those numbers are even more impressive considering he is only 5-foot-5 and 160 pounds. Willie McGee returns to the Cardinals Major League coaching staff for his fifth season and is responsible for a variety of areas including outfield play, base running and hitting. 1985 was probably Willies biggest season, as he was the NL MVP, finished first for the NL batting title (.353), NL hit leader (216), and the NL triples leader (18). McGee's legal case became a cause clbre that attracted worldwide attention, as it was roundly decried as a miscarriage of justice in the . Brett Gardner has a more than respectable career Wins Above Replacement of 42.8, due in large part to his speed. Honorable Mentions: Nap Lajoie, Tris Speaker, Kenny Lofton, Willie McGee, Dee Gordon, Ichiro Suzuki, Otis Nixon. He kept it up in his next at-bat; he kept it up all day. . Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. But baseball speed is different than football speed (it's more nuanced), and Sanders does have a few peers in MLB history when it comes to flying around the bases, although not many. But, Willie McGee was a person with inherent humanityand must Black exceptionalism be required to save a life? McGee was arrested in November 1945 after Laurel housewife Willette Hawkins accused him of crawling through an open window and raping her as she lay next to her sick child while her husband and two other children slept in nearby rooms. is but one example. (Age 23-189d, Families depend on it. One of the most beloved Cardinals ever, McGee won three Gold Gloves, appeared in four All-Star Games and won two league batting titles with St. Louis (1985, '90), the second awarded after he was traded to the A's following 125 games with the Cards that season. In the outfield, Kiermaier's ability to rob home runs has become his calling card, and he's already a three-time Gold Glove Award winner. The case proved an embarrassment to the United States, which was growing increasingly concerned about its image abroad. The only contemporary to come close to challenging Henderson for base-stealing superiority (at least for a few years), Coleman logged 110 stolen bases one season, eclipsed only by The Rickeys MLB record of 130. Lofton played for a whopping 10 teams in 17 MLB seasons, including three different stints with the Cleveland Indians. Somehow, Wilson only made two All-Star teams. Granderson's speed didn't result in lots of stolen bases more like doubles and triples. Willie McGee Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family McGee went on to become one of the Cardinals' best and most . (University of Southern Mississippi) McGee was dressed in a . Top 10 Fastest MLB Players Ever (With Videos) - Baseball Scouter He spent one season at Gulf Coast Community College and stole 51 bases in 54 attempts before being drafted by the Royals in the 20th round in 2011. Born: June 18, 1939 (El Dorado, Arkansas), Died: Sept. 6, 2020 (St. Charles, Missouri), Teams: Chicago Cubs (1961-64), St. Louis Cardinals (1964-79), Career highlights: Two-time World Series champion (1964, 1967), six-time All-Star (1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979), Roberto Clemente Award (1975). Former major leaguer and St. Louis Cardinals fan favorite Willie McGee was in Sauget Friday to help the Gateway Grizzlies open their 2016 Frontier League season. The bulk of Laurels white citizenry argued that the far-left intervention into McGees case amounted to politically motivated outside influence; critics charged the CRC with using Willie McGee in order to peddle their communist politics and ultimately embarrass the United States on the world stage. Black women have long found themselves in this not-so sought-after role. A Black 36-year-old truck driver, Willie McGee, became an important part of Mississippi history just after midnight on May 8, 1951, in the same courtroom where he was condemned to death. Deion's baseball speed was best on display in 1992, when he led the National League with 14 triples despite only playing in 97 games and splitting his time between the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Willie McGee put himself in the conversation as one of the best players in baseball as a rookie in 1982, when he helped lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series championship. News outlets from local Mississippi papers to national and international outfits covered his case with fervor. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'baseballscouter_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-baseballscouter_com-banner-1-0');Robert William Hamilton was a lifetime .344 average hitter who stole 914 bases over his career a record which stood for 80 years with the Kansas City Cowboys, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Beaneaters. Sorry, I meant they were members of the Whiteyball team together. Gardner, who has been clocked at 3.5 seconds from home plate to first base, also has incredible discipline at the plate that helps him take advantage of his speed. Willie McGee's income source is mostly from being a successful . May 8, 2021, was the 70th anniversary of the electrocution of Willie McGee in Mississippis. The CRC also arranged for delegations of supporters to travel to Mississippi to lobby the governor and flooded the offices of other state officials with petitions demanding justice. Founded in 1946, the CRC was composed of former far-left civil rights organizations including the, In many ways the case of Willie McGee is shrouded in mystery. Im a sucker for the guy that quietly gets his job done. Died: July, 17, 1961 (age 74, Atlanta, Georgia), Teams: Detroit Tigers (1905-26), Philadelphia Athletics (1927-28), Career highlights: American League MVP (1911), Triple Crown (1909), 12-time American League batting champion (1907-15, 1917-19), MLB All-Century Team. 15 on MLB's career stolen bases list with 622. In 1945, Willie McGee was arrested on charges of raping a white housewife in Laurel, Mississippi. The second verdict was reversed by the United States Supreme Court on the ground that Negroes had been systematically excluded from Mississippi juries. That, to me, was a fitting tribute to a great Cardinal. Willie Wilson (1976-1994) Part of a stolen base renaissance in the 1970s, Wilson used his elite speed to propel the fledgling Kansas City Royals into constant contention from his arrival in 1976, continuing for many years thereafter including a World Series appearance in 1980 and world title in 1985. Ordinary citizens and major public figures commented on the case. He also holds one of the cooler stathead records of all time he recorded the most stolen bases (50) with the fewest at-bats (263) in MLB history in 1990 with the Montreal Expos. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. As famed civil rights reporter John Popham wrote in The New York Times: The first verdict was reversed by the State Supreme Court and a change of venue was granted because of local public feeling. More recently, Ive had the opportunity to speak with Bridgette about her grandfathers case and her role as the family historian.. Career highlights: Gold Glove Award (2017), Wilson Defensive Player of the Year (2017). Feeling threatened by the increasingly restless mobs that milled about the courthouse during the trial, the CRC attorneys fled Mississippi without offering a closing argument, and the jury again found McGee guilty.