R.I.P.: Eddie Joost, ol' #1.

Baseball R.I.P.: Eddie Joost, age 94.

Ol' number 1. He was an interesting player. Although he was a lifetime .239 hitter, he often received MVP support. From 1947-52, he finished in the top 15 in the MVP balloting five times out of six years. In 1947 he finished 11th in the balloting despite a .206 batting average (.330 slugging). Two of the electors gave him their first place vote! And he did that without playing for a great team, and without being a powerful slugger or a speedy base stealer.

How is that even possible?

Good shortstop. Tremendous batting eye.

He drew 100+ walks in all six of those years, topped by an incredible 149 in 1949. He also hit 23 homers that year and knocked in 81, so the little rapscallion had some pop in his bat as well.

He managed the Philadelphia As exactly one year. That happened to be their last year in baseball. They went 51-103, whereupon they moved to Kansas City without telling Joost. Some say he would go to the ballpark every day for years, wondering where everyone was.

OK, I made that last part up. They did move to KC, but the As fired Eddie and hired Lou Boudreau. Eddie did fine, however. He moved to Hawaii and worked for Wilson Sporting Goods. Let's face it, most of us would trade for that.