June 8 – Happy Birthday Del Paddock
Del Paddock is one of two not-well-known former Yankee franchise infielders to celebrate their birthday on June 8th. Paddock played 46 games for New York way back in the 1912 season, when they were still known as the Highlanders. He could hit decently, averaging .288 for New York that year, which was higher than any of the team’s starting position players could manage except for outfielder Birdie Cree. Paddock’s problem was fielding. He evidently had hands of stone, committing 14 errors in 41 games.
Evidently, Paddock’s poor fielding wasn’t the only problem with the 1912 Highlander team. That squad ended up with the worst regular season record in Yankee franchise history, going 50-102 and finishing dead last in the league.
Paddock was released by New York after that one season. He would spend the rest of his playing career in the minors and eventually fight in WW I. Paddock died in 1952, two years before this one-time Yankee infielder who shares Paddock’s birthday was born.
| Year | Tm | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | NYY | 46 | 185 | 156 | 26 | 45 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 21 | .288 | .393 | .378 | .772 |
| 1 Yr | 47 | 186 | 157 | 26 | 45 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 22 | .287 | .391 | .376 | .767 | |
| NYY (1 yr) | 46 | 185 | 156 | 26 | 45 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 21 | .288 | .393 | .378 | .772 | |
| CHW (1 yr) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | |
