| Billy Goodman | |
|---|---|
 Goodman, circa 1953 | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: March 22, 1926 Concord, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| Died: October 1, 1984 (aged 58) Sarasota, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 19, 1947, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 29, 1962, for the Houston Colt .45s | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .300 |
| Home runs | 19 |
| Runs batted in | 591 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
William Dale Goodman (March 22, 1926 – October 1, 1984) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) infielder who played 16 seasons for the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and Houston Colt .45s, from 1947 through 1962. Goodman was inducted posthumously into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in November 2004.[1]
Goodman was an outstanding hitter and fielder, he was one of the most versatile players of his era. He played every position in the major leagues except catcher and pitcher and was an All-Star for two seasons. In 1950, he won the American League (AL) batting title hitting .354 with 68 runs batted in (RBI) and was the AL Most Valuable Player runner-up to New York Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto (hit .324 with 66 RBI). Goodman batted over .290 in eleven seasons including over .300 in five seasons. In 1959, he hit .304, helping the White Sox win the AL Pennant championship. His career .376 on-base percentage made him an ideal lead-off hitter. He was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1969.[2]
- ^ "Red Sox announce 2004 Hall of Fame selections". MLB.com. April 13, 2004. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
- ^ "Billy Goodman". North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. 1969. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2013.