Possum Whitted
| Possum Whitted | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Outfielder / Third baseman | |||
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Born: February 4, 1890 Durham, North Carolina | |||
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Died: October 16, 1962 (aged 72) Wilmington, North Carolina | |||
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| MLB debut | |||
| September 16, 1912, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| April 23, 1922, for the Brooklyn Robins | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .269 | ||
| Home runs | 23 | ||
| Runs batted in | 451 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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George Bostic "Possum" Whitted (February 4, 1890 – October 16, 1962) was an American professional baseball outfielder and third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1912 to 1922 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Brooklyn Robins.
In 1914, Whitted was a member of the Braves team that went from last place to first place in two months, becoming the first team to win a pennant after being in last place on the Fourth of July.[1] The team then went on to defeat Connie Mack's heavily favored Philadelphia Athletics in the 1914 World Series.
He played for the Phillies in 1915, which won the National League Pennant.
He was the first rookie in history to start at every position (except pitcher and catcher) during the season.
In 11 seasons he played in 1,025 games and had 3,630 at bats, 440 runs, 978 hits, 145 doubles, 60 triples, 23 home runs, 451 RBI, 116 stolen bases, 215 walks, .269 batting average, .313 on-base percentage, .361 slugging percentage, 1,312 total bases and 180 sacrifice hits.
He died in Wilmington, North Carolina at the age of 72 due to cardiac complications. As a United States Army Sergeant First Class in the Quartermaster Corps during World War I, he was buried at the Wilmington National Cemetery.[2]
There is presently one survivor of George “Possum” Bostic Whitted, Sr.; his granddaughter, Dr. Tracy Whitted Brown, daughter of Possum’s only child, George Bostic Whitted, Jr., of Chapel Hill. George Whitted Sr., and George Whitted, Jr., are buried in the VA Cemetery in Wilmington, NC. Dr. Tracy Whitted Brown, also previously a notable athlete, is a Neuroscientist, previously of the Salk Biological Institute, La Jolla, CA., currently residing in NC.
Possum’s sister, Dr. Bessie Whitted Spence, taught at Duke University, Trinity College of Religion, and was the first female Professor Emeritus.
Sources
- ↑ The 1914 Boston Braves at www.thisgreatgame.com Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ George "Possum" Whitted at Find a Grave
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Possum Whitted at Find a Grave
