Joe Adcock

Infobox MLB retired
name=Joe Adcock


position=First baseman / Outfielder
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date|1927|10|30
city-state|Coushatta|Louisiana
deathdate=death date and age|1999|5|3|1927|10|30
city-state|Coushatta|Louisiana
debutdate=April 23
debutyear=by|1950
debutteam=Cincinnati Reds
finaldate=October 1
finalyear=by|1966
finalteam=California Angels
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.277
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=336
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=1,122
teams=
* Cincinnati Reds (by|1950–by|1952)
* Milwaukee Braves (by|1953–by|1962)
* Cleveland Indians (by|1963)
* Los Angeles / California Angels (by|1964-by|1966)
highlights=
* All-Star selection (1960)
* World Series champion (1957)

Joseph Wilbur "Billy Joe" Adcock (October 30 1927 - May 3 1999) was an American first baseman and right-handed batter in Major League Baseball, best known for his years with the powerful Milwaukee Braves teams of the 1950s, whose career included numerous home run feats. A sure-handed defensive player, he also retired with the third highest career fielding percentage by a first baseman (.994). His nickname "Billy Joe" was modeled after Vanderbilt University basketball star "Billy Joe Adcock" and was popularized by Vin Scully.

Adcock was born in Coushatta, Louisiana. He was signed by the Cincinnati Reds after a successful run at Louisiana State University, but Ted Kluszewski had firm hold of the team's first base slot. Adcock played in left field from 1950-52, but was unhappy and demanded a trade, which he received. His first season with the Braves was capped by a mammoth home run into the center field bleachers at the Polo Grounds on April 29, 1953, a feat that had never been done before and would only be accomplished twice more, by Hank Aaron and Lou Brock.

On July 31, 1954, he accomplished the rare feat of homering four times in a single game, against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field, and set a new record for most total bases in a game (18) that stood until broken by Shawn Green in by|2002.

Another notable home run was the blast that ended the epic duel between Lew Burdette and Harvey Haddix on May 26, 1959, in which Haddix took a perfect game into the 12th inning. Adcock did not get credit for a home run, however, because Aaron – who was on first base – saw Felix Mantilla, the runner ahead of him, score the winning run and thought the hit had only been a double and walked back to the dugout, causing Adcock to be called out for passing him on the base paths.

Adcock was often overshadowed both by his own teammates Aaron and Eddie Mathews, and by the other slugging first basemen in the league, Kluszewski and Gil Hodges, but he did make one All-Star team (1960) and was regularly among the league leaders in home runs. In by|1956, he finished second in the National League in home runs, runs batted in, and slugging average. After playing for the Cleveland Indians (1963) and Los Angeles/California Angels (1964-66), Adcock managed the Cleveland Indians for one year (1967) and managed two more years in the minor leagues before settling down at his 288-acre (1.2 km²) ranch in Coushatta to raise horses. He died in Coushatta at age 71.

ee also

* Top 500 home run hitters of all time
* List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
* Batters with four home runs in one game
* Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game

References

*

External links

* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/A/Adcock_Joe.stm BaseballLibrary] - biography and career highlights
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6378447 Find-A-Grave site]