Tweet
Former Major Leaguer Jacob Fields Wade Dies at 93
Morehead City, North Carolina -- Jake Wade, known as “Whistling Jake” during his ten-year career in major league baseball in the 1930s and 40s, passed away last night, February 1, 2006, at his home in Morehead City, North Carolina. Wade was 93 years old.
A left-handed pitcher, nicknamed not for his fastball but for his constant song-whistling, Jake Wade began his career with three seasons as a starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, including 1937 when Wade started 25 games, and went 7-10 on the year. In 1939, Wade was traded to the Boston Red Sox, and then to the St. Louis Browns before finding a home in Chicago for three seasons as both a starter and reliever with the White Sox from 1942 through 1944. Wade then pitched a season each with the New York Yankees and Washington Senators before retiring from major league baseball in 1946.
In Morehead City, North Carolina, where Wade is from and resided until his death, the local baseball park is called “Wade Brothers Field” named for Jake and his younger brother Ben who also pitched in the big leagues, including an 11-9 pennant winning season with the 1952 Brooklyn Dodgers. Jake returned to the baseball diamond in Detroit in 1999 to stand in era-style uniform with other former players in ceremonies as the final game was played in old Tiger Stadium.
Jake Wade had five children and eight grandchildren.
The AP wire report may be found at http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?...mlb&id=2316898
Morehead City, North Carolina -- Jake Wade, known as “Whistling Jake” during his ten-year career in major league baseball in the 1930s and 40s, passed away last night, February 1, 2006, at his home in Morehead City, North Carolina. Wade was 93 years old.
A left-handed pitcher, nicknamed not for his fastball but for his constant song-whistling, Jake Wade began his career with three seasons as a starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, including 1937 when Wade started 25 games, and went 7-10 on the year. In 1939, Wade was traded to the Boston Red Sox, and then to the St. Louis Browns before finding a home in Chicago for three seasons as both a starter and reliever with the White Sox from 1942 through 1944. Wade then pitched a season each with the New York Yankees and Washington Senators before retiring from major league baseball in 1946.
In Morehead City, North Carolina, where Wade is from and resided until his death, the local baseball park is called “Wade Brothers Field” named for Jake and his younger brother Ben who also pitched in the big leagues, including an 11-9 pennant winning season with the 1952 Brooklyn Dodgers. Jake returned to the baseball diamond in Detroit in 1999 to stand in era-style uniform with other former players in ceremonies as the final game was played in old Tiger Stadium.
Jake Wade had five children and eight grandchildren.
The AP wire report may be found at http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?...mlb&id=2316898
Comment