Eddie Yost, "The Walking Man," passes away

[Cowtipper]

Eddie Yost, who played in the big leagues for 18 years and then spent another 22 seasons as a third-base coach for the Senators, Mets and Red Sox, passed away on Tuesday morning. He was 86.

Yost, who made his big league debut as a 17-year-old with the Senators in 1944, earned the nickname "The Walking Man" for his extraordinary ability to draw free passes. Yost hit just .254 in his career but managed a .394 OBP thanks to a career total of 1,614 walks, which ranks 11th all-time. He led the AL in walks six times.

Read more:

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/21234426/former-sox-coach-eddie-yost-passes-away

[philliesfiend55]

Read more:

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/th...st-passes-away

At the time of his retirement after the 1962 season Eddie Yost ranked 4th all-time in Bases On Balls. Only Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Mel Ott had drawn more walks at that time.

His 2,109 games played is quite a total for someone who was an everyday player, but never a big star. At least the WaSHINgTON Senators APPRECIATED him in an era before a great deal of emphasis placed on On Base Percentage. His ability to get on base was a big reason why Yost lasted 14 seasons in Washington (1944, 1946-1958). He led the American League in Walks 6 times and in On Base Percentage twice.
In his only all-star selection Yost made the 1952 American League team, but didn't appear in that game hosted by the Philadelphia Phillies, as the game was shortened to five innings by rain.

[welch]

The numbers don't entirely show it, but Yost was a solid hitter. Most of his Washington seasons were played when the LF line was about 405 feet, with about a ten-foot wall fronting the bleachers. When he was traded to Detroit, he hit 21 home runs.

Also "a good glove man", as they used to say.

Some good info in his SABR biography: went to NYU, playing on a basketball team with a couple of future Knicks and Ralph Branca. Here in NYC, Met fans remember Eddie as the 3B coach under Gil Hodges and Yogi Berra.

Some of my oldest baseball memories: watching the Nats on a black-and-white TV, Bob Wolff calling the game, Eddie Yost, number 1, leading off for the Senators (or "Nationals").

Farewell, Edsie Yost!