Interview with Eugene R. Woodling, December 11, 1992

Partial Transcript: Mr. Woodling, tell me, uh, how you got into baseball.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses his childhood and young adulthood, as well as his being signed to the Minor Leagues.

Keywords: Baseball scouts; Great Depression; High school athletics

Subjects: Athletics--United States; Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Baseball players--United States--Interviews; Cleveland Indians (Baseball Team); Depressions--1929; Minor league baseball.

Partial Transcript: So, so, how did, how did he finally, scout finally convince you to sign?

Segment Synopsis: Woodling shares how he was signed on to the Minor Leagues.

Keywords: Batting practice; Childhood sweethearts; Hitting; Injuries; Marriage; Scouts

Subjects: Baseball players; Minor league baseball.; Williams, Ted, 1918-2002

Partial Transcript: You, you were married at this time.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses his family, as well as his service in the Navy.

Keywords: Daughters; Family; Navy; Tony Lazzeri; WWII; Wives

Subjects: Baseball; New York Yankees (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: Well in '43, you had a tremendous year at Wilkes-Barre...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about Tony Lazzeri and the lack of recognition he has received from the baseball community. He discusses his death from falling down stairs after an epileptic seizure.

Keywords: Deaths; Joe Cronin; Seizures; Third base; Tony Lazzeri

Subjects: American League (Major League Baseball); Baseball; Baseball managers; Cleveland Indians (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: So the game that you played in was the first that you'd ever seen?

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses his introduction to the Major Leagues in 1943, and his service in the navy during World War II.

Keywords: Billy Herman; Great Lakes Naval Base; Micky Cochran; Navy; Saipan; WWII; World War II

Subjects: Cleveland Indians (Baseball Team); Major League Baseball (Organization); United States. Navy.; World War, 1939-1945; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area

Partial Transcript: Did you write letters back and forth all the time?

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses his wife's preference for privacy, as well as their relationship during World War II.

Keywords: American nationalism; B-29 Bombers; Kamikaze pilots; Letters; Pacific theater; Privacy; WWII

Subjects: American League (Major League Baseball); World War, 1939-1945; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area

Partial Transcript: You'd been overseas for what, two years or so?

Segment Synopsis: Woodling describes what life was like when he returned from the war in 1946. he also talks about the $40,000 salary he earned.

Keywords: 1946 Baseball season; Baseball salaries; Baseball seasons; Bob Hope; Salaries

Subjects: American League (Major League Baseball); Boudreau, Lou, 1917-2001; Cleveland Indians (Baseball Team); Veeck, Bill; World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: One of the things that, that, uh, uh, before, before he came, you had to eat at the hotel.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about the bonding that occurred between players when they ate meals together and traveled to their games by train.

Keywords: Bobo Newsome; Bonding; George Case; Jesse Owens; Meals; Trains

Subjects: Cleveland Indians (Baseball Team); Major League Baseball (Organization); Pittsburgh Pirates (Baseball Team); Veeck, Bill

Partial Transcript: You um, um, in, in 1947, actually, it was December seventh, uh, in '46 you were traded...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about his being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, as well as his playing for the team.

Keywords: Bill Skiff; Center field; Spring training

Subjects: Baseball players; Greenberg, Hank; Lopez, Al, 1908-; Major League Baseball (Organization)--History; Pittsburgh Pirates (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: And then they threw me in a package deal to the coast, for a pitcher...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses his return to Pittsburgh in 1948, as well as the integration of baseball around that time.

Keywords: Bill Skiff; Bob Chesnes; Goodyear Tire and Rubber; Lefty O'Doul; Terman Munsen

Subjects: Berra, Yogi, 1925-; Campanella, Roy, 1921-1993.; Major League Baseball (Organization); Pittsburgh Pirates (Baseball Team); Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972

Partial Transcript: I only average about twenty-two strike outs a year.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks at length about his hitting abilities. He also discusses playing in San Francisco as a part of the Pacific Coast League.

Keywords: Baseball hitting; Casey Stengel; Lefty O'Doul; Pacific Coast League; San Francisco Seals; Strike zones; Strikeout zones

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Musial, Stan, 1920-; Williams, Ted, 1918-2002

Partial Transcript: He brought Turner with him and...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses the broken ankle he received while playing in San Francisco, and the six weeks he took to recover from it.

Keywords: Baseball hitting; Injuries; Jim Turner; Recovery; San Francisco Seals

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players

Partial Transcript: From my standpoint, by being able to walk on this thing, I'd have never done it without that, no way.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about how his broken ankle affected his performance when he returned to the field.

Keywords: Baseball fans; Batting averages; Broken ankles; Doctors; Oakland (Calif.); Portland (Ore.); Seal Stadium

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Minor league baseball.

Partial Transcript: Another thing is, you know, the coldest months of the year in San Francisco...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about playing in the Minor Leagues for teams such as San Francisco. He states that some Minor League players were better paid than Major League players, and that the player lifestyles were quite nice. He points out that when he was sold to the Yankees, they threatened to cut his salary.

Keywords: Baseball player trades; George Weiss; Pacific Coast League; Pay cuts; Player trades; Salaries

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball team owners; Major League Baseball (Organization); Minor league baseball.; New York Yankees (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: So it was just sent to you in the mail?

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses his experience with the New York Yankees, George Weiss and other team owners, and his personal work ethic.

Keywords: Cliff Mapes; Farming; George Weiss; Hank Bauer; Johnny Lindell; Uniforms; Work ethic

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Baseball team owners; DiMaggio, Joe, 1914-1999; Major League Baseball (Organization); New York Yankees (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: Let me take you back to the PCL just for a little bit.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about some of the players he knew when he was playing for the Pacific Coast League. He also talks briefly about Paul Fagan's insistence that players cut their hair.

Keywords: "Nine Old Men"; Billy Martin; Dixie Holler (??); Electric razors; Family; Haircuts; Lombardi; Nicely; Pacific Coast League; Paul Fagan

Subjects: Baseball Players; Major League Baseball (Organization); Minor league baseball.; New York Yankees (Baseball Team); Pitchers (Baseball)

Partial Transcript: That's the way things happened in baseball, I, just... right, I have no explanation for it...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses the 1949 Yankees team.

Keywords: Baseball teams; George Weiss; Injuries; New York Yankees; Spring training

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; New York Yankees (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: It's been said that the Yankees policed themselves-- the players policed themselves.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses the behavior of Yankees team in 1951, with the addition of rookie player Micky Mantle.

Keywords: Allie Reynolds; Behavior; Hank Bauer

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; DiMaggio, Joe, 1914-1999; Lopat, Ed, 1918-1992; Major League Baseball (Organization); Mantle, Mickey, 1931-1995; New York Yankees (Baseball Team); Rookie baseball players

Partial Transcript: The second time, big surprise...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses his philosophy on playing baseball for different teams and cities. He also talks about the responsibilities of coaching.

Keywords: Baltimore Orioles; Baseball teams; Injuries; Tommy Henrich

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; MacPhail, Lee

Partial Transcript: There's two players sent out there and--(clears throat)--one hundred thousand dollars. In those days, that was a lot of money.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about the business aspects of baseball, and the differing treatment he received from Minor and Major League teams.

Keywords: Business; George Steinbrenner; Marge Schott; Money; Pacific Coast League; San Francisco Seals

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Major League Baseball (Organization); Minor league baseball.

Partial Transcript: Um, let me start with Tommy Henrich.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses the players of the 1949 Yankees team.

Keywords: Allie Reynolds; Billy Johnson; Bobby Brown; Bobby Richardson; Jerry Coleman; Phil Rizzuto; Tommy Henrich

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; New York Yankees (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: When, when we're talking on third base, you had two guys...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling continues to discuss his teammates of the 1949 Yankees team.

Keywords: Billy Johnson; Bobby Brown; Cliff Mapes

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Berra, Yogi, 1925-; Brown, Robert N.

Partial Transcript: He did hit bad balls, didn't he?

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about his friendship with Hank Bauer and other players.

Keywords: Billy Martin; Hank Bauer; Whitey Ford

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Berra, Yogi, 1925-; Mantle, Mickey, 1931-1995; New York Yankees (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: That, that, uh, you mention was, was basically pretty well finished up was Charlie Keller.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about DiMaggio's skill and discusses the high skill level of other players as well.

Keywords: Charlie Keller; Jerry Coleman; Johnny Lindell; Skill

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; DiMaggio, Joe, 1914-1999; New York Yankees (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: One of those sinkers.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about Ted Williams' incredible talent as a player.

Keywords: Center field; Right field; Talent

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Boudreau, Lou, 1917-2001; Major League Baseball (Organization)--History; Williams, Ted, 1918-2002

Partial Transcript: I got a small strike zone. Don't help them.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about hitting, also sharing his experiences with various managers and coaches. He reflects significantly on Frank Crosetti.

Keywords: Casey Stengel; Dick Kryhoski; Frank Crosetti; Hitting; Strike zones

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball managers; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Baseball team owners; Baseball--Management; Lopez, Al, 1908-

Partial Transcript: And of course he died, he died in 1948.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses Babe Ruth and his enduring fame as a player.

Keywords: Frank Crosetti

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Major League Baseball (Organization); Major League Baseball (Organization)--History; New York Yankees (Baseball Team); Ruth, Babe, 1895-1948.

Partial Transcript: Um--(clears throat)--let me talk about some of the pitchers--

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses some of the pitchers he has played with.

Keywords: Allie Reynolds; Vic Raschi; Virgil Trucks; Whitey Ford

Subjects: Baseball players; Lopat, Ed, 1918-1992; Pitchers (Baseball)

Partial Transcript: And, and also I, I, I, I read that, uh, Reynolds developed, uh, really developed his curve ball after he got with the Yankees.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about Allie Reynolds. He also talks about virtues of the team and pennant wins.

Keywords: Allie Reynolds; Hall of Fame; Joe Page; Pennants

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Major League Baseball (Organization); National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.; New York Yankees (Baseball Team); Pitchers (Baseball)

Partial Transcript: You know, and you know, you're not going to-- I don't, I didn't run scared of Joe by any means...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discussed Ken Keltner, Al Rosen, the new Yankee Stadium, as well as several other players.

Keywords: Barry Bonds; Center field; Ken Keltner; Tommy Byrne

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Berra, Yogi, 1925-; DiMaggio, Joe, 1914-1999; Rosen, Al

Partial Transcript: Well you had Joe Paige, who was a character also...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses several more players and the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Keywords: Billy Martin; Hall of Fame; Joe Page; Johnny Mize; Ray Scarborough, George Weiss; Virgil Trucks

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; DiMaggio, Joe, 1914-1999; Major League Baseball (Organization); National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Partial Transcript: Let me, let me talk to you a little bit more about Casey Stengel...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses manager Casey Stengel and his relationships with Yankees players in 1949.

Keywords: Casey Stengel; Joe Page; Managers

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball managers; Baseball players--1940-1950; DiMaggio, Joe, 1914-1999; Major League Baseball (Organization); New York Yankees (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: You know the, the feelings that I've had that well, Joe was a winner.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling remembers DiMaggio and Stengle's relationship as player and manager. He also talks about Paul Richards and Eddie Robinson.

Keywords: Eddie Robinson; Paul Richards

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball managers; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; DiMaggio, Joe, 1914-1999; New York Yankees (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: If you try to be honest-- Happy Chandler ended up honest. They fired him.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about injuries sustained by his Yankees teammates in 1949 and the medicine given to treat them.

Keywords: Injuries; Medicine; Paul Richards; Pensions; Player injuries; Player payments

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; New York Yankees (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: Well, that's whatever they said...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses other injuries that were sustained in 1949, pitchers, and different kinds of pitches.

Keywords: Casey Stengel; Curve balls; Fast balls; Pitching; Sliders

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Feller, Bob, 1918-2010; Pitchers (Baseball)

Partial Transcript: Oh, Gus Niarhos (??). Gus' health is not too good right now

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about changes in baseball rules, also discussing pitchers. He discusses how he could always hit a high fastball, and that changing balls really bothered him.

Keywords: Baseball rules; Baseballs; Dick Starr; Gus Niarhos (??)

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Pitchers (Baseball); St. Louis Browns (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: I say ninety-five percent of hitting is mental.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about pitchers and hitters.

Keywords: Bobby Brown; Bobby Shantz; Hitters; Hitting; Hitting philosophy; Ralph Houk; Whitey Ford

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Brown, Robert N.; Major League Baseball (Organization)

Partial Transcript: Well, it just, I don't know why they were 40 games in the basement...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about other pitchers whom he thought highly of, such as Frank Lary and Jim Lemon.

Keywords: Bob Cain; Frank Lary; Harry Bird; Jim Lemon; Sid Hudson

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Major League Baseball (Organization)--History; Pitchers (Baseball); St. Louis Browns (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: Masterson, Hudson, and they had all them knuckle ballers, and they didn't win.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about some of the more well-known Cleveland pitchers.

Keywords: Ellis Kinder; Mel Parnell; Roger Wolff; Steve Gromek; Walter Masterson

Subjects: Baseball players; Cleveland Indians (Baseball Team); Mantle, Mickey, 1931-1995; Pitchers (Baseball)

Partial Transcript: Kinder is probably the same way.

Segment Synopsis: Woodling discusses some of the talented pitchers for the Detroit Tigers.

Keywords: Eddie Lopat; Fred Hutchinson; Hal White

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball managers; Baseball players--1940-1950; Lopat, Ed, 1918-1992; Major League Baseball (Organization); Newhouser, Hal, 1921-; Trout, Dizzy, 1916-1972

Partial Transcript: You've talked a lot about this, this, and, and so I want to talk about just a couple of specific things...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling talks about some of the changes in the game of baseball since he was a player.

Keywords: Artificial turf; Baseball gloves; Bases; Grass; Pitching; Rickey Henderson; South America; Speed; Stealing bases

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Pitchers (Baseball)

Partial Transcript: I just, like you say, I was no big star of baseball, but I just say that I was very happy I was, and I ended up being a...

Segment Synopsis: Woodling finishes the interview by sharing his evaluation of his own career. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Baseball cards; Bat grips; Eaton Corporation; Endorsements; Farming; Scouting

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950