“Smokey Joe” Wood

Howard Ellsworth “Smoky Joe” Wood was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1889.  He spent his early life in Ness City and played his first professional ball in Hutchinson. 

He signed with the Red Sox in 1908 at age 19, won 23 games in 1911 and a league-leading 34 games in 1912.  He is one of only 13 pitchers to win 30 or more games since 1900.

Walter Johnson said that “…no man alive can throw any harder than Smoky Joe Wood.”

In 1913, Wood slipped on wet grass while fielding a bunt and broke his thumb.  He continued to pitch but in fewer games.  1915 was Wood’s last year as a full-time pitcher when he went 11-5 with a 1.49 earned run average.  He won 117 games in 11 seasons as a pitcher.

He sat out the 1916 season and Boston sold him to Cleveland in 1917 where he rejoined former teammate Tris Speaker.  Wood established himself as a regular outfielder.  He hit .297 with eight home runs and 92 runs batted in in 1922 but retired after the season.

Wood went on to become head baseball coach at Yale Univsity, where he won 283 games in 20 seasons.  Wood died in West Haven, Connecticut in 1985 at the age of 95.

For more, read Smoky Joe Wood’s Society for American Baseball Research bio.