WES WESTRUM & DICK STUART 1969 New York Mets Vintage News Photo

DATE SHOT: 1969

SUBJECTS: Wes Westrum, Dick Stuart

APPROXIMATE SIZE: 9-5/8"x8"

MARKS / STAMPING: Stamped File Date of Mar 3, 1969.

COMMENTS / CONDITION: See scans for further details including condition.

BIO: Wesley Noreen Westrum was born in 1922 in Clearbrook, MN and died in 2002 in Clearbrook, MN of cancer at the age of 79. He played major league baseball from 1947 to 1957 as catcher for the New York Giants, appeared in the 1951 and 1954 World Series, and was selected in 1952 and 1953 as an All-Star. Signed by the Giants in 1941, Westrum missed three seasons (1943-1945) seasons while still in the minors due to military service during World War II. He reached the majors late in the 1947 season after hitting 22 homers with the Minneapolis Millers that year and spent most of the next two years as a backup catcher with the team. He also was with the Jersey City Giants for part of the 1949 campaign and hit an International League record 5 grands slams in just 51 games with the club. Westrum became the Giants regular catcher in 1950 and had an excellent year at the plate, hitting 23 home runs and driving in 71 runs. He went on to catch every game for the Giants in the 1951 and 1954 World Series and was a National League All-Star in 1952 and 1953. After finishing his playing career in 1957, Westrum remained with the Giants as a coach when they moved to San Francisco the next year. After six seasons on their staff, he was a part of one of the more unusual swaps in baseball history: he was "traded" to the New York Mets for coach Cookie Lavagetto. He eventually replaced Casey Stengel as the Mets manager in 1965 when Stengel, 76, broke his hip and was forced to retire. He remained at the helm of the team for just over two seasons, stepping down late in the 1967 campaign. Westrum returned to the Giants coaching staff from 1968 to 1971 and replaced Charlie Fox as the team's skipper in 1974. Under his leadership, the club improved from fifth place to third in 1975, but he was replaced by Bill Rigney after the season. Westrum stayed in the game as a scout for the Atlanta Braves for many years. Wes Westrum appeared on the first Sports Illustrated cover in August 1954. He was the catcher, Eddie Mathews was the batter, and Augie Donatelli was the umpire.

Richard Lee Stuart (Stu, Dr. Strangeglove) was born in 1932 in San Francisco, CA and died in 2002 in Redwood City, CA. He played major league baseball from 1958 to 1969 as 1st baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and the California Angels, appeared in the 1960 and 1966 World Series, and was selected in 1961 as an All-Star.

SKU: L11036

Item: L11036

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WES WESTRUM & DICK STUART 1969 New York Mets Vintage News Photo
WES WESTRUM & DICK STUART 1969 New York Mets Vintage News Photo
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