| Dick Woodson | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: March 30, 1945 Oelwein, Iowa |
|
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| April 8, 1969 for the Minnesota Twins | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 8, 1974 for the New York Yankees | |
| Career statistics | |
| Win-Loss record | 34–32 |
| Earned run average | 3.47 |
| Innings pitched | 589 |
| Teams | |
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Richard Lee Woodson (born March 30, 1945 in Oelwein, Iowa) was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins (1969-70 and 1972-74) and the New York Yankees (1974).[1] Before the 1965 baseball season, Woodson was signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent to play in their Minor League Baseball organization.[2] Woodson was listed as 6' 5" in height, and 207 lb. in weight. He played five seasons in Major League Baseball and played four seasons in Minor League Baseball.
Dick Woodson made his major league debut on April 8, 1969 at age 24 with the Minnesota Twins. On that day, the Minnesota Twins were playing against the Kansas City Royals at Municipal Stadium, with 17,688 people attending the game.[3] The game reached extra innings. Woodson was called to replace Joe Grzenda pitching and batting 9th in the top of the twelfth inning.[3] He finished the game, allowing only one hit, as the Twins lost to the Royals, 4-3.
Woodson pitched in the League Championship Series in each of his first two Major League seasons, 1969 and 1970. He went 7-5 in 1969 as both a starting and a relief pitcher. Returning as a full-time starter in 1972, he went 14-14. On February 11, 1974, Dick Woodson became the first player to invoke the new free agency clause,[4] him seeking $29,000, and the Twins offering $23,000.[5] On May 4, 1974, Woodson was traded by the Minnesota Twins to the New York Yankees for Mike Pazik, along with some cash.[2] Woodson played his final game on July 8, 1974 with the Yankees.[1]