SID GORDON

This stocky Brooklyn native started his career in 1943 as an unexceptional utility player for the New York Giants. The average was only .251, there was no power, but Gordon had three redeeming features. One was versatility; he could play 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and outfield. A second was a very strong arm. Finally, he was local Jewish, and that was always attractive in New York for attendance purposes.

He spent the last two years of World War II in the Coast Guard, returning in 1946 as, again, a very average player on a last-place Giant's club.

1947 was the beginning of good progress. The team set a then-record 221 homeruns for the season, with Gordon contributing 13. In 1948, Gordon came under the tutelage of coach Red Kress, who worked with him on pulling the ball and rolling the wrists. For the next six campaigns, Gordon became one of the better power hitters in the National League. From 1948 through 1951, he averaged .290, 29, 102. No doubt the short left field porch in the Polo Grounds helped, but Gordon hit well on the road as well.

Prior to the 1950 season, Gordon was a part of one of baseball's most famous trades. He was sent to the Boston Braves, along with another power hitter, Willard Marshall, and a solid shortstop named Buddy Kerr, for the Boston keystone combination of Eddie Stanky and Alvin Dark. The Braves won the 1948 pennant behind those two, but were looking for corner outfielders with power and strong arms.

Gordon hit 56 homeruns and drove in 212 in 1950 and 1951, but the Giants won the pennant in the second year. Two years later, at 35, Gordon provided punch and experience as the Braves moved to Milwaukee with immediate success. After a solid year in Pittsburgh in 1954, Gordon returned for one final year as a Giants reserve, retiring after 1955.

His solid career numbers - .283, 202, 805 - are ironic because he never was on a pennant-winner, toiled for three cellar-dwelling clubs, and played in many more games lost than won. But he was the "loyal opposition" and highly respected for his skills. Total Baseball does not include him among its best 400, but Bill James rates him in the top 50 left fielders. A solid player - a real pro.