The Athletics recalled Watlington from Ottawa in the midsummer of 1953, and he appeared in 21 games for them through the remainder of the American League season. He started seven games at catcher, served as a defensive replacement in one contest, and was a pinch hitter in 13 others. Watlington's 47 plate appearances produced seven hits, including one double, and three bases on balls. He scored four runs. He returned to the International League in 1954 and played five more seasons of Triple-A baseball until his 1958 retirement.
In 2016 Watlington received France's Legion of Honour medal for his combat services to help liberate that nation during World War II.[2]
Referencesedit
^"Those Who Served A to Z – Baseball in Wartime". BaseballinWartime.com. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
^Thibodeau, Denice (June 19, 2016). "Veteran awarded French Legion of Honor medal". Retrieved January 8, 2020.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
This biographical article relating to an American baseball catcher born in the 1920s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
neal, watlington, julius, december, 1922, december, 2019, american, major, league, baseball, player, philadelphia, athletics, 1953, born, yanceyville, north, carolina, batted, left, handed, threw, right, handed, listed, feet, tall, pounds, watlington, with, ph. Julius Neal Watlington December 25 1922 December 29 2019 was an American Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1953 Born in Yanceyville North Carolina he batted left handed and threw right handed he was listed as 6 feet 1 83 m tall and 195 pounds 88 kg Neal WatlingtonWatlington with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1953CatcherBorn 1922 12 25 December 25 1922Yanceyville North Carolina U S Died December 29 2019 2019 12 29 aged 97 Yanceyville North Carolina U S Batted LeftThrew RightMLB debutJuly 10 1953 for the Philadelphia AthleticsLast MLB appearanceSeptember 17 1953 for the Philadelphia AthleticsMLB statisticsBatting average 159Home runs0Runs batted in3TeamsPhiladelphia Athletics 1953 Watlington broke into professional baseball in the minor leagues in 1941 then missed five seasons 1942 46 He served in the United States Army in the European Theater of Operations during World War II 1 where he received a Purple Heart during his service and was 24 years old when he was signed as a free agent by the New York Giants in 1947 Primarily a catcher Watlington was acquired by Philadelphia in February 1952 when the Athletics took over as parent team of the Triple A Ottawa Giants of the International League The Athletics recalled Watlington from Ottawa in the midsummer of 1953 and he appeared in 21 games for them through the remainder of the American League season He started seven games at catcher served as a defensive replacement in one contest and was a pinch hitter in 13 others Watlington s 47 plate appearances produced seven hits including one double and three bases on balls He scored four runs He returned to the International League in 1954 and played five more seasons of Triple A baseball until his 1958 retirement In 2016 Watlington received France s Legion of Honour medal for his combat services to help liberate that nation during World War II 2 References edit Those Who Served A to Z Baseball in Wartime BaseballinWartime com Retrieved January 8 2020 Thibodeau Denice June 19 2016 Veteran awarded French Legion of Honor medal Retrieved January 8 2020 External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet nbsp nbsp nbsp This biographical article relating to an American baseball catcher born in the 1920s is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Neal Watlington amp oldid 1112047446, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
