A native of Cleveland, Ohio and alumnus of Case Western Reserve University, O'Dea began his professional career with the Fargo-Moorhead Twins in 1938. He played in 62 games for the Twins and had a .362 batting average. The following season he played for the Springfield Indians, hitting .342 in 122 games, and due to his hitting the Indians brought him to spring training in 1940. During that time, he was hit in the right eye by a foul ball, causing blindness.[1] Despite the injury, he remained in the Indians organization the next four years, and made his major league debut on April 19, 1944.[2]
O'Dea spent the two full seasons with the 1944–1945 Indians; he was exempt from reporting to service for World War II due to his earlier eye injury.[3] He was primarily an outfielder, but also played first base and was a left-handedpitcher. In 163 Major League games, O'Dea's career batting average was .272; in his four games on the mound, he did not earn a decision, with an earned run average was 5.68 in 61⁄3innings pitched. O'Dea had a .318 batting average in 1944 in 76 games. He hit his only big-league home run off Don Black of the Philadelphia Athletics on May 19, 1945, in a 2–1 Cleveland victory at League Park.[4] After the 1945 season ended, he was sent back to the minors, which ended his major league career.[2]
O'Dea returned to the minor leagues and played for five more seasons, from 1946 to 1948 and from 1950 to 1951. He then served as a manager of various Indians' Class C and Class D farm system teams between 1947 and 1960.[5] He then spent the rest of his life as a scout for the Indians, until his death at the age of 58.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abCoughlin, Dan (December 12, 1978). "O'Dea's Smile Missing From Wigwam". The Plain Dealer. p. 1C.
^ ab"Paul O'Dea Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
^Retrosheet box score (19 May 1945): "Cleveland Indians 2, Philadelphia Athletics 1"
^"Paul O'Dea Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference
December 15, 2023
paul, irish, sportsman, hurler, july, 1920, december, 1978, american, professional, baseball, player, manager, scout, major, league, service, during, world, 1944, 1945, cleveland, indians, threw, batted, left, handed, stood, feet, tall, weighed, pounds, outfie. For the Irish sportsman see Paul O Dea hurler Paul O Dea July 3 1920 December 11 1978 was an American professional baseball player manager and scout He saw Major League service during World War II for the 1944 and 1945 Cleveland Indians He threw and batted left handed stood 6 feet 1 8 m tall and weighed 200 pounds 91 kg Paul O DeaOutfielder PitcherBorn 1920 07 03 July 3 1920Cleveland OhioDied December 11 1978 1978 12 11 aged 58 Cleveland OhioBatted LeftThrew LeftMLB debutApril 19 1944 for the Cleveland IndiansLast MLB appearanceSeptember 20 1945 for the Cleveland IndiansMLB statisticsBatting average 272Home runs1Runs batted in34TeamsCleveland Indians 1944 1945 A native of Cleveland Ohio and alumnus of Case Western Reserve University O Dea began his professional career with the Fargo Moorhead Twins in 1938 He played in 62 games for the Twins and had a 362 batting average The following season he played for the Springfield Indians hitting 342 in 122 games and due to his hitting the Indians brought him to spring training in 1940 During that time he was hit in the right eye by a foul ball causing blindness 1 Despite the injury he remained in the Indians organization the next four years and made his major league debut on April 19 1944 2 O Dea spent the two full seasons with the 1944 1945 Indians he was exempt from reporting to service for World War II due to his earlier eye injury 3 He was primarily an outfielder but also played first base and was a left handed pitcher In 163 Major League games O Dea s career batting average was 272 in his four games on the mound he did not earn a decision with an earned run average was 5 68 in 61 3 innings pitched O Dea had a 318 batting average in 1944 in 76 games He hit his only big league home run off Don Black of the Philadelphia Athletics on May 19 1945 in a 2 1 Cleveland victory at League Park 4 After the 1945 season ended he was sent back to the minors which ended his major league career 2 O Dea returned to the minor leagues and played for five more seasons from 1946 to 1948 and from 1950 to 1951 He then served as a manager of various Indians Class C and Class D farm system teams between 1947 and 1960 5 He then spent the rest of his life as a scout for the Indians until his death at the age of 58 1 References edit a b Coughlin Dan December 12 1978 O Dea s Smile Missing From Wigwam The Plain Dealer p 1C a b Paul O Dea Statistics and History Baseball Reference com Sports Reference LLC Retrieved September 18 2014 Paul O Dea Rejected The Montreal Gazette May 2 1944 p 16 Retrosheet box score 19 May 1945 Cleveland Indians 2 Philadelphia Athletics 1 Paul O Dea Minor League Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Sports Reference LLC Retrieved September 18 2014 External links editCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul O 27Dea amp oldid 1065098165, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
