Belardi played baseball at Bellarmine College Preparatory of San Jose, where he graduated in 1948. He also attended Santa Clara University. Big and powerful, he began his career in the Dodgers' farm system in 1949, playing part of that season for the Nashua Dodgers of the New England League, but due to economic hard times, the league was on shaky footing and Belardi was promoted to Triple-A before the New England circuit failed in midseason.
In Brooklyn, Belardi's path was blocked by the presence of eight-time National LeagueAll-Star first baseman Gil Hodges, then entering the prime of his career. Belardi played sparingly, getting into only 13 total games in 1950 and 1951, and spending much of 1951 and all of 1952 in the minor leagues. He saw the bulk of his MLB action during the 1953 and 1954 campaigns. In 1953, he appeared in 69 games, including 36 starts at first base, as the Dodgers won their second consecutive National League pennant. Belardi batted .239 over the regular season, with 11 home runs and 34 runs batted in. He came to bat twice in the 1953 World Series as a pinch hitter, going 0 for 2 as the Dodgers fell to the New York Yankees in six games.
Tigersedit
In 1954, Belardi was used strictly as a pinch hitter during the season's early months, collecting two hits and two bases on balls in 11 plate appearances, before Brooklyn traded him to the Tigers for three players and cash in a June 9 waiver deal. In Detroit, he received an extended opportunity to play, getting into 88 games, with 71 starts at first base. Again, he hit 11 home runs and set a personal best with 58 hits, but he batted only .232 with 24 runs batted in. Most of Belardi's 1955 season took place in the minor leagues, as he made only three appearances as a pinch hitter for the Tigers during April.
But he was able to bounce back and spend all of 1956 as the Tigers' backup first baseman, hitting a career high .279 with six home runs in 79 games and appearing in the starting lineup 26 times, including once as the Tigers' left fielder. It was his last season in the majors. In MLB, Belardi posted a .242 career batting average (143-for-592) with 71 runs, 13 doubles, 5 triples, 28 home runs, 74 RBIs and 66 bases on balls. Defensively, he recorded a .986 fielding percentage primarily as a first baseman and a few games as an outfielder.
Late careeredit
During the 1956–1957 offseason, he was included in a couple of significant trades. On December 5, Detroit sent him to the Kansas City Athletics in an eight-player deal. Then, on February 19, 1957, he was a part of a transaction—which would include 13 players in all—he was sent to the Bombers along with pitchersBobby Shantz and Art Ditmar and young third baseman.[1] Belardi never made the Yankees roster. He spent the final year of his professional career by hitting .220 in 1957 with their Double-A farm team, the New Orleans Pelicans.
Belardi's baseball career was curtailed by injuries he suffered in a car accident.[2][3] He died at age 63 in Santa Cruz, California.
Referencesedit
^Yankees obtain Ditmar and Shantz in thirteen-player deal with Athletics
wayne, belardi, carroll, september, 1930, october, 1993, american, professional, baseball, player, first, baseman, native, helena, california, appeared, games, major, league, baseball, over, parts, seasons, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1956, brooklyn, dodgers, detroit, t. Carroll Wayne Belardi September 5 1930 October 21 1993 was an American professional baseball player The first baseman and native of St Helena California appeared in 263 games in Major League Baseball over all or parts of six seasons 1950 1951 1953 1956 for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Detroit Tigers He threw and batted left handed stood 6 feet 1 inch 1 85 m tall and weighed 185 pounds 84 kg Wayne BelardiWayne Belardi Detroit TigersFirst basemanBorn 1930 09 05 September 5 1930St Helena California U S Died October 21 1993 1993 10 21 aged 63 Santa Cruz California U S Batted LeftThrew LeftMLB debutApril 18 1950 for the Brooklyn DodgersLast MLB appearanceSeptember 30 1956 for the Detroit TigersMLB statisticsBatting average 242Home runs28Runs batted in74TeamsBrooklyn Dodgers 1950 1951 1953 1954 Detroit Tigers 1954 1956 Contents 1 Baseball career 1 1 Dodgers 1 2 Tigers 1 3 Late career 2 References 3 External linksBaseball career editDodgers edit Belardi played baseball at Bellarmine College Preparatory of San Jose where he graduated in 1948 He also attended Santa Clara University Big and powerful he began his career in the Dodgers farm system in 1949 playing part of that season for the Nashua Dodgers of the New England League but due to economic hard times the league was on shaky footing and Belardi was promoted to Triple A before the New England circuit failed in midseason In Brooklyn Belardi s path was blocked by the presence of eight time National League All Star first baseman Gil Hodges then entering the prime of his career Belardi played sparingly getting into only 13 total games in 1950 and 1951 and spending much of 1951 and all of 1952 in the minor leagues He saw the bulk of his MLB action during the 1953 and 1954 campaigns In 1953 he appeared in 69 games including 36 starts at first base as the Dodgers won their second consecutive National League pennant Belardi batted 239 over the regular season with 11 home runs and 34 runs batted in He came to bat twice in the 1953 World Series as a pinch hitter going 0 for 2 as the Dodgers fell to the New York Yankees in six games Tigers edit In 1954 Belardi was used strictly as a pinch hitter during the season s early months collecting two hits and two bases on balls in 11 plate appearances before Brooklyn traded him to the Tigers for three players and cash in a June 9 waiver deal In Detroit he received an extended opportunity to play getting into 88 games with 71 starts at first base Again he hit 11 home runs and set a personal best with 58 hits but he batted only 232 with 24 runs batted in Most of Belardi s 1955 season took place in the minor leagues as he made only three appearances as a pinch hitter for the Tigers during April But he was able to bounce back and spend all of 1956 as the Tigers backup first baseman hitting a career high 279 with six home runs in 79 games and appearing in the starting lineup 26 times including once as the Tigers left fielder It was his last season in the majors In MLB Belardi posted a 242 career batting average 143 for 592 with 71 runs 13 doubles 5 triples 28 home runs 74 RBIs and 66 bases on balls Defensively he recorded a 986 fielding percentage primarily as a first baseman and a few games as an outfielder Late career edit During the 1956 1957 offseason he was included in a couple of significant trades On December 5 Detroit sent him to the Kansas City Athletics in an eight player deal Then on February 19 1957 he was a part of a transaction which would include 13 players in all he was sent to the Bombers along with pitchers Bobby Shantz and Art Ditmar and young third baseman 1 Belardi never made the Yankees roster He spent the final year of his professional career by hitting 220 in 1957 with their Double A farm team the New Orleans Pelicans Belardi s baseball career was curtailed by injuries he suffered in a car accident 2 3 He died at age 63 in Santa Cruz California References edit Yankees obtain Ditmar and Shantz in thirteen player deal with Athletics Obituary for Wayne Belardi newspapers com Obituary for Wayne Belardi The Washington Post 25 October 1993 External links editCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Baseball nbsp nbsp nbsp This biographical article relating to an American baseball first baseman is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wayne Belardi amp oldid 1216072629, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
