Jimmy Wasdell

{{Short description|American baseball player (1914–1983)}}

{{no footnotes|date=August 2018}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2018}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Jimmy Wasdell

|image=Jimmy Wasdell 1938.jpg

|image_size=140px

|caption=Wasdell, circa 1938

|position=Outfielder / First baseman

|birth_date={{birth date|1914|5|15}}

|birth_place=Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|1983|8|6|1914|5|15}}

|death_place=New Port Richey, Florida, U.S.

|bats=Left

|throws=Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 3

|debutyear=1937

|debutteam=Washington Senators

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=April 18

|finalyear=1947

|finalteam=Cleveland Indians

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.273

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=29

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=341

|teams=

• Washington Senators ({{mlby|1937}}–{{mlby|1940}})
• Brooklyn Dodgers ({{mlby|1940}}–{{mlby|1941}})
• Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|1942}}–{{mlby|1943}})
• Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|1943}}–{{mlby|1946}})
• Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|1946}}–{{mlby|1947}})

}}

James Charles Wasdell (May 15, 1914 – August 6, 1983) was an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for all or portions of 11 seasons between {{mlby|1937}} and {{mlby|1947}} for the Washington Senators, Brooklyn Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians. The Cleveland native threw and batted left-handed and was listed as {{convert|5|ft|11|in}} tall and {{convert|185|lb}}.

Wasdell helped the Dodgers win the 1941 National League pennant. Appearing in 94 games, including 46 as a starting outfielder, Wasdell batted .298 in 287 plate appearances, collecting 79 hits. In the World Series, he appeared in three games, with five at bats; his only hit was a double off Atley Donald of the New York Yankees in the fourth inning of Game 5,Retrosheet [https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1941/B10050BRO1941.htm box score: 1941 World Series, Game 5, 1941-10-05] the Series' final contest. The Yankees defeated the Dodgers, four games to one.

In 11 MLB seasons, Wasdell played in 888 games and had 2,866 at bats, 339 runs, 782 hits, 109 doubles, 34 triples, 29 home runs, 341 runs batted in, 29 stolen bases, 243 walks, .273 batting average, .332 on-base percentage, .365 slugging percentage, 1,046 total bases and 39 sacrifice hits. Defensively, he recorded a .981 fielding percentage playing primarily at first base and at all three outfield positions. Including minor league service, Wasdell played for 15 seasons (1935–1950) in Organized Baseball.

He died in New Port Richey, Florida at the age of 69.