Earl Torgeson
Ballplayers Wounded in Combat
| Date and Place of Birth: | January 1, 1924 Snohomish, WA |
| Date and Place of Death: | November 8, 1990 Everett, WA |
| Baseball Experience: | Major League |
| Position: | First Base |
| Rank: | Unknown |
| Military Unit: | 70th Infantry Division US Army |
| Area Served: | European Theater of Operations |
Clifford E. “Earl” Torgeson was born on January 1, 1924, at Snohomish,
Washington. As a youngster he was a baseball phenom. So much so that,
while in high school playing baseball and football, the people of
Snohomish petitioned the football coach to make him give up the gridiron
game because he had such a bright future in baseball.
At just 17, he was signed by the Pacific Coast League's Seattle Rainiers
early in 1941, and optioned to Wenatchee in the Western International
League where he hit .332. But in November of that year he almost lost
his life in an automobile accident that killed his aunt and seriously
injured his mother.
The 18 year-old was the slugging sensation of the Rainiers’ spring
training camp in 1942, and when manager Bill Skiff used him in an
exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs he responded with two hard-hit
singles, an RBI and a run scored. Torgeson went on to replace Lee
Scarsella at first base for the Rainiers’ that season – Scarsella being
sold off to the Oakland Oaks. Torgeson ended the season batting .312
with the eyes of many major league clubs upon him.
Torgeson entered military service with the Army on February 26, 1943 and
was stationed at Fort Lewis, near Tacoma, Washington. Where he played
for the Fort Lewis Warriors under big league outfielder Morrie Arnovich.
On July 4, 1943 he played for the Army all-stars, managed by Arnovich,
against the Pasco Naval Air Flyers at Sicks Stadium in Seattle.
He later served at Fort Lawson, Washington, before joining the 70th
Infantry Division at Camp Adair, Oregon. In January 1945, the 70th
Division was sent to Europe. A month later, the Rainiers received word
that Torgeson had been wounded, although not seriously.
After the German surrender in May 1945, he played baseball with the 70th
Division team along with major league pitcher Aldon Wilkie and minor
leaguers Harold Schadt, Ray Borucki and Joe Kralovich. In August of that
year, Rainiers' vice-resident Torchy Torrance arrived in France, from
the Pacific, where he was instrumental in developing athletic programs
from troops. "I'm extremely anxious to get down into Germany," he said
upn arrival, "not only to continue the study of the European theater
athletic set-up to help us with our program in the Pacific, but also to
take a quick look at my $100,000 worth of ball player...Earl
Torgeson...one of the most promising first basemen ever seen in the
Pacific Coast League. Yes, sir, he's a lot of ball player."
On January 5, 1946, while Torgeson was still in the military, the
Seattle Rainiers and Boston Braves agreed a deal that would secure his
path to the major leagues. “I have been looking at young players for
quite a few years,” Torrance told The Sporting News on January 17, “and
I am making this prediction – this boy is destined to be one of the
great first basemen of the decade.”
Torgeson received his military discharge in April 1946, and returned to
the Rainiers. He spent the season with the Pacific Coast League club and
batted .284, but dislocated his shoulder during a game against San Diego
which delayed the deal with the Boston Braves until August 31. The
Rainiers received $50,000 plus four players – Lou Tost, Bill Ramsay,
Hugh Poland and Tony York – in exchange for the 22 year-old.
Furthermore, Torgeson married Miss Norma Syverson during the season.
Torgeson was an immediate hit with the Braves as a rookie in 1947,
batting .281 with 16 home runs. Like Hall of Famer Earl Averill, who was
also from Snohomish, Washington, Torgeson soon inherited Averill's
nickname, The Earl of Snohomish.
In the 1948 World Series, he led all hitters with a .389 batting
average. He hurt his left shoulder trying to break up a double play in
mid-May 1949 and was sidelined for the remainder of the season after
playing just 25 games. Although the injury hampered him throughout his
career, he returned in 1950 to lead the National League with 120 runs
scored and in 1951 had career highs of 24 home runs and 92 RBIs. After
he dropped to .230 in 1952, he was sent to the Phillies in a four-team
trade, and never had another big season. He appeared with the White Sox
in the 1959 World Series, was released in 1961, and signed with the
Yankees as a player-coach for the final month of the season.
Torgeson later served four years as a Snohomish County commissioner.
Suffering from leukemia he passed away at his home in Everett,
Washington, on November 8, 1990. He was 66 years old and is buried at
the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery in Snohomish.
Date Added December 31, 2017
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