Eddie Joost was a professional baseball player who played primarily as a shortstop for various teams in the Major League Baseball (MLB) during his career. He was born on June 5, 1916, in San Francisco, California, and began his professional baseball career in 1936 with the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League (PCL).
Joost made his MLB debut in 1936 with the Cincinnati Reds, but he played only a few games before being sent back to the minors. He returned to the majors in 1939 with the Philadelphia Athletics, where he played for the next eight seasons. During his time with the Athletics, Joost established himself as a reliable shortstop and a solid hitter. He was known for his defensive skills, and he won the American League (AL) Gold Glove Award for shortstops in 1949.
In addition to his defensive prowess, Joost was also a productive hitter. He had a career batting average of .239, but he was known for his ability to draw walks and get on base. He led the AL in walks in 1949 and 1950, and he finished his career with an impressive on-base percentage of .361.
Joost was also a key player on the Athletics' 1949 and 1950 teams, which won back-to-back AL pennants. He played in the World Series both years, but the Athletics lost to the New York Yankees both times. Joost had a solid performance in the 1950 World Series, hitting .333 with a home run and three runs batted in (RBIs).
After leaving the Athletics in 1954, Joost played one season with the Boston Red Sox before retiring from baseball in 1955. He finished his career with a total of 1,570 hits, 134 home runs, and 639 RBIs.
After his playing career, Joost worked as a coach and manager in the minor leagues. He also served as a scout for several MLB teams, including the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland Athletics. Joost was inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame in 1980.
Overall, Eddie Joost was a talented and versatile player who made significant contributions to the Athletics during his career. He was known for his defensive skills, his ability to draw walks, and his solid hitting. Although he never won a World Series, he was a key player on two pennant-winning teams and had a successful career in the majors.
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