Enos Slaughter

Right Fielder

Class of 1985

Enos Slaughter

Right Fielder

Class of 1985
Enos Slaughter's “Mad Dash” in the '46 World Series exemplified the hustle he showed throughout his career.

Games

Birth year

About Enos Slaughter

Enos Slaughter grew up in Roxboro, N.C., where he earned the nickname, “Country.”

“To be a big league ball player, you have to love the game,” Slaughter said. “This is a pretty good game and a pretty swell way to make a living. The conditions in the majors are fine and the money is good. So I say keep yelling and hustling every minute you’re in uniform.”

Slaughter began his career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1938. He spent 13 seasons with the Cardinals, interrupted by a three-year stint while serving in the military during World War II. During the war, Slaughter was a sergeant in the Army Air Corps.

“I wanted to be a pilot,” he told author Frederick Turner, “but they said I was color blind. They wanted me to be a bombardier, but I said if I couldn’t be the one flying the plane, I’d just as soon not be flying. So I became a physical education instructor in charge of about 200 troops.”

Prior to the war, Slaughter established himself as one of the best right fielders in baseball. He led the NL in hits (188), triples (17) and total bases (292) in 1942, helping the Cardinals win the World Series. Following the season, he finished second in the NL Most Valuable Player Award voting.

Following his time in the Army Air Corps, Slaughter didn’t skip a beat upon returning to the diamond – leading the National League with 130 RBI in 1946 and helping the Cardinals to another World Series win. In that seven-game victory over the Red Sox, Slaughter became famous for his “Mad Dash” that resulted in the World Series-winning run.

In the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 7, the score was tied at 3. Slaughter was on first base with two outs when Cardinals manager Eddie Dyer called for a hit-and-run. Outfielder Harry Walker lined a ball to center field and Slaughter took everyone – including the Red Sox defenders – by surprise when he ran through a stop sign at third base. Slaughter beat the relay throw home to score what proved to be the winning run.

Slaughter was named to the All-Star Game in each season from 1946-53. Two days before Opening Day of 1954, the Cardinals traded Slaughter to the Yankees. He was traded to the Athletics in 1955 but returned to New York in 1956, hitting .350 in that year's World Series to help the Yankees win the Fall Classic.

As a valuable reserve, Slaughter would help New York win AL pennants in 1957 and '58 along with the 1958 World Series. He spent the 1959 season with the Yankees and Braves before retiring with a .300 batting average, 2,383 hits, 1,237 runs scored and 1,304 RBI.

A 10-time All-Star and four-time World Series winner, Slaughter was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1985. He passed away on Aug. 12, 2002.

The Basics

Year inducted
1985
Birth Place
Roxboro, North Carolina
Birth Year
1916
Died
2002, Durham North Carolina

Career at a Glance

Primary Team
St. Louis Cardinals
Primary Position
Right Fielder
Played For
St. Louis Cardinals, 1938-1942
St. Louis Cardinals, 1946-1953
New York Yankees, 1954-1955
Kansas City Athletics, 1955-1956
New York Yankees, 1956-1959
Milwaukee Braves, 1959

Career MLB Stats

Games
2,380
At bats
7,946
Hits
2,383
Walks
1,018
Runs
1,247
Doubles
413
Triples
148
Home Runs
169
RBI
1,304
Stolen Bases
71
Batting Average
.300
Ops
.834
On Base %
.382
Slugging %
.453

Enos Slaughter Stories

Explore the archives and go deep into the lives, careers, and stories of the Hall of Fame's honorees.

Slaughter, Vaughan enter Hall with Class of 1985