Eddie Joost
A sharp-fielding shortstop who captained the Philadelphia Athletics in their final, tumultuous days before the team's move to Kansas City.
1916–2011 (age 95)·American baseball player and manager·Birthday: June 5·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Eddie Joost's baseball story is one of longevity and tough leadership during a franchise's sunset. Breaking in with the Cincinnati Reds in the late 1930s, he was a slick-fielding shortstop known for a keen eye at the plate, twice leading the American League in walks. His career found a second act with the Philadelphia Athletics, where his veteran presence and defensive steadiness made him a clubhouse anchor. In 1954, he was handed one of baseball's most unenviable tasks: managing the A's in what would be their final season in Philadelphia. The team was financially strapped and talent-thin, destined for the cellar. Joost guided them through a 100-loss season with a sense of duty, even playing 58 games himself at age 38. His tenure closed a chapter, as the team packed for Kansas City, making him the last man to manage a major league club in Philadelphia for over half a century.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Eddie was born in 1916, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eddie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1916
#1 Movie
Intolerance
Eddie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1916Born
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Started school
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1929Became a teenager
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1932Could drive
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1934Could vote
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Turned 21
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1946Turned 30
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 40
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 50
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 60
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 70
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 80
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2011Died at 95
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
Key Achievements
- Selected as an American League All-Star in 1949 and 1952 for his defensive prowess and high on-base percentage.
- Led the American League in walks in 1949 (149) and 1950 (126), showcasing exceptional plate discipline.
- Played shortstop for 17 Major League seasons, appearing in over 1,800 games.
- Served as the final manager of the Philadelphia Athletics before the franchise relocated to Kansas City.
Did You Know?
He was a player-manager for the Athletics in 1954, inserting himself into the lineup regularly.
After his playing days, he worked as a Major League scout for over two decades.
He was known for wearing glasses on the field, a less common sight for players in his era.
“You get on base by knowing the strike zone, not by swinging at everything.”
