Lincoln William "Link" Wasem (January 30, 1911 – March 6, 1979) was an American professional player. Wasem played for the Boston Bees in 1937 and played in the minor leagues from 1933 to 1937. He batted and threw right-handed.
| Link Wasem | |
|---|---|
| Catcher | |
| Born: January 30, 1911 Birmingham, Ohio, US | |
| Died: March 6, 1979 (aged 68) South Laguna, California, US | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 5, 1937, for the Boston Bees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 23, 1937, for the Boston Bees | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Games played | 2 |
| At bats | 1 |
| Hits | 0 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Early life and career
editWasem was born on January 30, 1911, in Birmingham, Ohio.[1] Growing up, he played both baseball and basketball and was named to a Northwest Ohio all-star basketball team.[2] He began his career with the semi-professional Wakeman Red Caps of Wakeman, Ohio, playing for the club in 1930 and 1931.[3][4]
Minor leagues
editIn October 1932, he was scouted and signed by Columbus Red Birds' owner Larry MacPhail for Columbus' major league affiliate, the St. Louis Cardinals, and reported to the Springfield Cardinals of the Western League in April 1933.[5][6][7] After losing his roster spot to Herb Bremer, he was released and signed with the Joplin Miners in late April.[8]
Wasem spent the beginning of the 1933 season backing up veteran catcher Don Benn, but took over the starting role when Benn was released.[9] He ultimately played in 86 games for Joplin in 1933, finishing the year with 80 hits and a .292 batting average.[1] In November 1933, his contract was purchased by the Buffalo Bisons.[10] In Buffalo, he took catching and outfield lessons from future Baseball Hall of Famer and Bisons' manager Ray Schalk.[5][11] He was optioned to the Wilkes-Barre Barons for outfielder Jake Plummer in late-May 1934,[12] but was returned to the Bisons on July 20.[13] He batted .323 for Buffalo and, after a contract holdout in the offseason, resigned with the club in early-March 1935.[14] In late-August, he married Marguerite Rickers at St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo and the couple were given a silver service set by Bisons' players and management before a game on August 26.[15][16]
He regressed to a .207 batting average in 63 games in 1935, but resigned for the 1936 season in late-February.[17][18] Wasem was again optioned to Wilkes-Barre on May 19, where he transitioned and became a right fielder.[19][20] After hitting .332 with 12 home runs in 77 games with Wilkes-Barre, the Bisons recalled Wasem on August 12.[21][22]
Boston Bees
editBefore the 1937 began, Wasem demanded that he be traded or sold and refused to report to Buffalo. In early April, the Bisons sold him to the Boston Bees.[23] He made his major league debut on May 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals, taking over for catcher Al Lopez on defense in the top of the sixth inning. He was removed for pinch hitter Beauty McGowan in the bottom of the seventh inning without recording an at bat.[24] The Bees' claim on Wasem was originally scheduled to end on May 15, but Buffalo agreed to extend it to June 1.[25] He appeared in one final game with Boston on May 23 against the Chicago Cubs, taking over for Lopez in the seventh inning and flying out against Charlie Root for the final out of the game in what would be his only career at bat.[26]
Return to minor leagues
editBoston retained Wasem's contract for the remainder of the 1937 season, and spent the remainder of the year with the club's New York–Pennsylvania League affiliate, the Scranton Miners.[27][17][28] In January, his contract was sold to the Hollywood Stars in the Pacific Coast League.[29] He never appeared in a regular season game for Hollywood, and instead returned to the semi-professional Wakeman Red Caps.[17][30]
References
edit- ^ a b "Link Wasem statistics at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ "Joplin 2d-String Catcher Wants to Play, But Can't". Omaha Daily Bee. June 27, 1933. p. 10. Retrieved July 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Joppa and Wakeman to Clash on Sunday". Sandusky Register. September 7, 1930. p. 11. Retrieved July 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Play at Wakeman". Sandusky Register. July 19, 1931. p. 9. Retrieved July 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Wakefield, Frank (March 17, 1934). "Ability and Hustling Spirit of Wasem Impresses Schalk As Bisons Work Out in Rain". Buffalo Evening News. p. 8. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ball Players Ordered Here". The Springfield Press. October 16, 1932. p. 6. Retrieved July 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wasem Gets Trial in Western League". Sandusky Register. April 7, 1933. p. 12. Retrieved July 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Johnny Keane Returns Here As Shortstop". Springfield Leader and Press. April 30, 1933. p. 23. Retrieved July 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "A Future Schalk?". The Evening Sun. April 25, 1934. p. 24. Retrieved July 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Herd Obtains Backstop Aid From Joplin". Buffalo Evening News. November 16, 1933. p. 31. Retrieved July 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Link Wasem Good Catcher". Harrisburg Telegraph. May 26, 1934. p. 5. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Barons' New Catcher Here". Times Leader. May 26, 1934. p. 19. Retrieved July 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bisons Recall Wasem". Buffalo Evening News. July 20, 1934. p. 29. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Link Wassem Quits Bison Holdout List". Buffalo Evening News. March 5, 1935. p. 24. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Link Wasem Married Pennsylvania Girl". Buffalo Evening News. August 24, 1935. p. 6. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sport comment". Buffalo Evening News. August 27, 1935. p. 23. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Link Wasem statistics at Baseball-Reference (Minors)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "Bisons' Leading Hitter Quits Game for Business". Buffalo Evening News. February 24, 1936. p. 21. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Link Wasem optioned". Buffalo Evening News. May 20, 1936. p. 35. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Link Wasem playing right field now". Buffalo Evening News. June 26, 1936. p. 9. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Link Wasem reported back to the Bisons". Buffalo Evening News. August 12, 1936. p. 33. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wasem Recall Hurts Barons' Flag Chances". Times Leader. August 12, 1936. p. 12. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bisons Sell Wasem to Bees; Montreal Game Postponed". Buffalo Evening News. April 6, 1937. p. 5. Retrieved July 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "St. Louis Cardinals at Boston Bees Box Score, May 5, 1937". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
- ^ "Bisons Extend Bees' Option to Purchase Link Wasem". Buffalo Evening News. May 14, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved July 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Boston Bees at Chicago Cubs Box Score, May 23, 1937". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
- ^ "Link Wasem purchased conditionally". Buffalo Evening News. June 3, 1937. p. 19. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The Hero Is Wasem". Times Leader. June 25, 1937. p. 12. Retrieved July 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Link Wasem Sold to Hollywood Club". Times Leader. January 20, 1938. p. 13. Retrieved July 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wakeman Red Caps Open Schedule Next Sunday". Sandusky Register. May 11, 1938. p. 6. Retrieved July 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
edit- Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)