Slide, Wayne, Slide

1956 Topps #73

Wayne Terwilliger’s life, like that of the fictional Forest Gump, tells the story of a generation.  He grew up in small-town America, in Charlotte, Michigan, where he was a high school sports star.  He joined the Marines at age 18 in 1943 and fought in some of the most violent battles of the war, witnessing the raising of the flag at Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima.  After the war, he attended Western Michigan College (now University) on the GI Bill and played football, basketball, and baseball.  His college baseball team beat Robin Roberts’ Michigan State squad.  John Wooden praised him for having a great game against his Indiana State basketball team.  He barnstormed with the House of David.  During his nine-year major league career, he played with Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays.  He was present for Bobby Thompson’s home run in the 1951 play-offs and Mickey Mantle’s mammoth blast off of Chuck Stobbs in 1953.  He had a game-winning hit off of Satchel Paige.  While he was with the Washington Senators, President Eisenhower said, “Isn’t Terwilliger playing grand ball?”   In between seasons, he worked at a paper mill during the heyday of American manufacturing.  After his playing career ended, he coached and managed in the minor leagues, coached on the Washington Senators when Ted Williams managed, coached on the Twins when they won the World Series, managed the St. Paul Saints team that included, Ila Borders, the first woman pitcher to start and win a primarily men’s professional game.  Whew!  That’s a mouthful!  All told he put in 62 years in professional baseball and 95 years in an extraordinary American life.