Hank Edwards – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Hank Edwards walked away from professional baseball in 1953, closing out an 11-season run that spanned some of the most exciting decades in Major League Baseball history. This left-handed outfielder grew up in Elmwood Place, Ohio, and ended up playing for six different teams, including the Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, and Brooklyn Dodgers.

Edwards managed to carve out a respectable career, even with all the injuries, putting together a .280 batting average with 51 home runs and 276 RBIs over 735 games. His journey took him from his debut with Cleveland in 1941 to his last season with the St. Louis Browns in 1953, with a big interruption for military service during World War II.

You could say what made Edwards stand out was how he adapted to different roles, sometimes starting in the outfield, other times coming off the bench as a pinch hitter. His story gives you a peek at the challenges players faced back then—dealing with injuries, bouncing between teams, and navigating baseball’s business side as trades and moves became more common.

Early Life and Background

Henry Albert Edwards was born January 29, 1919, in Elmwood Place, Ohio. He developed his athletic skills in this small town before making his way into professional baseball in the early 1940s.

His path to Major League Baseball started right in his hometown, and despite several injuries, he managed to put together that long 11-season career.

Birthplace and Family

Henry Albert Edwards arrived in Elmwood Place, Ohio—a small suburb in Hamilton County near Cincinnati—on January 29, 1919. He grew up there throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

Elmwood Place had that typical Midwestern feel, with strong family values and a real love for sports. Edwards found his passion for baseball in this environment.

He spent his early years in Ohio, and his family always backed his athletic ambitions. Edwards showed a knack for baseball from an early age.

Education and Youth Sports

Edwards attended local schools in Elmwood Place. He got involved in all sorts of sports, but baseball quickly became his main focus as his skills stood out.

Local coaches and scouts started to notice his athleticism. Edwards played both baseball and other sports in high school, and at 6 feet tall and 190 pounds, he looked the part.

He worked on his batting and throwing all the time. Edwards played in local leagues and tournaments, and those early games really set the stage for his professional career.

Entry into Professional Baseball

Edwards took the leap from amateur to pro baseball in the late 1930s or early 1940s. Scouts spotted his left-handed swing and arm, and he became a hot prospect from Ohio.

The Cleveland Indians organization signed him, and he started working through the minors. His dedication and natural ability helped him climb the ladder quickly.

Edwards made his Major League debut on September 10, 1941, with the Cleveland Indians. He was just 22 when he first stepped onto a big league field.

Major League Debut and Breakthrough

Hank Edwards broke into the majors with Cleveland on September 10, 1941, at 22 years old. Those early years were promising, even if he struggled at first. He really broke through in 1943, but then military service put everything on hold.

MLB Debut with Cleveland Indians

Edwards walked onto the major league stage for the first time on September 10, 1941, wearing a Cleveland Indians uniform. He faced his first MLB test against the Philadelphia Athletics.

That debut season wasn’t easy. Edwards played just 16 games, picking up 15 hits in 68 at-bats for a .221 batting average.

He managed a home run and six RBIs in those first games. His performance earned him a -0.5 WAR, so it’s fair to say he had trouble adjusting to MLB pitching.

Edwards flashed some potential with his first triple and home run, but his .243 on-base percentage showed he struggled to get on base.

The Indians stuck with their young prospect. They saw the athleticism and raw talent, and figured better days were coming.

Rookie Seasons and Notable Performances

Edwards officially started his rookie season in 1942, but played only 13 games. He did bump his average up to .250 with 12 hits in 48 at-bats.

His real breakthrough came in 1943. Edwards played 92 games, hit .276, and tallied 82 hits, including 18 doubles and six triples.

That year, he posted his first positive WAR at 1.6. Edwards drove in 28 runs and scored 38 times, cementing his spot as a legit MLB player.

He put up a .750 OPS in 1943, which was pretty solid for the time. Edwards looked especially good against righthanded pitching.

Then came military service in 1944 and 1945, just as he was hitting his stride with the Indians.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Hank Edwards made a name for himself as a skilled outfielder over his 11-season career, hitting some key milestones. His biggest highlight came in 1946 when he led the American League in triples, and he consistently put up good batting averages and showed steady base-running skills.

Leading the AL in Triples (1946)

Edwards hit the peak of his career in 1946, leading the American League with 16 triples. That season with the Cleveland Indians saw him rack up career-highs across the board.

He returned from World War II service in 1946, after missing two seasons. The way he jumped right back in and played so well really says a lot about his dedication.

In 1946, Edwards played 124 games, picking up 138 hits in 458 at-bats. He had a knack for turning doubles into triples, showing off his speed and aggressive base-running. That triple crown year helped him stand out as one of the league’s more dynamic outfielders.

Batting Average Milestones

Edwards finished with a solid .280 career batting average over 11 seasons. His steady approach at the plate made him valuable to the six teams he played for.

His best year for average came in 1950 with the Chicago Cubs, where he hit .364 in 41 games. That stretch showed he could still make contact and get on base.

He ended up with 613 career hits in 2,191 at-bats. Edwards managed to keep up a respectable average while bouncing from team to team, which isn’t easy. He wrapped up his career with 51 home runs and 276 RBIs, always finding ways to contribute.

Stolen Bases and On-Field Skills

Edwards didn’t steal a ton of bases, but he made them count, picking up 9 stolen bases in 11 seasons. He wasn’t exactly a speedster, but he used his baseball smarts to take an extra base when he could.

He brought more than just base-running. Edwards mostly played outfield but filled in as a pinch hitter when needed. That kind of flexibility made him useful for managers looking for a steady hand off the bench.

Edwards handled himself well defensively, too. He wasn’t flashy, but he got the job done and helped his teams in ways that don’t always show up in the box score.

Teams Played For and Roles

Hank Edwards suited up for six different Major League teams during his 11 seasons from 1941 to 1953. He mainly played outfield and logged his most significant time with the Cleveland Indians, where he put up his best numbers.

Cleveland Indians Years

Edwards kicked off his major league career with the Cleveland Indians in 1941 when he was 22. He debuted on September 10, 1941, against Philadelphia.

His early years showed promise, but military service put things on pause. Edwards missed the 1944 and 1945 seasons while serving during World War II.

1946 was his breakout year with Cleveland. Edwards played 124 games and posted standout stats:

• .301 batting average
• 138 hits
• 16 triples (led the league)
• 10 home runs
• 54 RBIs

That year was easily his best. Sixteen triples in a season is no small feat.

He stayed with Cleveland through 1949, holding down a regular outfield spot. Across seven seasons with the Indians, he hit .275 with 33 home runs and 173 RBIs in 413 games.

Chicago Cubs Experience

Edwards landed with the Chicago Cubs partway through 1949 after a trade from Cleveland. He finished that season strong for Chicago.

In 58 games with the Cubs in 1949, he hit .290 with 7 home runs and 21 RBIs. That performance kept him in the lineup.

1950 was a great year for Edwards in Chicago. Even though he played just 41 games, he put up career-best numbers:

• .364 batting average
• .417 on-base percentage
• .536 slugging percentage

It was a short stint, but he made it count. In two seasons with the Cubs, Edwards batted .316 over 99 games.

Stints with Brooklyn Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds

Edwards’ career started to take on a journeyman feel in 1951. He played for both the Brooklyn Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds that year.

His time with the Brooklyn Dodgers was pretty short. Edwards played just 35 games, hitting .226 with 7 hits in 31 at-bats.

He did better with the Cincinnati Reds. In 41 games for Cincinnati in 1951, he hit .315 with 3 home runs and 20 RBIs.

The Reds brought him back in 1952. Edwards played 74 games, hitting .283 with 6 home runs and 28 RBIs.

In two seasons with Cincinnati, he played 115 games and hit .296, making it one of his more successful stops late in his career.

Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Browns

Edwards wrapped up his career with short stints on the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Browns. These were his last shots in the big leagues.

The Chicago White Sox picked up Edwards for 8 games in 1952. He hit .333 with 6 hits in 18 at-bats.

The St. Louis Browns became his final team in 1953. He played 65 games that year, closing out his career at age 34.

Edwards struggled in his last season, hitting just .198 with no home runs and 9 RBIs. That pretty much marked the end of his Major League career.

His final MLB numbers: .280 batting average, 51 home runs, and 276 RBIs in 735 games across six teams.

Retirement and Later Life

Hank Edwards finished up his MLB days with the St. Louis Browns in 1953, capping off an 11-season journey that included a military service break and several team changes. After baseball, Edwards settled into civilian life in California and kept some ties to the sport through local recognition.

Final MLB Season in 1953

Edwards played his last MLB season for the St. Louis Browns in 1953. That was a big year in baseball history, since it was the Browns’ final season in St. Louis before the team moved.

At 34, Edwards played his final big league game on September 26, 1953, against the Chicago White Sox. By then, he’d shifted from regular starter to mostly a backup and pinch hitter.

That last season with the Browns closed the book on his major league career. Edwards spent 11 seasons in the majors, wearing the uniforms of six different teams between 1941 and 1953.

Post-Retirement Activities

After he left professional baseball, Edwards decided to settle down in Orange, California. He started a new chapter away from sports and picked up a job with the Armored Transport Company.

That career change marked his shift from athlete to civilian. It probably felt strange, going from the big leagues to a regular job, but he made it work.

Edwards had already faced some tough breaks before baseball even entered the picture. He dropped out of high school after ninth grade because his dad got sick, and the family needed money.

To help out, he worked at a canning factory before he ever put on a professional uniform. It wasn’t glamorous, but it paid the bills.

Living in California after baseball meant he finally got some stability. No more bouncing from team to team, city to city.

Orange County gave him a place to put down roots. After all that travel, I imagine that must’ve been a relief.

Legacy and Recognition

Edwards’ hometown recognized him by inducting him into the Norwalk Hall of Fame. That honor celebrated his rise from Ohio roots to pro baseball.

He had some real highlights in his playing days. In 1946, he led the American League in triples, which is no small feat.

He also played on the Cleveland Indians’ 1948 World Series championship team. He didn’t get into the Series games themselves, but he was part of that squad.

Edwards died on June 22, 1988, in Anaheim, California, at 69. They buried him at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana.

He lived a life that took him from factory shifts to MLB stadiums, and eventually back to everyday life, just like anyone else.

Career Statistics and Records

During his 11 years in the majors, Hank Edwards put together some pretty solid stats. He batted .280 and racked up 613 hits in 735 games.

He played outfield and contributed on both offense and defense. Not a superstar, maybe, but definitely reliable.

Overall MLB Performance Overview

Over his career, Edwards kept his batting average at .280. He collected 613 hits in 2,191 at-bats.

He drove in 276 runs, scored 285 times, and hit 51 home runs. That’s a nice, well-rounded stat line.

His standout season was 1946. That year, he hit .301 with 138 hits and 54 RBIs for Cleveland.

He led the American League with 16 triples that season, showing off some real speed and gap power.

Edwards suited up for six different teams. He spent the most time with the Cleveland Indians—seven seasons there.

He also played for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, and St. Louis Browns. That’s a lot of moving around.

Military service took him out of baseball in 1944 and 1945. Even after missing those two seasons, he came back strong in 1946 and had his best year.

Defensive Skills and Fielding Records

As an outfielder, Edwards mostly played right field, but he also covered all three outfield spots when the team needed him. He showed solid fundamentals and a reliable glove throughout his MLB career.

Edwards used his speed to add value on defense, especially when he chased down fly balls in the gaps. In 1946, he hit 16 triples, which really shows how he could turn a double into a triple with aggressive baserunning.

We don’t have a ton of fielding percentage data from his era, but people saw Edwards as a dependable defender. He spent years in professional baseball with different teams, so managers clearly trusted him to get the job done in the field.

His ability to play multiple outfield positions let him fill different roster spots. That made him a pretty valuable utility player during the later part of his career.