Ed McGhee – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Warren Edward McGhee played just six seasons in Major League Baseball, taking the outfield for the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics from 1950 to 1955.

He was born in Perry, Arkansas, in 1924. McGhee came from a generation of players who really had to grind through the minor league systems before finally getting a shot at the majors.

McGhee’s MLB career wrapped up in 1955 with a .246 batting average, three home runs, and 43 RBIs over 196 games. His major league stats might look modest, but his journey through professional baseball reflects the path of so many players who chased their dreams in America’s pastime.

McGhee spent five seasons working his way up the White Sox farm system before finally debuting in September 1950.

A trade in 1953 sent him to Philadelphia and brought Ferris Fain, a two-time American League batting champ, to Chicago. From his Arkansas roots to his last game in 1955, McGhee’s story shows the ups and downs of pro baseball in the 1950s, plus the tough financial reality players faced back then.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Warren Edward McGhee was born on September 29, 1924, in Perry, Arkansas. He learned the basics of baseball there before heading to Arkansas State University.

His journey from tiny Perry to pro ball started with a supportive family and continued through his high school days at Nettleton High School in Jonesboro.

Family Background and Upbringing

Warren grew up in Perry, Arkansas, during the Great Depression. Baseball was quickly becoming America’s favorite sport, and it offered young guys a way forward.

Perry was a small farming community. The McGhee family pitched in and pushed Warren to follow his athletic interests.

Growing up in rural Arkansas in the 1920s and 1930s meant money was tight. Still, his family encouraged his baseball dreams even when things got tough.

He honed his skills on local fields. Small Arkansas towns liked to support their young athletes, so Warren got early experience in competitive baseball.

High School and Local Baseball Achievements

McGhee attended Nettleton High School in Jonesboro, Arkansas. There, he played baseball and worked on his outfield skills.

Jonesboro was bigger than Perry, which meant better competition and facilities. At Nettleton, McGhee started to stand out as a player.

His right-handed swing and throwing arm caught the eye of scouts and coaches. The high school program gave him his first real taste of organized competition.

He learned the fundamentals that would stick with him through his pro days. Local baseball in Arkansas in the 1940s wasn’t easy, and McGhee’s play at Nettleton got him noticed.

Arkansas State University Baseball Career

McGhee kept playing ball at Arkansas State University, sharpening his outfield skills further. College gave him access to better coaches and tougher competition.

At Arkansas State, he started looking like a real pro prospect. The program helped him get ready for the next level.

His college years were huge for his development. Scouts and pro teams started paying attention.

He became one of Arkansas State’s more notable baseball alumni. Up to 2013, only George Kell and Matt Whiteside played more major league games from that school than McGhee.

College baseball set him up for his pro career, which kicked off in 1948 in the minors before he got his MLB debut with the White Sox in 1950.

Path to Major League Baseball

Warren McGhee’s climb to the majors started in the minors in 1948, where he worked on his outfield game. His big break came on September 20, 1950, when he finally took the field for the Chicago White Sox at age 25.

Minor League Development

McGhee began his pro career in the minors in 1948. He spent two full seasons there, working to improve his game.

During those years, he focused on his hitting and fielding. The minor leagues gave him a chance to get used to the professional level.

His solid minor league play caught the attention of MLB scouts. The White Sox organization saw his potential and decided to give him a shot.

MLB Debut With Chicago White Sox

McGhee made his Major League Baseball debut on September 20, 1950, with the Chicago White Sox. He was 25 when he first stepped onto a major league diamond.

His debut came against the New York Yankees. He got one at-bat that first game but didn’t get a hit.

The White Sox gave McGhee his first shot at the top level. That debut kicked off a six-year MLB career from 1950 to 1955.

McGhee’s path was the classic route of minor league grinding before finally getting a shot with Chicago.

Major League Career Overview

Ed McGhee played six seasons in the majors from 1950 to 1955. He suited up for both the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics.

He had two different stints with the White Sox, with a trade in between that sent him to Philadelphia—where he actually had his best years.

Chicago White Sox Tenure

McGhee started his MLB career with the White Sox in 1950. He made his debut on September 20, two years after signing with the team in 1948.

In those early Chicago years, McGhee tried to find his footing in the majors. At 5’11” and 170 pounds, he fit the mold of players from that era.

He spent those first seasons learning the ropes. The American League experience helped him sharpen his game.

The White Sox gave him his first crack at major league competition. That early experience turned out to be important for what came next.

Trade to Philadelphia Athletics

In 1953, Chicago traded McGhee to the Philadelphia Athletics as part of the Ferris Fain deal. That move changed the course of his career.

McGhee got his most playing time with Philadelphia. He became the regular center fielder in 1953 and racked up most of his major league at-bats there.

That run with the Athletics was really the high point of his MLB life. Philadelphia let him prove himself as a starter.

On May 30, 1954, McGhee came up big for the Athletics. He hit a bases-loaded pinch-hit double in the ninth to win a game against the Washington Senators, just a couple weeks before he got traded back to Chicago.

Return to Chicago and Final MLB Season

McGhee returned to the White Sox in 1954, about a year and a half after his first trade to Philadelphia. This second run in Chicago would be his last in the big leagues.

He played his final MLB game on May 26, 1955. By the end, McGhee had a .246 batting average, 3 home runs, and 43 RBIs in 196 games.

Across his MLB days, he tallied 124 hits and swiped 11 bases. His on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) landed at .632.

McGhee’s career ran through the early 1950s, a noteworthy period in baseball history. He played only in the American League, sticking with two teams that would go through big changes later on.

Career Statistics and Performance Analysis

Ed McGhee’s four-year MLB run from 1950 to 1955 gave him a .246 batting average, not much power, and steady defense in the outfield. Advanced stats show he struggled to provide much value above replacement level with the White Sox and Athletics.

Batting Performance: Hits, Runs, and Home Runs

McGhee finished with 124 hits in 196 games. His best year at the plate was 1953 with the Athletics, when he hit .263 in 104 games.

He only hit 3 home runs during his career. His power was limited, with a career slugging percentage of .311.

In 1954, he managed 2 home runs, his highest single-season total. That year, he split time between Philadelphia and Chicago.

He scored 59 runs and drove in 43 RBIs. McGhee also showed a bit of speed, stealing 11 bases in 16 tries.

His on-base percentage of .321 suggests decent patience at the plate. He drew 54 walks while striking out 61 times.

That 1953 season really was his peak. He collected 94 hits, scored 36 runs, and drove in 29, with a .652 OPS.

Fielding Highlights and Defensive Skills

McGhee mostly played center field but could handle all three outfield spots. His career .982 fielding percentage shows he was pretty reliable with the glove.

In 1953, he played 97 games in center and made 309 putouts with a .987 fielding percentage. Not bad at all. His range factor of 3.23 per game that season stacked up well against the league average.

He reached his defensive peak in Philadelphia. That year, he handled 329 total chances and made only 6 errors.

His arm strength was about average, with just 4 outfield assists in 1953. The numbers show McGhee was steady in the field, not flashy—he avoided costly mistakes and gave consistent play in center when needed.

WAR and Advanced Metrics

Baseball Reference credits McGhee with -0.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) for his career. That means he performed just a bit below replacement level in his MLB years.

His best WAR season was 1953, at 0.1—the only year he added positive value. In 1954, his WAR dropped to -0.3, even though he played 63 games for two teams.

The advanced stats highlight his struggles at the plate. His OPS+ of 70 says he hit 30% below league average. His rOBA of .318 and Rbat+ of 71 back up the below-average production.

All in all, McGhee couldn’t quite lock down a regular starting job. He didn’t hit for average or power, and while his defense was fine, it wasn’t enough to keep him in the lineup for long.

Notable Moments and Legacy

Ed McGhee’s baseball career included some memorable performances and contributions that earned him a spot in baseball’s historical records. His impact touched two major league teams, and his stats live on in the game’s databases.

Career Highs and Memorable Games

McGhee had his most productive season in 1953, when he served as the regular center fielder for the Philadelphia Athletics. That year, he set career highs in games played with 104 appearances and posted his best offensive numbers.

His first major league hit really stands out. On the last day of the 1950 season, McGhee started against the St. Louis Browns and knocked his debut hit, a triple off pitcher Stubby Overmire.

The 1953 season was the only time McGhee held a full-time role in the majors. He batted .263 with one home run and proved himself as a reliable outfielder.

His 104 games that year made up nearly half of his entire 196-game career. That really puts things in perspective.

McGhee finished with a .246 batting average and 124 hits. He collected 14 doubles, five triples, and three home runs over his career.

Impact on Teams and the League

On January 27, 1953, McGhee became part of a significant trade. The Chicago White Sox included him in a five-player deal that brought Ferris Fain, a two-time American League batting champ, to Chicago.

McGhee played his biggest role with the Philadelphia Athletics. In 1953, he took over as their regular center fielder and filled a key defensive spot while the team tried to rebuild.

The White Sox traded McGhee back from Philadelphia on June 11, 1954. When he returned, he struggled and batted only .227 in part-time action.

His numbers dropped further in 1955, going one for 13 before he landed back in the minors. Honestly, that’s a tough way for any player to wrap up a big league run.

McGhee spent five seasons in the White Sox minor league system from 1948 to 1952. That was right in the heart of the farm system development era.

Recognition by Baseball Historical Sources

Baseball Reference keeps a thorough record of McGhee’s career, showing his 196 major league games and .246 batting average. The site lists all his offensive stats, including 43 RBIs over six seasons.

Retrosheet has detailed game info, like box scores from McGhee’s debut. These records help researchers dig into specific moments from his career.

His time at Arkansas State University adds another layer to his baseball story. The university recognizes him among its alumni who made it to the majors.

Modern baseball stat sites still mention McGhee’s numbers. You can find his stats in several databases that track players from the 1950s.

Post-Baseball Life and Net Worth

Warren Edward McGhee left professional baseball and settled in Memphis, Tennessee. He lived there for over 30 years until his death in 1986.

His post-baseball years reflected what many 1950s players went through. Back then, salaries weren’t exactly huge, so guys like McGhee had to find new careers after hanging up their spikes.

Transition Out of Professional Baseball

Ed McGhee left Major League Baseball in 1955, closing out a brief but notable career. His final game came on May 26, 1955, with the Chicago White Sox—the same team where he started out five years earlier.

Unlike today’s players, McGhee didn’t have access to fancy financial planning. Players in the 1950s usually earned between $5,000 and $15,000 a year, which meant most needed to find other work after baseball.

His 196-game career and .246 batting average showed solid, if not spectacular, performance. That level of play, while respectable, didn’t give him the financial security to retire comfortably.

Life After Retirement

McGhee made Memphis, Tennessee his home, spending his last 31 years there until he died on February 13, 1986. He was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Memphis, which says a lot about his ties to the area.

Details about McGhee’s post-baseball work are pretty scarce. Many players from his era took jobs in sales, coaching, or started businesses connected to their baseball days.

His long stay in Memphis suggests he built a life and put down roots in the community. Living to age 61, McGhee saw three decades of civilian life—way longer than his five-year pro baseball career.

Estimated Net Worth and Legacy

McGhee’s finances really showed what it was like for pro ballplayers in the 1950s. Back then, most players didn’t walk away with much money from their time on the field.

He probably earned less than $50,000 over his five seasons. Since he didn’t get the pension benefits that players received later, McGhee had to rely a lot on whatever jobs he took after baseball, plus how well he managed his own money.

Career achievements? Well, he held down center field for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1953. He also came through in big moments, like that game-winning pinch-hit double on May 30, 1954.

If you look at Arkansas State College alumni, McGhee sits in the top three for major league appearances. Only George Kell and Matt Whiteside played more.