Enos Slaughter
Enos Bradsher Slaughter (April 27, 1916 – August 12, 2002), nicknamed "Country", was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) right fielder. He played for 19 seasons on four major league teams from 1938 to 1942 and 1946 to 1959. He is noted primarily for his playing for the St. Louis Cardinals and famously scored the winning run in Game 7 of the 1946 World Series for the Cardinals. A ten-time All-Star, he has been elected to both the National Baseball Hall of Fame and St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame.
Enos Slaughter
Early life[edit]
Slaughter was born in Roxboro, North Carolina, where he earned the nickname "Country".[1] In 1935, scout Billy Southworth signed him for the St. Louis Cardinals.[2]
Career[edit]
Minor leagues[edit]
The Martinsville Manufacturers were Slaughter's first professional team, in 1935.[2] When Slaughter was a minor leaguer in Columbus, Georgia, he went running towards the dugout from his position in the outfield, slowed down near the infield, and began walking the rest of the way. Manager Eddie Dyer told him, "Son, if you're tired, we'll try to get you some help." During the remainder of his major-league career, Slaughter ran everywhere he went on a baseball field.[3] In 1937, he had 245 hits and 147 runs scored for Columbus.[4]
Post-MLB career[edit]
Slaughter retired from major league baseball in 1959. He was a player-manager for the Houston Buffs of the Texas League in 1960 and for Raleigh Capitals of the Carolina League in 1961.[12] Slaughter coached baseball for Duke University from 1971 to 1977.[13][7] He provided aid to causes such as the Duke Children's Classic, the Person County Museum of History, and Piedmont Community College.[7]
Personal life[edit]
Slaughter had five wives, each of whom he divorced. He had four daughters: Gaye, Patricia, Rhonda, and Sharon.[14] Henry Slaughter, his cousin, was a well-known southern gospel musician. Slaughter also mentored Lou Brock, possibly reluctantly, when he joined the Cardinals.[7]
Death[edit]
Slaughter died at age 86 on August 12, 2002.[15] He had battled non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and two weeks before his death, he had undergone colon surgery to fix torn stomach ulcers.[7] He was buried at Allensville United Methodist Church in Person County, North Carolina.[16]