By the end of the 1946 season, the general consensus about Edwin Donald Joost was essentially settled. After a serious disagreement with Boston Braves management, the veteran infielder was banished to the minor leagues within the St. Louis Cardinals organization. At 31, his career seemed headed for a quiet conclusion. Most believed his best years were behind him, but Connie Mack dismissed this idea, offering Joost a chance to revive his career. This opportunity triggered an impressive late-career resurgence in Philadelphia.
When Joost first entered the Shibe Park infield in 1947, he appeared to be a textbook example of a glove-first, light-hitting shortstop. He demonstrated exceptional defensive skills, anchoring the middle of the diamond by leading all American League shortstops in both Range Factor per Game and total putouts.
On the other hand, his traditional offensive stats were disappointing; he posted a low .206 batting average and led the league with 110 strikeouts. However, behind that low average was a valuable asset aligned with Mack’s offensive approach: an exceptional, highly disciplined eye that resulted in 96 walks and boosted his on-base percentage to a solid .348.
That initial summer set the stage for a remarkable five-year peak from 1948 to 1952, during which Joost fully reinvented his hitting approach. He notably reduced his strikeouts and improved his contact rate, which boosted his batting average to much higher levels, reaching a career-high .289 in 1951.
He became a leading expert in driving traffic at the top of the lineup, finishing in the American League’s top ten for on-base percentage four times over five years, twice surpassing the elite .400 OBP mark. His impressive development gained him widespread national peer recognition, earning starting All-Star selections for the junior circuit in 1949 and 1952.
The inevitable effects of aging and accumulated physical wear ultimately impacted his performance during the 1953 season. After a significant decline in productivity, the front office entrusted him with managing the team for its final, bittersweet season in Philadelphia in 1954, before releasing him as the organization prepared to move to Kansas City.
Joost concluded his highly impactful eight-year stay with the Athletics, having collected 840 hits, 116 home runs, and a magnificent .392 on-base percentage. In 1995, he was inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame.
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