Jack Sanford

Who was Jack Sanford?

John Doward Sanford was a first baseman in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Washington Senators. Listed at 6 feet 3 inches tall and 195 pounds, Sanford batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Chatham, Virginia.

Basically a line-drive hitter and a fine defensive player, Sanford was one of many ballplayers who interrupted their careers to serve during World War II. He signed with the Senators out of the University of Richmond, where he lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track.

Sanford played for the Washington team in the 1940 and 1941 seasons as a backup for Zeke Bonura and Mickey Vernon at first base. He served in the US Air Force from 1941 to 1946, playing and coaching on baseball teams there, then returned to major league action briefly in 1946.

In a three-season career, Sanford was a .231 hitter with 13 runs and 11 RBI in 47 games, including four doubles and four triples without home runs or stolen bases.

Following his playing career, Sanford earned a masters degree and Ph.D. From 1956 to 1966, he worked as a professor and the chairman of the Department of Health and Physical Education at Elon College.