Skeeter Webb

Who was Skeeter Webb?

James Laverne "Skeeter" Webb was a Major League Baseball infielder who played twelve season in the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, and Philadelphia Athletics. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Webb attended the University of Mississippi before playing professional baseball.

He began his major league career on July 20, 1932, with the St. Louis Cardinals at the age of 23. He appeared in only one game in 1932 and did not have a plate appearance for the Cardinals.

Webb did not make another major league club for six years. In April 1938, he signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians, In 1939, he played in 81 games at shortstop for the Indians and had a career-high .264 batting average.

Traded to the Chicago White Sox in January 1940, he was moved to second base where he played 74 games. His batting average dropped to .237 in 1940, and he relegated to the role of a utility infielder and back-up second baseman in 1942 and 1943. However, with the major league talent pool depleted, Webb won the job as the Sox' starting shortstop in 1944. However, he hit only .211 in 513 at bats for the 1944 White Sox.