George Wood (baseball)
George Albert Wood (November 9, 1858 – April 4, 1924), nicknamed “Dandy” Wood, was a Canadian-born professional baseball outfielder and manager who played in Major League Baseball from 1880 to 1892.
Born in Pownal, Prince Edward Island, Wood moved to East Boston as a child. He began his pro career in 1878–79 and debuted in the majors with the Worcester Ruby Legs on May 1, 1880. In Worcester’s first major league season, he played mostly in the outfield and was noted for his defense.
Wood joined the Detroit Wolverines in 1881 and stayed through 1885, helping the team become competitive. In 1882 he led the league with seven home runs and was among the leaders in triples. His best hitting year came in 1883, when he batted .302 with 26 doubles, 11 triples, five home runs and 47 RBIs, and he posted a career-high Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 3.3. He continued to be a strong outfielder through 1885.
From 1886 to 1889, Wood played for the Philadelphia Quakers (who would become the Phillies). He hit the first home run at Baker Bowl in 1887. He also took part in an All-America tour in 1888–89 that played games around the world.
In 1890 he joined the Philadelphia Athletics of the Players' League, leading the league with 35 outfield assists and hitting .289 with nine home runs and 102 RBIs. After the Players' League collapsed, the Athletics joined the American Association, and Wood served as manager in 1891, leading the team to a 67–55 record and a .309 batting average.
Wood’s last major league season was 1892, split between the Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds. After retiring as a player, he briefly worked as an umpire.
He died in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1924 at age 65. Wood has been honored by the PEI Sports Hall of Fame (2009) and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (2011). He is believed to be Prince Edward Island’s first major league player.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 04:13 (CET).