GORDON, SID

GORDON, SID (1917–1975), U.S. baseball player. Gordon was born in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn to Rose (Meyerson) and Morris, who emigrated from Russia and became a plumber and a coal dealer in the United States. After moving to Flatbush, Gordon attended Samuel Tilden High School, where he was a star baseball player. Gordon played his first game for the New York Giants on September 11, 1941, and ten days later on September 21, just hours before Rosh Hashanah, he was one of four Jewish players to appear in the Giants' lineup, an unprecedented occasion: Gordon and Morrie Arnovich played in the outfield; Harry Feldman, who had just debuted himself on September 10, pitched a shutout for his first major league win; and Harry "the Horse" Danning was behind the plate. Gordon joined the Giants full-time in 1943, and after two years in the Coast Guard, he rejoined them, playing mostly outfield and third base throughout his career, with occasional stints at first and second. Gordon became a very popular player with the many Jewish fans in New York, even being honored in 1949 by the citizens of Brooklyn at Ebbets Field, though he played for the hated rival Giants. His best year was 1948, when he hit.299 with 30 homers and 107 rbi. Gordon was named to the All-Star team that year and again in 1949, when he homered twice in one inning. In 1950 Gordon hit four grand slams, which was then the record. He was traded after the 1949 season to the Boston Braves, and then to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1954. In 1955 he was back with the Giants, where he ended his baseball career. Gordon hit.283 with 202 hrs and 805 rbis in his 13-year career, including 731 walks against only 356 strikeouts. He finished in the top ten in home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and walks from 1948 to 1952. He died of a heart attack while playing softball in Central Park in New York.

[Elli Wohlgelernter (2^nd ed.)]