39 Facts About Sammy Byrd

Samuel Dewey Byrd was an American professional baseball outfielder and professional golfer.

Sammy Byrd played in Major League Baseball and on the PGA Tour.

Sammy Byrd is the only person to play in both the World Series and the Masters Tournament.

Sammy Byrd made his professional baseball debut in 1926, and made his MLB debut with the New York Yankees in 1929.

Sammy Byrd was primarily a reserve player, and saw action as a defensive replacement and pinch runner for Babe Ruth, which earned him the nickname "Babe Ruth's Legs".

Samuel Dewey Sammy Byrd was born on October 15,1906, in Bremen, Georgia, as the second of four children of Rhone and Delphia Sammy Byrd.

Sammy Byrd was often known by his middle name when he was growing up.

Sammy Byrd graduated from Birmingham's Simpson High School, where he played baseball and basketball.

Sammy Byrd played for the Knoxville Smokies of the Class B South Atlantic League in 1927, where he batted.

Sammy Byrd made his Major League Baseball debut with the Yankees on May 11,1929, as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement for Earle Combs.

Sammy Byrd got a big opportunity to be the starting center fielder for the Yankees in 1932, as Combs went to the bench.

Sammy Byrd made one appearance in the 1932 World Series as a defensive replacement for Ruth in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 4.

Sammy Byrd played for the Reds as a starting outfielder in 1935, alongside Chick Hafey, with Ival Goodman, Harlin Pool, and Adam Comorosky competing for the remaining playing time.

Sammy Byrd refused the assignment to the minor leagues, and announced in February 1937 that he was retiring from baseball to focus on his golf career.

Sammy Byrd was called "Babe Ruth's Legs", a reference to the fact that he often would appear as a pinch runner and defensive replacement for Ruth at the end of games toward the latter part of Ruth's career.

Sammy Byrd made his professional golf debut in a tournament at the Pinehurst Resort in November 1933.

When Sammy Byrd retired from baseball in 1937, he became an assistant to Dudley at the Philadelphia Country Club.

Sammy Byrd tied with Abe Espinosa for fifth place in the 1938 Crescent City Open and tied with Ralph Guldahl for fourth place of the 1938 St Petersburg Open Invitational.

In 1940, Sammy Byrd became the golf pro at the Merion Golf Club in Haverford Township, Pennsylvania.

Sammy Byrd competed in the 1940 Masters Tournament and tied for 14th place, becoming the first person to play in both a World Series and a Masters Tournament.

At the 1941 Providence Open, Sammy Byrd set a competitive record at Triggs Memorial Golf Course when he shot a 66, six under par, in the first round.

Sammy Byrd finished in third place in the 1941 Masters Tournament.

Sammy Byrd won the Greater Greensboro Open in 1942 with a 279, five under par, two strokes ahead of Ben Hogan and Lloyd Mangrum.

Sammy Byrd finished in fourth place in the 1942 Masters Tournament.

In June 1942, Sammy Byrd won the Pennsylvania Open Championship by seven shots over Henry Ransom.

Sammy Byrd setting a course record with a 64, seven under par, in the second round.

Sammy Byrd won the Chicago Victory National Open in 1943 with a score of 277, five strokes ahead of Craig Wood.

Sammy Byrd resigned from the Merion Golf Club to succeed Jimmy Demaret as the golf pro at the Plum Hollow Country Club in Southfield, Michigan, effective November 1,1943.

In June 1944, Sammy Byrd won the Philadelphia Inquirer Open Invitational.

Sammy Byrd won the Michigan PGA Championship in July 1944 with a score of 142, while Harmon, Jack Winney, and Al Watrous tied with 145, and won the Michigan Open in August 1944 with a score of 208, while Claude Harmon finished in second with 214.

In January 1945, Sammy Byrd won the Texas Open with a score of 268, beating Nelson by one stroke, and setting a new Texas Open record, which had previously been 271.

Sammy Byrd lost the final of the 1945 PGA Championship to Nelson, 4 and 3, in match play.

Sammy Byrd defended his Michigan PGA Championship title in August 1945, beating Chick Rutan by two strokes, 142 to 144.

In March 1946, Sammy Byrd teamed with Sam Snead in the Inverness Invitational Four-Ball, which they lost to Demaret and Hogan.

Sammy Byrd hosted the 1947 PGA Championship, which was held at Plum Hollow Country Club.

Sammy Byrd won his last tournament, a Senior PGA Tour event, in 1967.

Sammy Byrd served as the golf pro for ten years at the Anniston County Club in Anniston, Alabama, until he retired in 1978.

Sammy Byrd married Rachel Elizabeth Smith of Birmingham in October 1932, days after the conclusion of the 1932 World Series.

Sammy Byrd was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1974 for his accomplishments in golf and baseball.