Possum Whitted
George Bostic "Possum" Whitted was an American professional baseball outfielder and third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball from 1912 to 1922 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Brooklyn Robins.
In 1914, after being traded from the Cardinals to Boston, Whitted was a member of the Braves team that went from last place to first place in two months, becoming the first team to win a pennant after being in last place on the Fourth of July. The team then went on to defeat Connie Mack's heavily favored Philadelphia Athletics in the 1914 World Series. During the 1914 season, Whitted played every position for the Braves except for catcher and pitcher.
Whitted played for the Phillies in 1915, which won the National League Pennant.
Whitted was the first rookie in history to start at every position during the season.
In 11 seasons, Whitted played in 1,025 games and had 3,630 at bats, 440 runs, 978 hits, 145 doubles, 60 triples, 23 home runs, 451 RBI, 116 stolen bases, 215 walks,.269 batting average,.313 on-base percentage,.361 slugging percentage, 1,312 total bases and 180 sacrifice hits. Defensively, he recorded a.966 fielding percentage playing at every position except catcher and pitcher.
Whitted died in Wilmington, North Carolina at the age of 72 due to cardiac complications. As a United States Army Sergeant First Class in the Quartermaster Corps during World War I, he was buried at the Wilmington National Cemetery.
There is presently one survivor of George “Possum” Bostic Whitted, Sr.; his granddaughter, Dr. Tracy Whitted Brown, daughter of Possum’s only child, George Bostic Whitted, Jr., of Chapel Hill. George Whitted Sr., and George Whitted, Jr., are buried in the VA Cemetery in Wilmington, NC.
Possum’s sister, Dr. Bessie Whitted Spence, taught at Duke University, Trinity College of Religion, and was the first female Professor Emeritus.
