Woody Abernathy

Virgil Woodrow Abernathy (February 1, 1915 – December 5, 1994) was an American professional baseball player whose career spanned six seasons, including parts of two in Major League Baseball with the New York Giants (1946–1947). Abernathy batted and threw left-handed. Abernathy also played in the minor leagues. Over his career in the minors, Abernathy played for the Class-D Salisbury Bees, the Class-C Fort Smith Giants (1942), the Double-A Jersey City Giants (1945), and the Double-A (later Triple-A) Minneapolis Millers (1945–1948). In the majors, Abernathy went 1–1 with a 3.64 earned run average (ERA), one save and six strikeouts in 16 games, one start. In the minors, he went 43–68 in 133 games. After his playing career, Abernathy was a repairman in Chesnee, South Carolina for 30 years.

Professional career

Early career In 1939, Abernathy began his professional career with the Class-D Salisbury Bees of the North Carolina State League. The Salisbury team, representing Salisbury, North Carolina, were affiliated with the Boston Bees Major League Baseball franchise. Abernathy took an absence from the professional circuit after the 1939 season. In 1942, Abernathy joined a semi-professional team representing Woodruff, South Carolina. Later that season he joined the Class-C Fort Smith Giants of the Western Association. With Fort Smith, Abernathy went 16–6 in 29 games. After the season, he was tied for third in wins amongst league pitchers. Abernathy was runner-up for the league's best pitcher award that season. During the Western Association playoffs in 1942, Abernathy won two games for the Giants who went on to win the league pennant. That season, Abernathy did not play for the Peaches, instead re-joining the Millers of Minneapolis. With the Millers in 1946, Abernathy went 9–9 with a 3.44 ERA in 22 games, 19 starts.

New York Giants On July 25, 1946, the New York Giants acquired Abernathy from the Minneapolis Millers in exchange for pitchers Bob Joyce and Rube Fischer, and cash considerations. Abernathy made his major league debut on July 28, 1946, against the Cincinnati Reds. In that game, Abernathy went seven innings giving up five runs (four earned) while striking out two. In 1948, Abernathy only pitched two games and stuck out one in one inning pitched.

Later life Abernathy resided in Chesnee, South Carolina where he worked as a repairman at the Reeves Brothers Textile Plant for 30 years until his retirement. Abernathy was buried at Resthaven Memorial Park.