When Hub Perdue was traded to the Cardinals, the player the Braves got in return was George "Possum" Whitted. He got his first taste of major-league experience, at the end of the 1912 season, getting called up to the St Louis Cardinals after playing for Jacksonville in the South Atlantic League.

The Cardinals expected great things from him in the future. In 1913, he was shifted from one position to another, playing third base, shortstop, and the outfield, but only had a .220 batting average. In 1914, he did not improve and was hitting only .129 when he was traded to the Braves at the beginning of July.

His versatility in the field proved very useful to manager George Stallings. Whenever Johnny Evers or someone else was hurt and unable to play, Whitted substituted for them and played every position except pitcher and catcher in the Braves "Miracle" run.

One of the factors in the Braves’ turnaround was Stallings’ platooning of his outfielders depending on whether the pitcher was left-handed or right-handed. This was not the first time platooning was employed, but it was still a rather novel concept in 1914. Whitted alternated with left-hander Larry Gilbert in center field and batted .261.

"Possum" played in every inning of the Braves’ World Series sweep of the Philadelphia A's and was just 3-for-14, but one of his hits was a two-run triple in Game #1.

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Possum Whitted (pic)

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