Preston Ward: podcast appearances and interviews

Preston Meyer Ward was an American professional baseball first baseman who appeared in 744 games over nine seasons in Major League Baseball between 1948 and 1959. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, and Kansas City Athletics. Born in Columbia, Missouri, Ward attended Missouri State University and began his professional career in the Brooklyn farm system in 1944 at the age of 16. He threw right-handed and batted left-handed, standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds. Ward's MLB opportunities initially arose in 1948 and 1950, but he served in the military during the Korean War, missing the 1951 and 1952 seasons. He established himself in the major leagues starting in 1953, primarily functioning as a utility player and platoon first baseman. Over his career, he played 438 games at first base, with additional appearances in the outfield and at third base. Ward had a lifetime batting average of .253, collecting 522 hits, including 83 doubles, 15 triples, and 50 home runs, with 262 runs batted in. His best seasonal totals included 12 home runs and 48 RBIs. In 1958, Ward batted .284 with 118 hits across a season split between the Indians and Athletics. Additionally, he was drafted by the St. Louis Bombers of the Basketball Association of America in 1949 but did not pursue a professional basketball career.