March 6, 2013
As Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, members of the Connecticut Congressional delegation and state lawmakers announced a Red Sox charity license plate program that will fund a scholarships for students in Connecticut public high schools, Representative Pat Dillon (D-New Haven) hailed the action and said Connecticut officials should push for former Red Sox pitcher and Westville resident 'Smoky Joe' Wood to be included in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
Howard Ellsworth ‘Smoky Joe’ Wood is one of only 13 pitchers to win 30 or more games in one season since 1900. Wood went 34-5 as a pitcher in 1912 and defeated the New York Giants in the World Series that year.
“‘Smoky Joe’ Wood beat John McGraw's New York Giants at the Polo Grounds,” said Dillon, “I learned that from my grandfather John Dillon, a Giants fan.”
He left the game due to injury with a career ERA of 2.03 and became the baseball coach at Yale University, residing on Marvel Road in Westville.
More reading on ‘Smoky Joe’ Wood:
December 19, 2012
SMOKEY JOE WOOD WAS THE MARVEL OF MARVEL ROAD
New Haven Register
November 17, 2008
WHY IS SMOKEY JOE WOOD NOT IN THE HALL OF FAME?
By Michael W (Correspondent) on bleacher report
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoky_Joe_Wood
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Joe_Wood
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Red_Sox_Hall_of_Fame