Butch Wensloff - Later Career

Later Career

After his service, Wensloff returned to the New York Yankees for the 1947 season. He made his first appearance at the start of June and pitched despite having a sore arm throughout the season, pitching infrequently. In 11 games with the Yankees, Wensloff compiled a record of 3–1 with a 2.61 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 51⅔ innings pitched, and pitched two innings of one game in the 1947 World Series.

As the 1948 season began, Wensloff did not report to spring training, and was holding out for a new contract; the only time he communicated with the club was to inquite about his World Series ring. At the end of March, he was sold by the Yankees to the Philadelphia Phillies for a reported $30,000. Wensloff refused to join the Phillies because he did not want to play in the National League, and as a result he was sent back to the Yankees. The Yankees were also in trade talks with the New York Giants, but Wensloff refused to play for them for the same reason. The Yankees continued to look for a trading partner, and eventually traded him to the Cleveland Indians for an undisclosed amount. With the Indians, Wensloff pitched only one game, giving up two earned runs in 1⅔ innings pitched on May 4. He was placed on the disabled list on May 20, 1948 with continued arm soreness. This later proved to be a career-ending injury for Wensloff, as he retired at the end of the 1948 season. Upon ending his career, Wendloff retired to San Rafael, California, and died on February 18, 2001.