YOST Edward “Eddie” Frederick Joseph, of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, passed away of natural causes on October 16th, 2012 in Weston, Massachusetts. He was 86.
The son of Mary (Maass) and Frederick Yost, Eddie was born on October 13th, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York and raised in South Ozone Park in Queens. After graduating from John Adams High School, he furthered his education by earning both a Bachelor Degree of Education and Master Degree of Physical Education from New York University.
While working on his education, Eddie was drafted by Major League Baseball's Washington Senators in 1944 at the age of 17. Nicknamed “The Walking Man” because of his uncanny ability to draw a base on balls, Eddie went on to play a stellar 18 years in the Major Leagues for not only the Senators, but also the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels. In 1946, he took a hiatus from baseball to proudly serve his country in the U.S. Navy. His time with the Detroit organization was special as it was here that he met his beloved wife of 45 years, Patricia Healy . Married in Florida, the young couple eventually settled in Hauppauge, New York where they raised their three children, Felita, Michael and Alexis. After his playing days, Eddie enjoyed another 22 years in the Major Leagues, coaching third base for the Washington Senators, New York Mets and finally, the Boston Red Sox.
After a total of 40 years with Major League Baseball, Eddie retired in Boston in 1984 at the age of 58. Understandably, he and Pat grew to love the quaint New England area and so they remained, calling Wellesley Hills their final home. Although family, friends and baseball were Eddie’s true passions, his retirement years afforded him more time to devote to his hobbies, restoring antique carousel horses and clocks. And while he was always on the go, taking daily walks around Wellesley and maintaining his home, he still found time to solve a good Jumble and crossword puzzle or challenge Jeopardy contestants from the comforts of his favorite chair.
Eddie was predeceased by his wife Patricia Healy Yost, brother Alfred Yost and sister Muriel O’Connor. He was survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Felita Yost Carr and Brian Carr of Hollis NH, son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Teresa Yost of Huntington Beach, CA, daughter Alexis Yost Fougere of Wellesley, MA , grandsons Edward and Joseph Yost of Huntington Beach, CA, Sister Rosemary Huebner of Scottsdale AZ , devoted family friends Alexei and Natalya Komarov of Natick, MA and many other family members, friends and fans.
A private memorial service service will be held at the family’s cemetery plot in Wellesley. As a thank you to his devoted cardiologist, Dr. Kimberly Parks, in lieu of flowers, please send a donation in memory of Eddie Yost to the Mass General Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) Program Research Fund. Checks can be mailed to the Mass General Development Office, 165 Cambridge Street, Ste 600, Boston, MA 02114.