Hank Workman, the captain of USC’s first College World Series championship team in 1948, died Monday. He was 94.
Workman was inducted into the USC Hall of Fame in 2009. He was drafted by the New Yankees and was called up to the team near the end of the 1950 season, when the Yankees won the World Series.
His career ended when he hurt his shoulder crashing into a fence. Before the injury, Yankees executive George Weiss said his outfield was set for the next 10 years with Jackie Jensen in left field; Mickey Mantle in center center field and Workman in right field.
He led USC to three conference titles and was a two-time first-team conference selection.
Workman was a power hitter at the original Bovard Field, before the fences were eventually moved in. In 1948, he was sent to the Yankees’ Class AAA team in Newark and hit 16 home runs in less than half a season. He hit 25 home runs the following season.
Workman was also at a famous game between USC and Yankees at Bovard Field in 1951, where Mickey Mantle supposedly hit a 650-foot home run that landed in the middle of the football practice — during a spring practice — that was beyond the baseball outfield.
Mantle hit two homers, a triple and single with 7 RBI. The Yankees fielded their No. 1 team, including Joe DiMaggio, and won 15-1.
Below, USC’s Tommy Riach (right) talks to Workman (left) and DiMaggio.

Thanks, Scottie, the great photo says it all. RIP, Hank, and all best wishes to his family.
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In that photo he looks like Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) in Field of Dreams. Hope he’s playing two tonight!
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Awfully close resemblance, GT22 — good catch. No pun intended!
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That is Ray Liotta, NOT Jackson. Jackson was no movie star. Look it up n
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Because of his age and the current global situation, I’m just curious whether Mr. Workman passed away because of the corona virus. That would be a shame if that were the case.
Fight On! and R.I.P., Hank Workman
#TrojanLegend
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His smile suggests he had a great and full life. And hopefully he didn’t succumb to Covid-19.
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Hank Workman and his son’s went to Loyola High. Hank Jr., was one year behind me. Mr. Workman would say hi to everyone. Very nice man.
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