Jigger Statz
Jigger Statz | |
---|---|
![]() Statz in 1922 | |
Outfielder | |
Born: Waukegan, Illinois,U.S. | October 20, 1897|
Died:March 16, 1988 Corona del Mar, California,U.S. | (aged 90)|
Batted:Right Threw:Right | |
MLB debut | |
July 30, 1919, for the New York Giants | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 30, 1928, for the Brooklyn Robins | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .285 |
Home runs | 17 |
Runs batted in | 215 |
Teams | |
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Arnold John"Jigger"Statz(October 20, 1897 – March 16, 1988) was an Americanprofessional baseballplayer,managerandscout.Anoutfielder,Statz appeared in 683games playedinMajor League Baseball,but had a lengthy and notableminor leaguecareer, playing in almost 2,800 games. He is one of only nine players known to have amassed at least 4,000 combinedhitsin the major and minor leagues. The native ofWaukegan, Illinois,threw and battedright-handed,and was listed as 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) tall and 150 pounds (68 kg).
Early life
[edit]Statz attended theCollege of the Holy CrossinWorcester, Massachusetts,where he moved from Illinois along with his parents at an early age. He played baseball for two years at Holy Cross before enlisting in the U. S. Navy during World War I. Though he signed with the Giants in 1919, Statz continued his studies at Holy Cross and graduated with his class in 1921.[1]
Major league career
[edit]Statz played in the major leagues during eight seasons from 1919 to 1928 for theChicago Cubs,New York Giants,Boston Red Sox,andBrooklyn Robins.His best season was in 1923 with the Cubs, when he played in all 154 games, compiling a.319 batting average, with 10 home runs and 70 runs batted in.
Minor league career
[edit]Statz played 18 minor league seasons, all of them for theLos Angeles Angelsof the top-levelPacific Coast League.In an era when many players had lengthy minor league careers, Statz's statistics surpassed those of his contemporaries, e.g. a grand total of 4,093 major and minor league hits, and a total number of games played which was exceeded only byPete Rose.[1]
Statz had a distinguished career in the Pacific Coast League. He holds the PCL records for games played (2,790), hits (3,356), doubles (597), triples (136), and runs scored (1,996). His career PCL batting average was.315.[citation needed]The year after his playing career ended, he was a member of the first group of players elected to thePacific Coast League Hall of Fame.[citation needed]
Total hits
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Jigger_Statz%2C_New_York_NL_%28baseball%29_LCCN2014710550_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Jigger_Statz%2C_New_York_NL_%28baseball%29_LCCN2014710550_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Statz is one of only nine players (along withPete Rose,Ty Cobb,Ichiro Suzuki,Hank Aaron,Minnie Miñoso,Julio Franco,Derek Jeter,andStan Musial) known to have amassed at least 4,000 combined hits in the major leagues and minor leagues.[2](Jake BeckleyandSam Crawfordmay also have hit 4,000, but data for some of their minor league seasons are missing.)[3]
Post–playing career
[edit]Statz managed for five years in the minor leagues. He was the Angels' player-manager during 1940–1942, and managed theVisalia Cubsof theCalifornia Leaguein 1948–1949.
Jigger Statz played himself in the 1929Paramountfilm,Fast Company,and in 1952 served as a technical advisor forThe Winning Team,a fictionalizedWarner Bros.biography ofGrover Cleveland Alexanderwhich starredRonald Reagan.[4]
References
[edit]- ^abJigger Statzat theSABR Baseball Biography Project,by Bill Nowlin, Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- ^Ichiro Suzuki, Minnie Minoso and 4,000 career ‘professional’ hits,Scott Simkus,SABR.org, accessed 2021-12-07
- ^Chasing 4000,Devon Young, Baseballmusings, accessed 2013-08-23
- ^Jigger StatzatIMDb
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orESPN,orBaseball Reference,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet
Media related toJigger Statzat Wikimedia Commons
- 1897 births
- 1988 deaths
- Boston Red Sox players
- Brooklyn Robins players
- Chicago Cubs players
- Chicago Cubs scouts
- Los Angeles Angels (minor league) managers
- Los Angeles Angels (minor league) players
- Major League Baseball outfielders
- New York Giants (baseball) players
- Pacific Coast League MVP award winners
- Sportspeople from Waukegan, Illinois
- Baseball players from Lake County, Illinois
- College of the Holy Cross alumni