Buster Adams
Born: 6/24/1915 in Trinidad, CO, USA
Died: 9/1/1990 in Rancho Mirage, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1939-04-27 | Final Game: 1947-09-21
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Elvin Clark Adams
Biography
Buster Adams was a professional baseball player who made his mark in the major leagues from 1939 to 1947. Born in 1915, Adams played primarily as a position player, appearing in 576 games throughout his career. He amassed a total of 532 hits, showcasing a solid batting average of .266. Known for his power at the plate, he hit 50 home runs and drove in 249 runs, contributing significantly to his teams' offensive efforts during his time in the league.
Adams's career unfolded during a dynamic era in baseball, marked by the transition from the deadball era to a period characterized by increasing power hitting. His 12 stolen bases highlighted his speed on the base paths, complementing his ability to drive in runs. While he may not have been one of the most celebrated stars of his time, Buster Adams’s contributions to the game reflected the evolving nature of baseball in the mid-20th century, as players began to showcase a combination of power and speed that would define future generations.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32.0 | 31.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 3.0 | 0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0.161 | 0.161 | 0.258 | 0.419 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0.444 | 0.777 |
| 1939 | 12.0 | 11.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.091 | 0.091 | 0.091 | 0.182 |
| 1945 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0.125 | 0.125 | 0.375 | 0.500 |
| 1947 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 576 | 2003 | 282 | 532 | 96 | 12 | 50 | 249 | 12 | 234 | 281 | 0.266 | 0.346 | 0.400 | 0.747 | 3870.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | STL | NL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1943 | PHI | NL | 111 | 418 | 48 | 107 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 38 | 2 | 39 | 67 | 0.256 | -5.9 |
| 1943 | STL | NL | 8 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0.091 | -5.9 |
| 1944 | PHI | NL | 151 | 584 | 86 | 165 | 35 | 3 | 17 | 64 | 2 | 74 | 74 | 0.283 | 2257.8 |
| 1945 | PHI | NL | 14 | 56 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0.232 | 26.5 |
| 1945 | STL | NL | 140 | 578 | 98 | 169 | 26 | 0 | 20 | 101 | 3 | 57 | 75 | 0.292 | 26.5 |
| 1946 | STL | NL | 81 | 173 | 21 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 22 | 3 | 29 | 27 | 0.185 | -239.3 |
| 1947 | PHI | NL | 69 | 182 | 21 | 45 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 26 | 29 | 0.247 | -60.8 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 527 | 0 | 1339 | 35 | 29 | 8 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | PHI | OF | 107 | 0 | 298 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| 1943 | SLN | OF | 6 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1944 | PHI | OF | 151 | 0 | 449 | 14 | 10 | 1 |
| 1945 | PHI | OF | 14 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1945 | SLN | OF | 140 | 0 | 382 | 9 | 9 | 3 |
| 1946 | SLN | OF | 58 | 0 | 95 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1947 | PHI | OF | 51 | 0 | 78 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 59 |
| Center Field | 422 |
| Right Field | 45 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 18th | 12.0 | 336 | 0 |