Joe Birmingham
Born: 12/3/1884 in Elmira, NY, USA
Died: 4/23/1946 in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico
MLB Debut: 1906-09-12 | Final Game: 1914-07-25
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Joseph Leo Birmingham
Biography
Joe Birmingham was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball who had a career spanning from 1906 to 1914. Born in 1884, Birmingham made his mark during a transitional era in baseball, moving away from the deadball era into a time when offensive production began to gain greater emphasis. Over the course of his career, he played in 771 games, achieving a total of 667 hits, 265 RBIs, and a batting average of .253. His ability to contribute offensively was complemented by his speed on the bases, as he recorded 108 stolen bases, showcasing his agility and strategic base running.
Birmingham's career included stints with several teams, where he became known for his solid hitting and reliable fielding. He hit 7 home runs during his time in the league, adding to the burgeoning excitement of the game as power hitting began to emerge. His contributions were significant to the teams he played for, as he helped to pave the way for future generations of players who would further revolutionize the sport. Despite not being a household name today, Birmingham's legacy is remembered as part of the foundation of early 20th-century baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 771 | 2633 | 284 | 667 | 89 | 27 | 7 | 265 | 108 | 129 | 264 | 0.253 | 0.294 | 0.316 | 0.610 | -2654.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 | CLE | AL | 10 | 40 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0.275 | 0.0 |
| 1907 | CLE | AL | 137 | 476 | 55 | 112 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 33 | 23 | 16 | 73 | 0.235 | -850.8 |
| 1908 | CLE | AL | 122 | 413 | 32 | 88 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 38 | 15 | 19 | 63 | 0.213 | -1107.5 |
| 1909 | CLE | AL | 100 | 343 | 29 | 99 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 38 | 12 | 19 | 57 | 0.289 | 617.1 |
| 1910 | CLE | AL | 104 | 367 | 41 | 84 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 18 | 23 | 42 | 0.229 | -910.8 |
| 1911 | CLE | AL | 125 | 447 | 55 | 136 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 51 | 16 | 15 | 0 | 0.304 | 137.5 |
| 1912 | CLE | AL | 107 | 369 | 49 | 94 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 15 | 26 | 0 | 0.255 | -574.1 |
| 1913 | CLE | AL | 47 | 131 | 16 | 37 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 22 | 0.282 | 34.3 |
| 1914 | CLE | AL | 19 | 47 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0.128 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 9 | 0 | 66 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| 3B | 18 | 2 | 23 | 41 | 6 | 4 |
| OF | 712 | 454 | 1478 | 129 | 70 | 38 |
| SS | 4 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 3 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 | CLE | 3B | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1906 | CLE | OF | 9 | 8 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1907 | CLE | SS | 3 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 3 |
| 1907 | CLE | OF | 133 | 132 | 268 | 28 | 16 | 8 |
| 1908 | CLE | SS | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1908 | CLE | OF | 121 | 118 | 250 | 20 | 12 | 6 |
| 1909 | CLE | OF | 98 | 97 | 203 | 15 | 12 | 2 |
| 1910 | CLE | 3B | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1910 | CLE | OF | 103 | 99 | 223 | 24 | 10 | 8 |
| 1911 | CLE | 3B | 16 | 0 | 22 | 35 | 6 | 4 |
| 1911 | CLE | OF | 102 | 0 | 231 | 19 | 7 | 6 |
| 1912 | CLE | 1B | 9 | 0 | 66 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| 1912 | CLE | OF | 96 | 0 | 198 | 18 | 11 | 8 |
| 1913 | CLE | OF | 36 | 0 | 73 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1914 | CLE | OF | 14 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 11 |
| Third Base | 19 |
| Shortstop | 4 |
| Left Field | 40 |
| Center Field | 643 |
| Right Field | 30 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 20th | 2.0 | 64 | 0 |