Lena Blackburne
Born: 10/23/1886 in Clifton Heights, PA, USA
Died: 2/28/1968 in Riverside, NJ, USA
MLB Debut: 1910-04-14 | Final Game: 1929-06-05
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 160 lbs
Full name: Russell Aubrey Blackburne
Biography
Lena Blackburne was a professional baseball player who made a significant impact in the early 20th century, playing primarily as a position player from 1910 until his retirement in 1929. Born in 1886, Blackburne's career spanned the transition from the deadball era to the more offense-oriented approach of the 1920s. He played in a total of 550 games, amassing 387 hits with a batting average of .214. Known for his speed on the basepaths, he recorded 54 stolen bases and contributed 139 RBIs alongside 4 home runs throughout his career.
Blackburne's playing style reflected the gritty competitiveness of the time, and he was recognized for his versatility on the field. His career coincided with the rise of the American League and the continued establishment of Major League Baseball as a popular sport in America. Although he may not have been a superstar in terms of offensive output, Blackburne's contributions to his teams and the game during an era of profound change in baseball were notable, making him a respected figure among his contemporaries. After his playing days, he continued to influence the game, leaving a lasting legacy in baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 550 | 1807 | 173 | 387 | 39 | 23 | 4 | 139 | 54 | 162 | 182 | 0.214 | 0.284 | 0.268 | 0.552 | -4859.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | CHW | AL | 75 | 242 | 16 | 42 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 19 | 31 | 0.174 | -1248.2 |
| 1912 | CHW | AL | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1914 | CHW | AL | 144 | 474 | 52 | 105 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 35 | 25 | 66 | 58 | 0.222 | -624.5 |
| 1915 | CHW | AL | 96 | 283 | 33 | 61 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 13 | 35 | 34 | 0.216 | -690.9 |
| 1918 | CIN | NL | 125 | 435 | 34 | 99 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 45 | 6 | 25 | 30 | 0.228 | -1016.5 |
| 1919 | BSN | NL | 31 | 80 | 5 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 0.263 | -37.6 |
| 1919 | PHI | NL | 72 | 291 | 32 | 58 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 19 | 2 | 10 | 22 | 0.199 | -37.6 |
| 1927 | CHW | AL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 |
| 1929 | CHW | AL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | CHW | AL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | - |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2B | 144 | 0 | 241 | 437 | 26 | 29 |
| 3B | 180 | 0 | 207 | 341 | 34 | 26 |
| P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 213 | 73 | 511 | 700 | 95 | 102 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | CHA | SS | 74 | 73 | 173 | 265 | 43 | 29 |
| 1912 | CHA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1912 | CHA | SS | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1914 | CHA | 2B | 143 | 0 | 239 | 433 | 26 | 28 |
| 1915 | CHA | 3B | 83 | 0 | 88 | 134 | 12 | 12 |
| 1915 | CHA | SS | 9 | 0 | 11 | 19 | 3 | 3 |
| 1918 | CIN | SS | 125 | 0 | 319 | 413 | 48 | 69 |
| 1919 | BSN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1919 | BSN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1919 | BSN | 3B | 24 | 0 | 34 | 39 | 4 | 3 |
| 1919 | BSN | SS | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1919 | PHI | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1919 | PHI | 3B | 72 | 0 | 85 | 167 | 18 | 11 |
| 1929 | CHA | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 1 |
| First Base | 2 |
| Second Base | 145 |
| Third Base | 180 |
| Shortstop | 212 |