Lu Blue
Born: 3/5/1897 in Washington, DC, USA
Died: 7/28/1958 in Alexandria, VA, USA
MLB Debut: 1921-04-14 | Final Game: 1933-04-25
Bats: B | Throws: L | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: Luzerne Atwell Blue
Biography
Lu Blue was a prominent American baseball player whose career spanned from 1921 to 1933. Born in 1897, Blue made his mark during a transformative period in Major League Baseball, bridging the gap between the deadball era and the more power-driven styles of the 1930s. As a versatile position player, he appeared in 1,615 games and was known for his consistent offensive production, recording 1,696 hits and a commendable batting average of .287. Throughout his career, he contributed significantly to his teams, driving in 695 runs and hitting 44 home runs, while also showcasing his speed on the basepaths with 151 stolen bases.
Blue's playing style combined a keen eye at the plate with the ability to make contact, making him a reliable hitter during his tenure. His contributions were vital to the success of the teams he played for, and he became recognized for his work ethic and on-field versatility. As baseball evolved in the 1930s, Blue's accomplishments and adaptability reflected the changing dynamics of the sport, solidifying his legacy as a noteworthy player of his era.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1615 | 5904 | 1151 | 1696 | 319 | 109 | 44 | 695 | 151 | 1092 | 436 | 0.287 | 0.402 | 0.401 | 0.803 | 13305.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | DET | AL | 153 | 585 | 103 | 180 | 33 | 11 | 5 | 75 | 13 | 103 | 47 | 0.308 | 1995.2 |
| 1922 | DET | AL | 145 | 584 | 131 | 175 | 31 | 9 | 6 | 45 | 8 | 82 | 48 | 0.300 | 1213.2 |
| 1923 | DET | AL | 129 | 504 | 100 | 143 | 27 | 7 | 1 | 46 | 10 | 96 | 40 | 0.284 | 906.7 |
| 1924 | DET | AL | 108 | 395 | 81 | 123 | 26 | 7 | 2 | 53 | 9 | 64 | 26 | 0.311 | 1262.8 |
| 1925 | DET | AL | 150 | 532 | 91 | 163 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 94 | 19 | 83 | 29 | 0.306 | 775.9 |
| 1926 | DET | AL | 128 | 429 | 92 | 123 | 24 | 14 | 1 | 52 | 13 | 90 | 18 | 0.287 | 1440.2 |
| 1927 | DET | AL | 112 | 365 | 71 | 95 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 42 | 13 | 71 | 28 | 0.260 | 333.7 |
| 1928 | SLA | AL | 154 | 549 | 116 | 154 | 32 | 11 | 14 | 80 | 12 | 105 | 43 | 0.281 | 2125.3 |
| 1929 | SLA | AL | 151 | 573 | 111 | 168 | 40 | 10 | 6 | 61 | 12 | 126 | 32 | 0.293 | 1850.4 |
| 1930 | SLA | AL | 117 | 425 | 85 | 100 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 42 | 12 | 81 | 44 | 0.235 | -662.8 |
| 1931 | CHW | AL | 155 | 589 | 119 | 179 | 23 | 15 | 1 | 62 | 13 | 127 | 60 | 0.304 | 2365.7 |
| 1932 | CHW | AL | 112 | 373 | 51 | 93 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 17 | 64 | 21 | 0.249 | -300.4 |
| 1933 | BRO | NL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1571 | 0 | 15644 | 1016 | 191 | 1187 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | DET | 1B | 152 | 0 | 1478 | 85 | 16 | 75 |
| 1922 | DET | 1B | 144 | 0 | 1506 | 95 | 15 | 107 |
| 1923 | DET | 1B | 129 | 0 | 1347 | 93 | 12 | 74 |
| 1924 | DET | 1B | 108 | 0 | 1099 | 85 | 17 | 72 |
| 1925 | DET | 1B | 148 | 0 | 1480 | 101 | 19 | 115 |
| 1926 | DET | 1B | 109 | 0 | 1153 | 57 | 19 | 95 |
| 1926 | DET | OF | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1927 | DET | 1B | 104 | 0 | 1040 | 68 | 18 | 99 |
| 1928 | SLA | 1B | 154 | 0 | 1472 | 107 | 17 | 121 |
| 1929 | SLA | 1B | 151 | 0 | 1491 | 88 | 10 | 127 |
| 1930 | SLA | 1B | 111 | 0 | 1110 | 68 | 16 | 91 |
| 1931 | CHA | 1B | 155 | 0 | 1452 | 81 | 16 | 105 |
| 1932 | CHA | 1B | 105 | 0 | 1014 | 88 | 16 | 106 |
| 1933 | BRO | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1568 |
| Center Field | 1 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 17th | 4.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1925 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 12th | 7.0 | 64 | 0 |
| 1924 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 19th | 3.0 | 64 | 0 |
| 1922 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 10th | 11.0 | 64 | 0 |