Ripper Collins
Born: 3/30/1904 in Altoona, PA, USA
Died: 4/15/1970 in New Haven, NY, USA
MLB Debut: 1931-04-18 | Final Game: 1941-09-28
Bats: B | Throws: L | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: James Anthony Collins
Biography
Ripper Collins, born in 1904, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball whose career spanned from 1931 to 1941. Known for his powerful swing and consistent batting, Collins played a total of 1,084 games, amassing 1,121 hits with a commendable batting average of .296. He made a significant impact on the field with 135 home runs and 659 RBIs, showcasing his ability to drive in runs and contribute to his team's success during a competitive era in baseball. In addition to his offensive prowess, Collins also demonstrated speed on the bases, accumulating 18 stolen bases over his career.
Throughout his time in the majors, Collins was selected as an All-Star three times, highlighting his status as one of the top players of his generation. His playing style was characterized by a combination of power and batting finesse, making him a formidable presence at the plate. Collins played during a transitional period in baseball, witnessing the tail end of the deadball era and the rise of more offensive-minded play. His contributions to the game continue to be remembered, and his legacy lives on as a key figure in the history of baseball.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25.0 | 20.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0.200 | 0.304 | 0.300 | 0.604 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | 25.0 | 20.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0.200 | 0.304 | 0.300 | 0.604 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1084 | 3784 | 615 | 1121 | 205 | 65 | 135 | 659 | 18 | 356 | 373 | 0.296 | 0.360 | 0.492 | 0.852 | 11818.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | STL | NL | 89 | 279 | 34 | 84 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 59 | 1 | 18 | 24 | 0.301 | 650.4 |
| 1932 | STL | NL | 149 | 549 | 82 | 153 | 28 | 8 | 21 | 91 | 4 | 38 | 67 | 0.279 | 859.0 |
| 1933 | STL | NL | 132 | 493 | 66 | 153 | 26 | 7 | 10 | 68 | 7 | 38 | 49 | 0.310 | 1452.1 |
| 1934 | STL | NL | 154 | 600 | 116 | 200 | 40 | 12 | 35 | 128 | 2 | 57 | 50 | 0.333 | 4395.5 |
| 1935 | STL | NL | 150 | 578 | 109 | 181 | 36 | 10 | 23 | 122 | 0 | 65 | 45 | 0.313 | 2867.6 |
| 1936 | STL | NL | 103 | 277 | 48 | 81 | 15 | 3 | 13 | 48 | 1 | 48 | 30 | 0.292 | 1222.8 |
| 1937 | CHC | NL | 115 | 456 | 77 | 125 | 16 | 5 | 16 | 71 | 2 | 32 | 46 | 0.274 | 201.8 |
| 1938 | CHC | NL | 143 | 490 | 78 | 131 | 22 | 8 | 13 | 61 | 1 | 54 | 48 | 0.267 | 369.1 |
| 1941 | PIT | NL | 49 | 62 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 0.210 | -200.2 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 47 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0.277 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | WS | CHN | 4 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.133 |
| 1934 | WS | SLN | 7 | 30 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0.367 |
| 1931 | WS | SLN | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 894 | 0 | 7747 | 608 | 68 | 695 |
| OF | 75 | 0 | 120 | 8 | 7 | 2 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | SLN | 1B | 68 | 0 | 563 | 42 | 3 | 54 |
| 1931 | SLN | OF | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1932 | SLN | 1B | 81 | 0 | 701 | 46 | 1 | 72 |
| 1932 | SLN | OF | 60 | 0 | 96 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| 1933 | SLN | 1B | 123 | 0 | 1054 | 79 | 7 | 82 |
| 1934 | SLN | 1B | 154 | 0 | 1289 | 110 | 13 | 115 |
| 1935 | SLN | 1B | 150 | 0 | 1269 | 95 | 18 | 107 |
| 1936 | SLN | 1B | 61 | 0 | 475 | 37 | 5 | 48 |
| 1936 | SLN | OF | 9 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1937 | CHN | 1B | 111 | 0 | 1068 | 80 | 11 | 94 |
| 1938 | CHN | 1B | 135 | 0 | 1264 | 111 | 6 | 118 |
| 1941 | PIT | 1B | 11 | 0 | 64 | 8 | 4 | 5 |
| 1941 | PIT | OF | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 894 |
| Left Field | 16 |
| Right Field | 59 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 21th | 2.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1934 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 6th | 32.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1932 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 21th | 3.0 | 80 | 0 |