Earle Combs
⭐ Hall of Fame 1970
Born: 5/14/1899 in Pebworth, KY, USA
Died: 7/21/1976 in Richmond, KY, USA
MLB Debut: 1924-04-16 | Final Game: 1935-09-29
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Earle Bryan Combs
Biography
Earle Combs was born in 1899 and enjoyed a prolific career as a center fielder in Major League Baseball from 1924 until his retirement in 1935. Playing primarily for the New York Yankees, Combs was an essential member of the team during a golden era of baseball, contributing significantly to their success in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Over the course of 1,455 games, he accumulated an impressive 1,866 hits, 58 home runs, and 632 RBIs, boasting a remarkable career batting average of .325. His speed on the bases was evident as he recorded 96 stolen bases, showcasing his ability to impact the game not just with his bat but also with his agility.
Combs was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970, a testament to his lasting legacy in the sport. His playing style was characterized by a combination of power and speed, making him one of the premier hitters of his time. As a member of the Yankees, he was part of several championship teams and played alongside legends like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, solidifying his place in baseball history. Combs’ contributions to the game and his performances during a transformative period in Major League Baseball have left an indelible mark, and he remains a celebrated figure in the annals of the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1455 | 5746 | 1186 | 1866 | 309 | 154 | 58 | 632 | 96 | 670 | 278 | 0.325 | 0.397 | 0.462 | 0.859 | 18737.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | NYY | AL | 24 | 35 | 10 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0.400 | 0.0 |
| 1925 | NYY | AL | 150 | 593 | 117 | 203 | 36 | 13 | 3 | 61 | 12 | 65 | 43 | 0.342 | 1936.2 |
| 1926 | NYY | AL | 145 | 606 | 113 | 181 | 31 | 12 | 8 | 55 | 8 | 47 | 23 | 0.299 | 715.0 |
| 1927 | NYY | AL | 152 | 648 | 137 | 231 | 36 | 23 | 6 | 64 | 15 | 62 | 31 | 0.356 | 3401.1 |
| 1928 | NYY | AL | 149 | 626 | 118 | 194 | 33 | 21 | 7 | 56 | 10 | 77 | 33 | 0.310 | 1975.1 |
| 1929 | NYY | AL | 142 | 586 | 119 | 202 | 33 | 15 | 3 | 65 | 11 | 69 | 32 | 0.345 | 1947.8 |
| 1930 | NYY | AL | 137 | 532 | 129 | 183 | 30 | 22 | 7 | 82 | 16 | 74 | 26 | 0.344 | 2390.7 |
| 1931 | NYY | AL | 138 | 563 | 120 | 179 | 31 | 13 | 5 | 58 | 11 | 68 | 34 | 0.318 | 1856.7 |
| 1932 | NYY | AL | 144 | 591 | 143 | 190 | 32 | 10 | 9 | 65 | 3 | 81 | 16 | 0.321 | 2312.2 |
| 1933 | NYY | AL | 122 | 417 | 86 | 125 | 22 | 16 | 5 | 64 | 6 | 47 | 19 | 0.300 | 1446.0 |
| 1934 | NYY | AL | 63 | 251 | 47 | 80 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 25 | 3 | 40 | 9 | 0.319 | 792.2 |
| 1935 | NYY | AL | 89 | 298 | 47 | 84 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 35 | 1 | 36 | 10 | 0.282 | -35.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 60 | 17 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 0.350 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | WS | NYA | 4 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0.375 |
| 1928 | WS | NYA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1927 | WS | NYA | 4 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0.312 |
| 1926 | WS | NYA | 7 | 28 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0.357 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1387 | 0 | 3449 | 69 | 95 | 23 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | NYA | OF | 11 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1925 | NYA | OF | 150 | 0 | 401 | 12 | 9 | 2 |
| 1926 | NYA | OF | 145 | 0 | 375 | 8 | 12 | 2 |
| 1927 | NYA | OF | 152 | 0 | 411 | 6 | 14 | 0 |
| 1928 | NYA | OF | 149 | 0 | 424 | 11 | 9 | 7 |
| 1929 | NYA | OF | 141 | 0 | 358 | 10 | 13 | 5 |
| 1930 | NYA | OF | 135 | 0 | 275 | 5 | 9 | 1 |
| 1931 | NYA | OF | 129 | 0 | 335 | 5 | 9 | 2 |
| 1932 | NYA | OF | 139 | 0 | 343 | 6 | 12 | 3 |
| 1933 | NYA | OF | 104 | 0 | 227 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| 1934 | NYA | OF | 62 | 0 | 145 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1935 | NYA | OF | 70 | 0 | 143 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 214 |
| Center Field | 1157 |
| Right Field | 41 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1929 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | CF |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond | KY | 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 6th | 13.0 | 64 | 0 |
| 1925 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 6.0 | 64 | 0 |