Merl Combs
Born: 12/11/1919 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
Died: 7/7/1981 in Riverside, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1947-09-12 | Final Game: 1952-09-28
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 172 lbs
Full name: Merrill Russell Combs
Biography
Merl Combs was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Born in 1919, Combs played as a position player from 1947 until his retirement in 1952. Over the course of his career, he participated in 140 games, accumulating 73 hits, which included 2 home runs and 25 runs batted in. His batting average stood at .202, and he did not record any stolen bases.
Combs' playing career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, marked by the integration of players and the emergence of new talent in the post-World War II era. Although his offensive statistics may not reflect the power or speed typical of the era's most celebrated players, Combs contributed to his teams through his versatility and tenacity on the field. His journey through Major League Baseball, while brief, highlights the diverse stories of players who shaped the game during a time of significant change.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 140 | 361 | 45 | 73 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 0 | 57 | 43 | 0.202 | 0.314 | 0.241 | 0.555 | -1140.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | BOS | AL | 17 | 68 | 8 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0.221 | -130.4 |
| 1949 | BOS | AL | 14 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0.208 | 0.0 |
| 1950 | BOS | AL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1950 | WSN | AL | 37 | 102 | 19 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 22 | 16 | 0.245 | 0.0 |
| 1951 | CLE | AL | 19 | 28 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.179 | 0.0 |
| 1952 | CLE | AL | 52 | 139 | 11 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 15 | 0.165 | -830.5 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 3B | 26 | 0 | 29 | 54 | 2 | 8 |
| SS | 96 | 0 | 142 | 255 | 13 | 52 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | BOS | 3B | 17 | 0 | 17 | 42 | 0 | 6 |
| 1949 | BOS | 3B | 9 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 2 |
| 1949 | BOS | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1950 | WS1 | SS | 30 | 0 | 48 | 93 | 5 | 20 |
| 1951 | CLE | SS | 16 | 0 | 16 | 32 | 2 | 5 |
| 1952 | CLE | 2B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1952 | CLE | SS | 49 | 0 | 77 | 130 | 6 | 27 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 3 |
| Third Base | 26 |
| Shortstop | 96 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | CA | 1940, 1941 |