Roy Cullenbine
Born: 10/18/1913 in Nashville, TN, USA
Died: 5/28/1991 in Mount Clemens, MI, USA
MLB Debut: 1938-04-19 | Final Game: 1947-09-28
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Roy Joseph Cullenbine
Biography
Roy Cullenbine was a prominent American professional baseball player, known for his versatility on the field and impactful presence during his career from 1938 to 1947. Born in 1913, Cullenbine played primarily as a position player, appearing in 1,181 games throughout his time in Major League Baseball. He concluded his career with a batting average of .276, racking up 1,072 hits, 110 home runs, and 599 RBIs. His performance earned him All-Star selections in two seasons, highlighting his skill and contribution to the teams he played for.
Cullenbine's career unfolded in a transformative era for baseball, bridging the pre-World War II and post-war periods. Known for his disciplined approach at the plate, he combined solid hitting with an ability to draw walks, making him a valuable asset in the lineup. Additionally, his speed on the bases was evident as he recorded 26 stolen bases during his career. Cullenbine's legacy is remembered for his consistent offensive production and the significant role he played during a time of great change in the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1181 | 3879 | 627 | 1072 | 209 | 32 | 110 | 599 | 26 | 853 | 399 | 0.276 | 0.408 | 0.432 | 0.840 | 19146.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | DET | AL | 25 | 67 | 12 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 0.284 | 89.6 |
| 1939 | DET | AL | 75 | 179 | 31 | 43 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 23 | 0 | 34 | 29 | 0.240 | 214.0 |
| 1940 | BRO | NL | 22 | 61 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 23 | 11 | 0.180 | 15.8 |
| 1940 | SLA | AL | 86 | 257 | 41 | 59 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 31 | 0 | 50 | 34 | 0.230 | 15.8 |
| 1941 | SLA | AL | 149 | 501 | 82 | 159 | 29 | 9 | 9 | 98 | 6 | 121 | 43 | 0.317 | 3652.2 |
| 1942 | NYY | AL | 21 | 77 | 16 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 0.364 | 703.7 |
| 1942 | SLA | AL | 38 | 109 | 15 | 21 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 30 | 20 | 0.193 | 703.7 |
| 1942 | WSN | AL | 64 | 241 | 30 | 69 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 1 | 44 | 18 | 0.286 | 703.7 |
| 1943 | CLE | AL | 138 | 488 | 66 | 141 | 24 | 4 | 8 | 56 | 3 | 96 | 58 | 0.289 | 2423.8 |
| 1944 | CLE | AL | 154 | 571 | 98 | 162 | 34 | 5 | 16 | 80 | 4 | 87 | 49 | 0.284 | 2530.8 |
| 1945 | CLE | AL | 8 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0.077 | 0.0 |
| 1945 | DET | AL | 146 | 523 | 80 | 145 | 27 | 5 | 18 | 93 | 2 | 102 | 36 | 0.277 | 0.0 |
| 1946 | DET | AL | 113 | 328 | 63 | 110 | 21 | 0 | 15 | 56 | 3 | 88 | 39 | 0.335 | 3441.7 |
| 1947 | DET | AL | 142 | 464 | 82 | 104 | 18 | 1 | 24 | 78 | 3 | 137 | 51 | 0.224 | 2062.8 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 41 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 0.244 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | WS | DET | 7 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 0.227 |
| 1942 | WS | NYA | 5 | 19 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0.263 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 208 | 0 | 1794 | 196 | 25 | 167 |
| 3B | 31 | 0 | 48 | 66 | 9 | 4 |
| OF | 843 | 0 | 1666 | 100 | 57 | 24 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | DET | OF | 17 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1939 | DET | 1B | 2 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 1939 | DET | OF | 46 | 0 | 81 | 2 | 9 | 1 |
| 1940 | BRO | OF | 19 | 0 | 33 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940 | SLA | 1B | 6 | 0 | 44 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 1940 | SLA | OF | 57 | 0 | 114 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 1941 | SLA | 1B | 22 | 0 | 193 | 20 | 4 | 21 |
| 1941 | SLA | OF | 120 | 0 | 258 | 12 | 10 | 3 |
| 1942 | NYA | 1B | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1942 | NYA | OF | 19 | 0 | 47 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1942 | SLA | 1B | 5 | 0 | 45 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
| 1942 | SLA | OF | 27 | 0 | 48 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 1942 | WS1 | 3B | 28 | 0 | 45 | 63 | 8 | 4 |
| 1942 | WS1 | OF | 35 | 0 | 80 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 1943 | CLE | 1B | 13 | 0 | 131 | 9 | 2 | 9 |
| 1943 | CLE | OF | 121 | 0 | 245 | 14 | 5 | 6 |
| 1944 | CLE | OF | 151 | 0 | 275 | 15 | 10 | 6 |
| 1945 | CLE | 3B | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1945 | CLE | OF | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1945 | DET | OF | 146 | 0 | 321 | 23 | 7 | 3 |
| 1946 | DET | 1B | 21 | 0 | 168 | 18 | 3 | 14 |
| 1946 | DET | OF | 81 | 0 | 125 | 12 | 5 | 1 |
| 1947 | DET | 1B | 138 | 0 | 1184 | 139 | 15 | 111 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 208 |
| Third Base | 31 |
| Left Field | 243 |
| Center Field | 12 |
| Right Field | 593 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | RF |
| 1945 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | RF |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 29th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1945 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 13th | 26.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 5.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1941 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 10th | 29.0 | 336 | 0 |