Joe Cunningham
Born: 8/27/1931 in Paterson, NJ, USA
Died: 3/25/2021 in Chesterfield, MO, USA
MLB Debut: 1954-06-30 | Final Game: 1966-04-17
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Joseph Robert Cunningham
Biography
Joe Cunningham was a notable American professional baseball player born in 1931, whose career spanned from 1954 until his retirement in 1966. Primarily a position player, Cunningham made a significant impact in Major League Baseball during a time characterized by the transition from the post-war era into a more modern style of play. Over his career, he played in 1,141 games, amassing 980 hits and demonstrating a consistent offensive presence with a career batting average of .291. His ability to contribute to his team's success was reflected in his total of 436 RBIs and 64 home runs.
Cunningham was recognized for his talents as a two-time All-Star, showcasing his skills among the elite players of his time. Known for his versatility and keen batting eye, he also demonstrated speed on the bases with 16 stolen bases throughout his career. His playing style and performance helped pave the way for future generations, and he remains a respected figure in the annals of baseball history, particularly for his contributions during a dynamic period of the sport's evolution.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1141 | 3362 | 525 | 980 | 177 | 26 | 64 | 436 | 16 | 599 | 369 | 0.291 | 0.403 | 0.417 | 0.820 | 13128.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | STL | NL | 85 | 310 | 40 | 88 | 11 | 3 | 11 | 50 | 1 | 43 | 40 | 0.284 | 871.2 |
| 1956 | STL | NL | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1957 | STL | NL | 122 | 261 | 50 | 83 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 52 | 3 | 56 | 29 | 0.318 | 1770.4 |
| 1958 | STL | NL | 131 | 337 | 61 | 105 | 20 | 3 | 12 | 57 | 4 | 82 | 23 | 0.312 | 2600.3 |
| 1959 | STL | NL | 144 | 458 | 65 | 158 | 28 | 6 | 7 | 60 | 2 | 88 | 47 | 0.345 | 3323.1 |
| 1960 | STL | NL | 139 | 492 | 68 | 138 | 28 | 3 | 6 | 39 | 1 | 59 | 59 | 0.280 | 687.4 |
| 1961 | STL | NL | 113 | 322 | 60 | 92 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 40 | 1 | 53 | 32 | 0.286 | 953.9 |
| 1962 | CHW | AL | 149 | 526 | 91 | 155 | 32 | 7 | 8 | 70 | 3 | 101 | 59 | 0.295 | 2189.8 |
| 1963 | CHW | AL | 67 | 210 | 32 | 60 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 1 | 33 | 23 | 0.286 | 551.5 |
| 1964 | CHW | AL | 40 | 108 | 13 | 27 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 15 | 0.250 | 10.1 |
| 1964 | WS2 | AL | 49 | 126 | 15 | 27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 23 | 13 | 0.214 | 10.1 |
| 1965 | WS2 | AL | 95 | 201 | 29 | 46 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 46 | 27 | 0.229 | 349.7 |
| 1966 | WS2 | AL | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.125 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 607 | 475 | 4564 | 299 | 34 | 424 |
| OF | 440 | 407 | 692 | 17 | 26 | 5 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | SLN | 1B | 85 | 84 | 814 | 68 | 10 | 96 |
| 1956 | SLN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1957 | SLN | 1B | 57 | 22 | 279 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1957 | SLN | OF | 46 | 42 | 81 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1958 | SLN | 1B | 67 | 31 | 328 | 23 | 1 | 19 |
| 1958 | SLN | OF | 66 | 60 | 90 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 1959 | SLN | 1B | 35 | 10 | 158 | 9 | 1 | 22 |
| 1959 | SLN | OF | 121 | 117 | 201 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| 1960 | SLN | 1B | 15 | 14 | 114 | 10 | 0 | 7 |
| 1960 | SLN | OF | 116 | 108 | 184 | 6 | 10 | 1 |
| 1961 | SLN | 1B | 10 | 6 | 69 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 1961 | SLN | OF | 86 | 77 | 131 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 1962 | CHA | 1B | 143 | 142 | 1282 | 90 | 8 | 118 |
| 1962 | CHA | OF | 5 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963 | CHA | 1B | 58 | 57 | 535 | 24 | 6 | 39 |
| 1964 | CHA | 1B | 33 | 30 | 264 | 16 | 1 | 25 |
| 1964 | WS2 | 1B | 41 | 33 | 316 | 13 | 1 | 28 |
| 1965 | WS2 | 1B | 59 | 43 | 393 | 24 | 6 | 44 |
| 1966 | WS2 | 1B | 3 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 608 |
| Left Field | 46 |
| Right Field | 404 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 9.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1959 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 13th | 12.0 | 336 | 0 |