Harry Danning
Born: 9/6/1911 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
Died: 11/29/2004 in Valparaiso, IN, USA
MLB Debut: 1933-07-30 | Final Game: 1942-09-25
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 190 lbs
Biography
Harry Danning was a prominent American professional baseball player, born in 1911, who made his mark in Major League Baseball as a catcher and outfielder from 1933 until his retirement in 1942. Known for his strong offensive capabilities, Danning played a total of 890 games throughout his career, amassing 847 hits and achieving a batting average of .285. He contributed significantly to his teams with 57 home runs and 397 RBIs, showcasing his ability to drive in runs during crucial moments. Danning also demonstrated speed on the base paths, accumulating 13 stolen bases, which was notable for a player in his position during the era.
Danning was selected as an All-Star four times, highlighting his status as one of the elite players of his time. He played during a competitive period in baseball history, marked by the transition from the deadball era to a more offense-driven game. His contributions were especially vital during the late 1930s and early 1940s, a time when many players were called to serve in World War II, which impacted the league's talent pool. Danning's legacy remains as a skilled hitter and a respected figure in baseball history.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.0 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.286 | 0.375 | 0.286 | 0.661 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.286 | 0.375 | 0.286 | 0.661 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 890 | 2971 | 363 | 847 | 162 | 26 | 57 | 397 | 13 | 187 | 217 | 0.285 | 0.330 | 0.415 | 0.745 | 1238.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | NY1 | NL | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1934 | NY1 | NL | 53 | 97 | 8 | 32 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0.330 | 43.5 |
| 1935 | NY1 | NL | 65 | 152 | 16 | 37 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 9 | 16 | 0.243 | -357.4 |
| 1936 | NY1 | NL | 32 | 69 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.159 | -547.4 |
| 1937 | NY1 | NL | 93 | 292 | 30 | 84 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 51 | 0 | 18 | 20 | 0.288 | 135.8 |
| 1938 | NY1 | NL | 120 | 448 | 59 | 137 | 26 | 3 | 9 | 60 | 1 | 23 | 40 | 0.306 | 434.2 |
| 1939 | NY1 | NL | 135 | 520 | 79 | 163 | 28 | 5 | 16 | 74 | 4 | 35 | 42 | 0.313 | 1283.1 |
| 1940 | NY1 | NL | 140 | 524 | 65 | 157 | 34 | 4 | 13 | 91 | 3 | 35 | 31 | 0.300 | 1048.5 |
| 1941 | NY1 | NL | 130 | 459 | 58 | 112 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 56 | 1 | 30 | 25 | 0.244 | -913.3 |
| 1942 | NY1 | NL | 119 | 408 | 45 | 114 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 3 | 34 | 29 | 0.279 | 111.6 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0.214 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | WS | NY1 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.250 |
| 1936 | WS | NY1 | 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 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C | 801 | 0 | 3257 | 455 | 57 | 64 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | NY1 | C | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1934 | NY1 | C | 37 | 0 | 78 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| 1935 | NY1 | C | 44 | 0 | 153 | 22 | 4 | 6 |
| 1936 | NY1 | C | 24 | 0 | 70 | 10 | 1 | 2 |
| 1937 | NY1 | C | 86 | 0 | 332 | 57 | 7 | 7 |
| 1938 | NY1 | C | 114 | 0 | 449 | 50 | 8 | 7 |
| 1939 | NY1 | C | 132 | 0 | 550 | 80 | 6 | 13 |
| 1940 | NY1 | C | 131 | 0 | 634 | 91 | 15 | 13 |
| 1941 | NY1 | C | 116 | 0 | 530 | 77 | 4 | 8 |
| 1941 | NY1 | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1942 | NY1 | C | 116 | 0 | 459 | 55 | 11 | 7 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 798 |
| First Base | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |
| 1940 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |
| 1940 | TSN All-Star | C |
| 1939 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |
| 1938 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C2 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 35th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1940 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 7th | 64.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1939 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 9th | 33.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1938 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 16th | 13.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1937 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 14th | 10.0 | 80 | 1 |