Rick Ferrell
โญ Hall of Fame 1984
Born: 10/12/1905 in Durham, NC, USA
Died: 7/27/1995 in Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA
MLB Debut: 1929-04-19 | Final Game: 1947-09-14
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 160 lbs
Full name: Richard Benjamin Ferrell
Biography
Rick Ferrell was a prominent American baseball player whose career spanned from 1929 to 1947. Born in 1905, Ferrell established himself as a skilled position player during a time when Major League Baseball was evolving, moving beyond the deadball era into an era that would see the rise of star athletes and the integration of the game. Over his 18-year career, he played in 1,884 games, amassing 1,692 hits, 28 home runs, and 734 RBIs, while boasting a commendable batting average of .281. Ferrell was known not only for his offensive capabilities but also for his defensive prowess behind the plate, which contributed significantly to his teamsโ successes.
Ferrell's accomplishments earned him eight All-Star selections, underscoring his status as one of the premier catchers of his time. After his retirement, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984, cementing his legacy in the sport. His career, marked by consistency and excellence, provided a blueprint for future generations of catchers, and he remains a respected figure in baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1884 | 6028 | 687 | 1692 | 324 | 45 | 28 | 734 | 29 | 931 | 277 | 0.281 | 0.378 | 0.363 | 0.741 | 5774.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | SLA | AL | 64 | 144 | 21 | 33 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 32 | 10 | 0.229 | -276.4 |
| 1930 | SLA | AL | 101 | 314 | 43 | 84 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 46 | 10 | 0.268 | -445.0 |
| 1931 | SLA | AL | 117 | 386 | 47 | 118 | 30 | 4 | 3 | 57 | 2 | 56 | 12 | 0.306 | 1095.5 |
| 1932 | SLA | AL | 126 | 438 | 67 | 138 | 30 | 5 | 2 | 65 | 5 | 66 | 18 | 0.315 | 1327.0 |
| 1933 | BOS | AL | 118 | 421 | 50 | 125 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 72 | 2 | 58 | 19 | 0.297 | 926.2 |
| 1933 | SLA | AL | 22 | 72 | 8 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 0.250 | 926.2 |
| 1934 | BOS | AL | 132 | 437 | 50 | 130 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 48 | 0 | 66 | 20 | 0.297 | 702.9 |
| 1935 | BOS | AL | 133 | 458 | 54 | 138 | 34 | 4 | 3 | 61 | 5 | 65 | 15 | 0.301 | 971.2 |
| 1936 | BOS | AL | 121 | 410 | 59 | 128 | 27 | 5 | 8 | 55 | 0 | 65 | 17 | 0.312 | 1430.5 |
| 1937 | BOS | AL | 18 | 65 | 8 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 0.308 | 195.9 |
| 1937 | WSN | AL | 86 | 279 | 31 | 64 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 1 | 50 | 18 | 0.229 | 195.9 |
| 1938 | WSN | AL | 135 | 411 | 55 | 120 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 58 | 1 | 75 | 17 | 0.292 | 792.0 |
| 1939 | WSN | AL | 87 | 274 | 32 | 77 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 41 | 12 | 0.281 | -45.5 |
| 1940 | WSN | AL | 103 | 326 | 35 | 89 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 47 | 15 | 0.273 | -26.9 |
| 1941 | SLA | AL | 100 | 321 | 30 | 81 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 2 | 52 | 22 | 0.252 | -16.7 |
| 1941 | WSN | AL | 21 | 66 | 8 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 15 | 4 | 0.273 | -16.7 |
| 1942 | SLA | AL | 99 | 273 | 20 | 61 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 33 | 13 | 0.223 | -738.2 |
| 1943 | SLA | AL | 74 | 209 | 12 | 50 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 34 | 14 | 0.239 | -102.3 |
| 1944 | WSN | AL | 99 | 339 | 14 | 94 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 46 | 13 | 0.277 | 147.4 |
| 1945 | WSN | AL | 91 | 286 | 33 | 76 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 2 | 43 | 13 | 0.266 | 213.3 |
| 1947 | WSN | AL | 37 | 99 | 10 | 30 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0.303 | 233.4 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1806 | 0 | 7248 | 1127 | 135 | 139 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | SLA | C | 45 | 0 | 140 | 35 | 7 | 3 |
| 1930 | SLA | C | 101 | 0 | 336 | 66 | 7 | 5 |
| 1931 | SLA | C | 108 | 0 | 412 | 86 | 14 | 11 |
| 1932 | SLA | C | 120 | 0 | 486 | 78 | 8 | 9 |
| 1933 | BOS | C | 116 | 0 | 500 | 76 | 6 | 9 |
| 1933 | SLA | C | 21 | 0 | 91 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 1934 | BOS | C | 128 | 0 | 531 | 72 | 6 | 7 |
| 1935 | BOS | C | 131 | 0 | 520 | 79 | 13 | 12 |
| 1936 | BOS | C | 121 | 0 | 556 | 55 | 8 | 5 |
| 1937 | BOS | C | 18 | 0 | 93 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| 1937 | WS1 | C | 84 | 0 | 341 | 42 | 5 | 5 |
| 1938 | WS1 | C | 131 | 0 | 512 | 69 | 11 | 15 |
| 1939 | WS1 | C | 83 | 0 | 327 | 46 | 9 | 9 |
| 1940 | WS1 | C | 99 | 0 | 427 | 67 | 10 | 5 |
| 1941 | SLA | C | 98 | 0 | 340 | 51 | 2 | 11 |
| 1941 | WS1 | C | 21 | 0 | 85 | 13 | 2 | 1 |
| 1942 | SLA | C | 95 | 0 | 356 | 57 | 6 | 7 |
| 1943 | SLA | C | 70 | 0 | 327 | 52 | 5 | 7 |
| 1944 | WS1 | C | 96 | 0 | 403 | 71 | 9 | 8 |
| 1945 | WS1 | C | 83 | 0 | 331 | 64 | 4 | 3 |
| 1947 | WS1 | C | 37 | 0 | 134 | 22 | 1 | 5 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1807 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guilford College | Greensboro | NC | 1924, 1925, 1926 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 6.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 21th | 8.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1933 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 12th | 9.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1932 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 13th | 9.0 | 80 | 0 |