Ira Flagstead
Born: 9/22/1893 in Montague, MI, USA
Died: 3/13/1940 in Olympia, WA, USA
MLB Debut: 1917-07-20 | Final Game: 1930-07-29
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: Ira James Flagstead
Biography
Ira Flagstead, born in 1893, was a prominent American baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1917 to 1930. Known for his consistent batting prowess and solid fielding, Flagstead played primarily as an outfielder. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 1,218 games, where he amassed 1,202 hits, 40 home runs, and 450 RBIs, culminating in a respectable batting average of .290. His speed on the bases was evident, as he successfully stole 71 bases, showcasing his ability to impact games with both his bat and his legs.
Flagstead played during a transformative period in baseball history, navigating the sport's evolution through the late Deadball Era into the early years of the live-ball era. His contributions to the teams he played for, including the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers, were significant as he consistently provided offensive support and defensive reliability. As a player who thrived in a competitive era, Flagstead's legacy is marked by his ability to adapt and excel, leaving an indelible mark on the game long after his retirement in 1930.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1218 | 4139 | 644 | 1202 | 262 | 50 | 40 | 450 | 71 | 467 | 288 | 0.290 | 0.370 | 0.407 | 0.776 | 5508.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | DET | AL | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1919 | DET | AL | 97 | 287 | 43 | 95 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 41 | 6 | 35 | 39 | 0.331 | 1882.2 |
| 1920 | DET | AL | 110 | 311 | 40 | 73 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 35 | 3 | 37 | 27 | 0.235 | -394.2 |
| 1921 | DET | AL | 85 | 259 | 40 | 79 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 8 | 21 | 21 | 0.305 | 86.4 |
| 1922 | DET | AL | 44 | 91 | 21 | 28 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 16 | 0.308 | 435.1 |
| 1923 | BOS | AL | 109 | 382 | 55 | 119 | 23 | 4 | 8 | 53 | 7 | 37 | 26 | 0.312 | 1015.8 |
| 1923 | DET | AL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 1015.8 |
| 1924 | BOS | AL | 149 | 560 | 106 | 172 | 35 | 7 | 5 | 43 | 10 | 77 | 41 | 0.307 | 1582.4 |
| 1925 | BOS | AL | 148 | 572 | 84 | 160 | 38 | 2 | 6 | 61 | 5 | 63 | 30 | 0.280 | -278.4 |
| 1926 | BOS | AL | 98 | 415 | 65 | 124 | 31 | 7 | 3 | 31 | 4 | 36 | 22 | 0.299 | 617.0 |
| 1927 | BOS | AL | 131 | 466 | 63 | 133 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 69 | 12 | 57 | 25 | 0.285 | 626.6 |
| 1928 | BOS | AL | 140 | 510 | 84 | 148 | 41 | 4 | 1 | 39 | 12 | 60 | 23 | 0.290 | 342.1 |
| 1929 | BOS | AL | 14 | 36 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0.306 | 0.0 |
| 1929 | PIT | NL | 26 | 50 | 8 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0.280 | 0.0 |
| 1929 | WSN | AL | 18 | 39 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0.179 | 0.0 |
| 1930 | PIT | NL | 44 | 156 | 21 | 39 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 0.250 | -316.9 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 8 | 0 | 17 | 18 | 1 | 13 |
| 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 1036 | 0 | 2482 | 159 | 71 | 40 |
| SS | 56 | 0 | 111 | 141 | 28 | 8 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | DET | OF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1919 | DET | OF | 83 | 0 | 140 | 15 | 8 | 4 |
| 1920 | DET | OF | 82 | 0 | 164 | 13 | 6 | 4 |
| 1921 | DET | 2B | 8 | 0 | 17 | 18 | 1 | 13 |
| 1921 | DET | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1921 | DET | SS | 55 | 0 | 111 | 139 | 27 | 8 |
| 1921 | DET | OF | 12 | 0 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1922 | DET | OF | 32 | 0 | 54 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 1923 | BOS | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1923 | BOS | OF | 102 | 0 | 218 | 31 | 9 | 8 |
| 1924 | BOS | OF | 144 | 0 | 374 | 9 | 10 | 2 |
| 1925 | BOS | OF | 144 | 0 | 429 | 24 | 11 | 6 |
| 1926 | BOS | OF | 98 | 0 | 264 | 14 | 5 | 4 |
| 1927 | BOS | OF | 129 | 0 | 326 | 19 | 5 | 4 |
| 1928 | BOS | OF | 135 | 0 | 346 | 18 | 10 | 4 |
| 1929 | BOS | OF | 13 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1929 | PIT | OF | 9 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1929 | WS1 | OF | 11 | 0 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1930 | PIT | OF | 40 | 0 | 70 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 8 |
| Third Base | 1 |
| Shortstop | 56 |
| Left Field | 51 |
| Center Field | 704 |
| Right Field | 287 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 5.0 | 64 | 0 |
| 1927 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 3.0 | 64 | 0 |
| 1926 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 2.0 | 64 | 0 |
| 1925 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 7th | 10.0 | 64 | 0 |
| 1924 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 15th | 5.0 | 64 | 0 |