Les Fleming
Born: 8/7/1915 in Singleton, TX, USA
Died: 3/5/1980 in Cleveland, TX, USA
MLB Debut: 1939-04-22 | Final Game: 1949-06-09
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Leslie Harvey Fleming
Biography
Les Fleming was a professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from 1939 until 1949. Born in 1915, he established himself as a reliable position player during a time when the game was transitioning from the pre-war era into a post-war landscape that would soon embrace new talents and styles. Over the course of his career, Fleming participated in 434 games, where he amassed a total of 369 hits and demonstrated his power with 29 home runs. His offensive contributions included driving in 199 runs, while maintaining a respectable batting average of .277.
Fleming's playing style was characterized by his ability to make consistent contact and his versatility on the field. Although he was not known for his speed, as evidenced by his 7 stolen bases, his overall impact on the game was marked by his solid hitting and defensive capabilities. As baseball evolved through the late 1940s, players like Fleming helped pave the way for future generations, contributing to the rich tapestry of the sport during a defining era in its history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 434 | 1330 | 168 | 369 | 69 | 15 | 29 | 199 | 7 | 226 | 152 | 0.277 | 0.386 | 0.417 | 0.804 | 5194.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | DET | AL | 8 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1941 | CLE | AL | 2 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 1942 | CLE | AL | 156 | 548 | 71 | 160 | 27 | 4 | 14 | 82 | 6 | 106 | 57 | 0.292 | 3236.2 |
| 1945 | CLE | AL | 42 | 140 | 18 | 46 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 0.329 | 604.1 |
| 1946 | CLE | AL | 99 | 306 | 40 | 85 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 42 | 1 | 50 | 42 | 0.278 | 1222.6 |
| 1947 | CLE | AL | 103 | 281 | 39 | 68 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 43 | 0 | 53 | 42 | 0.242 | 131.4 |
| 1949 | PIT | NL | 24 | 31 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0.258 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 325 | 0 | 2867 | 220 | 32 | 299 |
| OF | 37 | 0 | 66 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | DET | OF | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1941 | CLE | 1B | 2 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 1942 | CLE | 1B | 156 | 0 | 1503 | 90 | 12 | 152 |
| 1945 | CLE | 1B | 5 | 0 | 32 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 1945 | CLE | OF | 33 | 0 | 59 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 1946 | CLE | 1B | 80 | 0 | 607 | 62 | 11 | 60 |
| 1946 | CLE | OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1947 | CLE | 1B | 77 | 0 | 662 | 63 | 8 | 78 |
| 1949 | PIT | 1B | 5 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 325 |
| Left Field | 1 |
| Right Field | 36 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 25th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |