Owen Friend
Born: 3/21/1927 in Granite City, IL, USA
Died: 10/14/2007 in Wichita, KS, USA
MLB Debut: 1949-10-02 | Final Game: 1956-05-16
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Owen Lacey Friend
Biography
Owen Friend was a professional baseball player who made his mark in the Major Leagues between 1949 and 1956. Born in 1927, Friend played primarily as a position player and appeared in a total of 208 games during his career. He recorded 136 hits, which included 13 home runs, and he drove in 76 runs while maintaining a batting average of .227. Known for his versatility on the field, Friend contributed to his teams not only with his offensive capabilities but also with his presence as a reliable fielder.
Friend's career unfolded in the post-World War II era, a time when baseball was experiencing a resurgence in popularity and the integration of players began to reshape the game. As a player, he demonstrated a competitive spirit and an ability to perform under pressure, which was essential during a period marked by significant changes in the sport. Although his statistics may not have placed him among the elite players of his time, Owen Friend's contributions to the teams he played for and his role in the evolving landscape of Major League Baseball remain noteworthy. He retired from the game on May 16, 1956, leaving behind a legacy as a dedicated athlete who embraced the challenges of his era.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 208 | 598 | 69 | 136 | 24 | 2 | 13 | 76 | 2 | 55 | 109 | 0.227 | 0.295 | 0.339 | 0.634 | -1467.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | SLA | AL | 2 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.375 | 0.0 |
| 1950 | SLA | AL | 119 | 372 | 48 | 88 | 15 | 2 | 8 | 50 | 2 | 40 | 68 | 0.237 | -866.9 |
| 1953 | CLE | AL | 34 | 68 | 7 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 0.235 | -155.4 |
| 1953 | DET | AL | 31 | 96 | 10 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0.177 | -155.4 |
| 1955 | BOS | AL | 14 | 42 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 0.262 | 0.0 |
| 1955 | CHC | NL | 6 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.100 | 0.0 |
| 1956 | CHC | NL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 141 | 0 | 354 | 421 | 30 | 99 |
| 3B | 27 | 2 | 26 | 34 | 7 | 4 |
| SS | 26 | 14 | 30 | 59 | 4 | 9 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | SLA | 2B | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 1950 | SLA | 2B | 93 | 0 | 244 | 302 | 22 | 62 |
| 1950 | SLA | 3B | 24 | 0 | 24 | 32 | 7 | 4 |
| 1950 | SLA | SS | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| 1953 | CLE | 2B | 19 | 0 | 32 | 42 | 0 | 14 |
| 1953 | CLE | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1953 | CLE | SS | 8 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 2 |
| 1953 | DET | 2B | 26 | 0 | 74 | 69 | 8 | 22 |
| 1955 | BOS | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | BOS | SS | 14 | 14 | 20 | 38 | 3 | 5 |
| 1955 | CHN | 3B | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | CHN | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 136 |
| Third Base | 32 |
| Shortstop | 26 |