Charlie Gelbert
Shortstop · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1929-1940)
Charlie Gelbert was a shortstop who played in Major League Baseball from 1929 to 1940 for 5 teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, a span of 12 seasons. In 876 career games, he hit .267 with 766 hits, 17 home runs, and 350 RBI.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Shortstop
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'11" / 170 lb
- Died
- 1/13/1967 in Easton, PA, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1929-04-16
- Last Game
- 1940-09-28
Full name: Charles Magnus Gelbert
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 876 | 2,869 | 398 | 766 | 169 | 43 | 17 | 350 | 34 | 290 | 245 | .267 | .336 | .374 | .709 | -2,349 |
Career AVG .267 vs. league average .280 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OBP .336 vs. league average .344 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career SLG .374 vs. league average .401 across their career seasons — 6.9% below league average.
Career OPS .709 vs. league average .745 across their career seasons — near league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | SLN | NL | 146 | 512 | 60 | 134 | 29 | 8 | 3 | 65 | 8 | 51 | 46 | .262 | .289 (-10%) | .353 (-7%) | .415 (-12%) | .769 (-10%) | -847.3 |
| 1930 | SLN | NL | 139 | 513 | 92 | 156 | 39 | 11 | 3 | 72 | 6 | 43 | 41 | .304 | .293 (+3%) | .354 (+2%) | .429 (+3%) | .784 (+2%) | 178.2 |
| 1931 | SLN | NL | 131 | 447 | 61 | 129 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 62 | 7 | 54 | 31 | .289 | .276 (+4%) | .338 (+8%) | .388 (-2%) | .726 (+3%) | 368.8 |
| 1932 | SLN | NL | 122 | 455 | 60 | 122 | 28 | 9 | 1 | 45 | 8 | 39 | 30 | .268 | .275 (-3%) | .335 (-2%) | .391 (-4%) | .726 (-3%) | -233.0 |
| 1935 | SLN | NL | 62 | 168 | 24 | 49 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 17 | 18 | .292 | .279 (+4%) | .342 (+4%) | .399 (-2%) | .742 (+1%) | 48.7 |
| 1936 | SLN | NL | 93 | 280 | 33 | 64 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 27 | 2 | 25 | 26 | .229 | .283 (-20%) | .349 (-17%) | .404 (-19%) | .753 (-18%) | -851.4 |
| 1937 | CIN | NL | 43 | 114 | 12 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 15 | 12 | .193 | .276 (-30%) | .342 (-16%) | .398 (-36%) | .740 (-27%) | -480.4 |
| 1937 | DET | AL | 20 | 47 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 11 | .085 | — | — | — | — | -480.4 |
| 1939 | WS1 | AL | 68 | 188 | 36 | 48 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 29 | 2 | 30 | 11 | .255 | .274 (-7%) | .342 (+5%) | .393 (avg) | .735 (+3%) | 131.8 |
| 1940 | WS1 | AL | 22 | 54 | 7 | 20 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | .370 | .267 (+39%) | .335 (+26%) | .387 (+39%) | .722 (+33%) | 286.7 |
| 1940 | BOS | AL | 30 | 91 | 9 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 16 | .198 | .267 (-26%) | .335 (-22%) | .387 (-43%) | .722 (-33%) | 286.7 |
| Career · 11 seasons | 876 | 2,869 | 398 | 766 | 169 | 43 | 17 | 350 | 34 | 290 | 245 | .267 | — | — | — | — | -1,592 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Season-by-Season Pitching
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Lg ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | WS1 | AL | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9.00 | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 1 season | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9.00 | — | 0 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (878 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 457 | 1474 | 203 | 386 | 8 | 190 | .262 |
| Away | 419 | 1395 | 194 | 380 | 9 | 165 | .272 |
Pitching — Home / Away
| Split | G | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Away | 2 | 4.0 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9.00 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940-09-28 | BOS | PHA | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940-09-27 | BOS | MIN | W | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940-09-24 | BOS | PHA | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940-09-21 | BOS | NYY | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940-09-18 | BOS | SLA | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940-09-15 | BOS | CHW | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1940-09-15 | BOS | CHW | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940-09-14 | BOS | CLE | W | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1940-09-13 | BOS | CLE | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1940-09-12 | BOS | CLE | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Last 2 Games — Pitching
| Date | Tm | Opp | Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940-06-15 | MIN | DET | — | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1940-05-17 | MIN | CLE | — | 3.0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 22 | 0 | 36 | 24 | 1 | 6 |
| 3B | 147 | 0 | 139 | 258 | 18 | 27 |
| P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 680 | 0 | 1405 | 2125 | 182 | 420 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | SLN | SS | 146 | 0 | 338 | 499 | 46 | 95 |
| 1930 | SLN | SS | 139 | 0 | 322 | 472 | 44 | 104 |
| 1931 | SLN | SS | 130 | 0 | 281 | 435 | 31 | 91 |
| 1932 | SLN | SS | 122 | 0 | 246 | 389 | 37 | 69 |
| 1935 | SLN | 2B | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1935 | SLN | 3B | 37 | 0 | 34 | 56 | 2 | 8 |
| 1935 | SLN | SS | 21 | 0 | 31 | 39 | 3 | 8 |
| 1936 | SLN | 2B | 8 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1936 | SLN | 3B | 60 | 0 | 60 | 104 | 6 | 11 |
| 1936 | SLN | SS | 28 | 0 | 38 | 53 | 4 | 10 |
| 1937 | CIN | 2B | 9 | 0 | 19 | 12 | 0 | 4 |
| 1937 | CIN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1937 | CIN | SS | 37 | 0 | 66 | 87 | 5 | 16 |
| 1937 | DET | SS | 16 | 0 | 22 | 35 | 4 | 7 |
| 1939 | WS1 | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1939 | WS1 | 3B | 20 | 0 | 19 | 32 | 3 | 3 |
| 1939 | WS1 | SS | 28 | 0 | 41 | 90 | 4 | 17 |
| 1940 | WS1 | 2B | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1940 | WS1 | P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940 | WS1 | SS | 12 | 0 | 20 | 26 | 4 | 3 |
| 1940 | BOS | 3B | 29 | 0 | 23 | 65 | 7 | 5 |
| 1940 | BOS | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 2 |
| Second Base | 22 |
| Third Base | 147 |
| Shortstop | 679 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon Valley College | Annville | PA | 1925, 1926, 1927 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 25th | 1.0 | 80 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Charlie Gelbert (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Charlie Gelbert: the record in brief
Charlie Gelbert played a first major league game on April 16, 1929 and a last one on September 28, 1940. The team column moves through the St. Louis Cardinals (1929 through 1936), the Cincinnati Reds (1937), the Detroit Tigers (1937), the Washington Senators (1939 through 1940), and the Boston Red Sox (1940). The bio lists Gelbert as a shortstop who threw and hit right-handed. Gelbert is listed at 170 pounds on a 5-foot-11 frame. Gelbert was born on January 26, 1906, in Scranton, PA, USA. Gelbert died on January 13, 1967, in Easton, PA, USA. The bio lists the given name Charles Magnus.
The batting record for Gelbert: 876 games, 766 hits in 2,869 at bats, and a .267 average, adding 17 homers, 350 RBI, and 34 stolen bases. Gelbert got on base at a .336 rate and slugged .374 (.709 OPS). The .267 career average is close to the .280 the league hit across the same seasons. The hits column peaks at 156, in 1930. Gelbert drove in a season-high 72 runs in 1930.
Frequently Asked Questions about Charlie Gelbert
- What years did Charlie Gelbert play?
- Charlie Gelbert played in Major League Baseball from 1929 to 1940.
- Was Charlie Gelbert a pitcher?
- No. Charlie Gelbert was a position player (Shortstop), though he did pitch in 2 career games.
- How many home runs did Charlie Gelbert hit?
- Charlie Gelbert hit 17 career home runs with 766 hits.
- What teams did Charlie Gelbert play for?
- Charlie Gelbert played for 5 teams: the St. Louis Cardinals (1929–1932, 1935–1936), the Cincinnati Reds (1937), the Detroit Tigers (1937), the Washington Senators (1939–1940), and the Boston Red Sox (1940).
- What were Charlie Gelbert's career stats?
- In 876 games, Charlie Gelbert had 766 hits, 17 home runs, 350 RBI, 398 runs, and 34 stolen bases, with a .267 batting average.
- What position did Charlie Gelbert play?
- Charlie Gelbert played primarily as a shortstop, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Charlie Gelbert and how much did he weigh?
- Charlie Gelbert was listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 170 pounds.
- How many home runs did Charlie Gelbert hit each season?
- Charlie Gelbert's home runs by season: 3 in 1929, 3 in 1930, 1 in 1931, 1 in 1932, 2 in 1935, 3 in 1936, 1 in 1937, 3 in 1939, and 0 in 1940. His most in one season was 3, in 1929, 1930, 1936, and 1939.
- What was Charlie Gelbert's career batting average?
- Charlie Gelbert batted .267 over his career, with 766 hits in 2,869 at bats.
- How many RBI did Charlie Gelbert have?
- Charlie Gelbert drove in 350 runs in his career.
- What was Charlie Gelbert's career ERA?
- Charlie Gelbert finished with a 9.00 career ERA, going 0-0 with 1 strikeouts.
- Is Charlie Gelbert in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Charlie Gelbert has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.