Johnny Gerlach, baseball player, 1938-1939

Johnny Gerlach

Born: 5/11/1917 in Shullsburg, WI, USA

Died: 8/28/1999 in Madison, WI, USA

MLB Debut: 1938-09-03 | Final Game: 1939-09-21

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 165 lbs

Full name: John Glenn Gerlach

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Biography

Johnny Gerlach was a professional baseball player born in 1917, whose career unfolded in the late 1930s during a transformative period in the sport. He played as a position player from September 3, 1938, to September 21, 1939, making a brief yet notable impact in Major League Baseball. Over the course of his career, Gerlach appeared in 12 games, where he showcased his skills with a commendable batting average of .333, collecting 9 hits and driving in 1 run. Though he did not hit any home runs or steal bases, his ability to make contact with the ball in a limited number of appearances highlighted his potential during a competitive era in baseball. Gerlach's time in the league was marked by the challenges of the pre-World War II baseball landscape, where players often juggled their careers with the uncertainties of the times. His contributions, while modest in terms of games played, reflect a dedication to the sport and an era when many players faced stiff competition for roster spots. Despite his short stint at the major league level, Johnny Gerlach remains a part of baseball history, representing the many athletes who sought to leave their mark on America's pastime.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
12 27 2 9 0 0 0 1 0 4 2 0.333 0.419 0.333 0.753 0.0

Career AVG .333 vs. league average .274 across their career seasons — +21.9% above league average.

Career OBP .419 vs. league average .342 across their career seasons — +22.6% above league average.

Career SLG .333 vs. league average .393 across their career seasons — 15.1% below league average.

Career OPS 0.753 vs. league average 0.735 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1938 CHW AL 9 25 2 7 0 0 0 1 0 4 2 0.280 — — — — 0.0
1939 CHW AL 3 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
3B 1 0 0 1 0 0
SS 8 0 17 20 2 9

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1938 CHA SS 8 0 17 20 2 9
1939 CHA 3B 1 0 0 1 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Third Base 1
Shortstop 8

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
University of Wisconsin at Madison Madison WI 1936, 1937, 1938