Joe Gordon
โญ Hall of Fame 2009
Born: 2/18/1915 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
Died: 4/14/1978 in Sacramento, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1938-04-18 | Final Game: 1950-09-30
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Joseph Lowell Gordon
๐ View Manager Career
Biography
Joe Gordon, born in 1915, was a prominent American baseball player whose career spanned from 1938 to 1950. A skilled position player, Gordon played in 1,566 games, accumulating 1,530 hits and showcasing his power with 253 home runs and 975 RBIs. He finished his career with a batting average of .268 and demonstrated his speed on the bases with 89 stolen bases. Gordon was known for his strong defensive capabilities and played a pivotal role in the success of the teams he was part of, particularly during the era when the game was transitioning from the deadball era to a more offensive-minded approach.
Over the course of his career, Gordon earned recognition as a nine-time All-Star and received the TSN Guide MVP award, highlighting his impact on the field. His contributions to the game were officially recognized when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, solidifying his legacy as one of the greats of the sport. Gordonโs blend of power, speed, and defensive prowess made him a key figure in baseball history, and his accomplishments continue to resonate with fans and players alike.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1566 | 5707 | 914 | 1530 | 264 | 52 | 253 | 975 | 89 | 759 | 702 | 0.268 | 0.357 | 0.466 | 0.822 | 17789.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | NYY | AL | 127 | 458 | 83 | 117 | 24 | 7 | 25 | 97 | 11 | 56 | 72 | 0.255 | 1186.9 |
| 1939 | NYY | AL | 151 | 567 | 92 | 161 | 32 | 5 | 28 | 111 | 11 | 75 | 57 | 0.284 | 2178.5 |
| 1940 | NYY | AL | 155 | 616 | 112 | 173 | 32 | 10 | 30 | 103 | 18 | 52 | 57 | 0.281 | 1979.9 |
| 1941 | NYY | AL | 156 | 588 | 104 | 162 | 26 | 7 | 24 | 87 | 10 | 72 | 80 | 0.276 | 1943.7 |
| 1942 | NYY | AL | 147 | 538 | 88 | 173 | 29 | 4 | 18 | 103 | 12 | 79 | 95 | 0.322 | 3672.5 |
| 1943 | NYY | AL | 152 | 543 | 82 | 135 | 28 | 5 | 17 | 69 | 4 | 98 | 75 | 0.249 | 1990.5 |
| 1946 | NYY | AL | 112 | 376 | 35 | 79 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 47 | 2 | 49 | 72 | 0.210 | -380.1 |
| 1947 | CLE | AL | 155 | 562 | 89 | 153 | 27 | 6 | 29 | 93 | 7 | 62 | 49 | 0.272 | 1915.6 |
| 1948 | CLE | AL | 144 | 550 | 96 | 154 | 21 | 4 | 32 | 124 | 5 | 77 | 68 | 0.280 | 2420.9 |
| 1949 | CLE | AL | 148 | 541 | 74 | 136 | 18 | 3 | 20 | 84 | 5 | 83 | 33 | 0.251 | 637.6 |
| 1950 | CLE | AL | 119 | 368 | 59 | 87 | 12 | 1 | 19 | 57 | 4 | 56 | 44 | 0.236 | 243.8 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 103 | 12 | 25 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 17 | 0.243 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | WS | CLE | 6 | 22 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0.182 |
| 1943 | WS | NYA | 5 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0.235 |
| 1942 | WS | NYA | 5 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.095 |
| 1941 | WS | NYA | 5 | 14 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0.500 |
| 1939 | WS | NYA | 4 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.143 |
| 1938 | WS | NYA | 4 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0.400 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 30 | 0 | 224 | 17 | 4 | 35 |
| 2B | 1519 | 0 | 3600 | 4706 | 260 | 1160 |
| SS | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | NYA | 2B | 126 | 0 | 290 | 450 | 31 | 98 |
| 1939 | NYA | 2B | 151 | 0 | 370 | 461 | 28 | 116 |
| 1940 | NYA | 2B | 155 | 0 | 374 | 505 | 23 | 116 |
| 1941 | NYA | 1B | 30 | 0 | 224 | 17 | 4 | 35 |
| 1941 | NYA | 2B | 131 | 0 | 332 | 397 | 32 | 109 |
| 1942 | NYA | 2B | 147 | 0 | 354 | 442 | 28 | 121 |
| 1943 | NYA | 2B | 152 | 0 | 407 | 490 | 29 | 114 |
| 1946 | NYA | 2B | 108 | 0 | 281 | 346 | 17 | 87 |
| 1947 | CLE | 2B | 155 | 0 | 341 | 466 | 18 | 110 |
| 1948 | CLE | 2B | 144 | 0 | 330 | 436 | 23 | 97 |
| 1948 | CLE | SS | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1949 | CLE | 2B | 145 | 0 | 297 | 430 | 15 | 123 |
| 1950 | CLE | 2B | 105 | 0 | 224 | 283 | 16 | 69 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 30 |
| Second Base | 1518 |
| Shortstop | 3 |
Awards & Honors
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oregon | Eugene | OR | 1934, 1935 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 6th | 63.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1947 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 7th | 59.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 25th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 1st | 270.0 | 336 | 12 |
| 1941 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 7th | 60.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1940 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1939 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 9th | 43.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1938 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 12th | 23.0 | 336 | 0 |