Joe Grace
Born: 1/5/1914 in Gorham, IL, USA
Died: 9/18/1969 in Murphysboro, IL, USA
MLB Debut: 1938-09-24 | Final Game: 1947-09-03
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Joseph LaVerne Grace
Biography
Joe Grace, born in 1914, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1938 until his retirement in 1947. As a position player, he showcased his skills across 484 games, where he recorded 442 hits and boasted a commendable batting average of .283. Grace's offensive contributions included 20 home runs and 172 runs batted in (RBIs), while he also displayed speed on the bases with 9 stolen bases throughout his career.
Playing during a transformative period in baseball history, Grace's career unfolded during the late 1930s into the post-World War II era, a time when the game was evolving both in terms of talent and strategy. His consistent performance at the plate and ability to get on base made him a valuable asset to his teams. Although not often in the limelight, Grace's contributions to the game reflected the grit and determination characteristic of players of his time, solidifying his place in the annals of baseball history.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0 | .000 | 0.444 | .000 | 0.444 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0 | .000 | 0.500 | .000 | 0.500 |
| 1943 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.400 | .000 | 0.400 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 484 | 1561 | 225 | 442 | 76 | 18 | 20 | 172 | 9 | 179 | 135 | 0.283 | 0.362 | 0.393 | 0.755 | 2109.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | SLA | AL | 12 | 47 | 7 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.340 | 0.0 |
| 1939 | SLA | AL | 74 | 207 | 35 | 63 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 3 | 19 | 24 | 0.304 | 221.5 |
| 1940 | SLA | AL | 80 | 229 | 45 | 59 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 25 | 2 | 26 | 23 | 0.258 | 74.0 |
| 1941 | SLA | AL | 115 | 362 | 53 | 112 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 60 | 1 | 57 | 31 | 0.309 | 1507.0 |
| 1946 | SLA | AL | 48 | 161 | 21 | 37 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 16 | 20 | 0.230 | -249.4 |
| 1946 | WSN | AL | 77 | 321 | 39 | 97 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 31 | 1 | 24 | 19 | 0.302 | -249.4 |
| 1947 | WSN | AL | 78 | 234 | 25 | 58 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 35 | 15 | 0.248 | 14.4 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 21 | 0 | 36 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| OF | 388 | 0 | 775 | 43 | 26 | 4 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | SLA | OF | 12 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1939 | SLA | OF | 53 | 0 | 83 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| 1940 | SLA | C | 12 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1940 | SLA | OF | 51 | 0 | 86 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| 1941 | SLA | C | 9 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1941 | SLA | OF | 88 | 0 | 164 | 13 | 3 | 1 |
| 1946 | SLA | OF | 43 | 0 | 82 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 1946 | WS1 | OF | 74 | 0 | 185 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| 1947 | WS1 | OF | 67 | 0 | 162 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 21 |
| Left Field | 129 |
| Center Field | 25 |
| Right Field | 234 |