Lee Handley
Born: 7/13/1913 in Clarion, IA, USA
Died: 4/8/1970 in Pittsburgh, PA, USA
MLB Debut: 1936-04-15 | Final Game: 1947-09-28
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'7" | Weight: 160 lbs
Full name: Lee Elmer Handley
Biography
Lee Handley was a professional baseball player born in 1913, who made significant contributions to Major League Baseball during his career from 1936 until 1947. Primarily known as a position player, Handley appeared in 968 games, showcasing his skills in the infield and outfield. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 902 hits, demonstrating a consistent ability to reach base, and finished with a respectable batting average of .269. His offensive contributions included 15 home runs and 297 runs batted in, while also showcasing his speed on the bases with 68 stolen bases.
Handley's career unfolded during a transitional period in baseball, as the sport was evolving in the wake of the Great Depression and the prelude to World War II. His ability to maintain a competitive edge in hitting and base running reflected the changing dynamics of the game during this era. Though not a household name, Handley’s reliability and versatility on the field left a lasting impact on the teams he played for, and he remains a notable figure in the history of the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 968 | 3356 | 418 | 902 | 122 | 45 | 15 | 297 | 68 | 267 | 204 | 0.269 | 0.323 | 0.345 | 0.669 | -4809.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | CIN | NL | 24 | 78 | 10 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 0.308 | 31.7 |
| 1937 | PIT | NL | 127 | 480 | 59 | 120 | 21 | 12 | 3 | 37 | 5 | 37 | 40 | 0.250 | -1105.4 |
| 1938 | PIT | NL | 139 | 570 | 91 | 153 | 25 | 8 | 6 | 51 | 7 | 53 | 31 | 0.268 | -594.5 |
| 1939 | PIT | NL | 101 | 376 | 43 | 107 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 42 | 17 | 32 | 20 | 0.285 | -418.2 |
| 1940 | PIT | NL | 98 | 302 | 50 | 85 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 7 | 27 | 16 | 0.281 | -305.2 |
| 1941 | PIT | NL | 124 | 459 | 59 | 132 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 16 | 35 | 22 | 0.288 | -331.4 |
| 1944 | PIT | NL | 40 | 86 | 7 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0.221 | -401.6 |
| 1945 | PIT | NL | 98 | 312 | 39 | 93 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 32 | 7 | 20 | 16 | 0.298 | 184.0 |
| 1946 | PIT | NL | 116 | 416 | 43 | 99 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 28 | 4 | 29 | 20 | 0.238 | -1198.6 |
| 1947 | PHI | NL | 101 | 277 | 17 | 70 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 24 | 18 | 0.253 | -670.5 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 169 | 0 | 395 | 459 | 50 | 83 |
| 3B | 713 | 0 | 703 | 1464 | 117 | 107 |
| SS | 4 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 3 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | CIN | 2B | 16 | 0 | 42 | 45 | 7 | 6 |
| 1936 | CIN | 3B | 7 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 2 |
| 1937 | PIT | 2B | 126 | 0 | 296 | 375 | 35 | 67 |
| 1937 | PIT | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1938 | PIT | 3B | 136 | 0 | 119 | 304 | 23 | 26 |
| 1939 | PIT | 3B | 100 | 0 | 83 | 180 | 18 | 14 |
| 1940 | PIT | 2B | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 1940 | PIT | 3B | 80 | 0 | 84 | 139 | 18 | 12 |
| 1941 | PIT | 3B | 114 | 0 | 125 | 247 | 21 | 19 |
| 1944 | PIT | 2B | 19 | 0 | 39 | 32 | 4 | 7 |
| 1944 | PIT | 3B | 11 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 1944 | PIT | SS | 3 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| 1945 | PIT | 3B | 79 | 0 | 85 | 183 | 15 | 13 |
| 1946 | PIT | 2B | 3 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1946 | PIT | 3B | 102 | 0 | 107 | 237 | 15 | 13 |
| 1947 | PHI | 2B | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1947 | PHI | 3B | 83 | 0 | 87 | 144 | 6 | 8 |
| 1947 | PHI | SS | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 169 |
| Third Base | 714 |
| Shortstop | 4 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley University | Peoria | IL | 1933, 1934 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 29th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |