George Harper
Born: 6/24/1892 in Arlington, KY, USA
Died: 8/18/1978 in Magnolia, AR, USA
MLB Debut: 1916-04-15 | Final Game: 1929-09-28
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 167 lbs
Full name: George Washington Harper
Biography
George Harper was a prominent American baseball player who made significant contributions to the game during his career, which spanned from 1916 to 1929. Born in 1892, Harper played as a position player in the major leagues, appearing in 1,073 games. He was known for his exceptional hitting ability, finishing his career with a remarkable batting average of .303. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 1,030 hits and hit 91 home runs, alongside driving in 528 runs. His offensive prowess was complemented by his speed on the bases, as he recorded 58 stolen bases.
Harper's playing style reflected the offensive dynamism of the era, and he was a key figure in the transition away from the deadball era, showcasing a blend of power and contact hitting. His ability to consistently reach base and contribute to his team's scoring made him a valuable player during his time in the league. Harper's legacy remains a testament to the evolving nature of baseball during the 1920s, a period marked by increased emphasis on offensive production and the emergence of powerful hitters in the game.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1073 | 3398 | 505 | 1030 | 158 | 43 | 91 | 528 | 58 | 389 | 208 | 0.303 | 0.380 | 0.455 | 0.836 | 9891.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | DET | AL | 44 | 56 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0.161 | -307.9 |
| 1917 | DET | AL | 47 | 117 | 6 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 11 | 15 | 0.205 | -282.8 |
| 1918 | DET | AL | 69 | 227 | 19 | 55 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 18 | 14 | 0.242 | -329.5 |
| 1922 | CIN | NL | 128 | 430 | 67 | 146 | 22 | 8 | 2 | 68 | 11 | 35 | 22 | 0.340 | 1119.2 |
| 1923 | CIN | NL | 61 | 125 | 14 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 0.256 | -112.8 |
| 1924 | CIN | NL | 28 | 74 | 7 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 0.270 | 4.0 |
| 1924 | PHI | NL | 109 | 411 | 68 | 121 | 26 | 6 | 16 | 55 | 10 | 38 | 23 | 0.294 | 4.0 |
| 1925 | PHI | NL | 132 | 495 | 86 | 173 | 35 | 7 | 18 | 97 | 10 | 28 | 32 | 0.349 | 2363.3 |
| 1926 | PHI | NL | 56 | 194 | 32 | 61 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 38 | 6 | 16 | 7 | 0.314 | 606.1 |
| 1927 | NY1 | NL | 145 | 483 | 85 | 160 | 19 | 6 | 16 | 87 | 7 | 84 | 27 | 0.331 | 3016.8 |
| 1928 | NY1 | NL | 19 | 57 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 0.228 | -15.1 |
| 1928 | STL | NL | 99 | 272 | 41 | 83 | 8 | 2 | 17 | 58 | 2 | 51 | 15 | 0.305 | -15.1 |
| 1929 | BSN | NL | 136 | 457 | 65 | 133 | 25 | 5 | 10 | 68 | 5 | 69 | 27 | 0.291 | 852.7 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.111 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | WS | SLN | 3 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.111 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 933 | 0 | 1925 | 96 | 62 | 24 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | DET | OF | 14 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1917 | DET | OF | 31 | 0 | 48 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1918 | DET | OF | 64 | 0 | 125 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| 1922 | CIN | OF | 109 | 0 | 220 | 15 | 11 | 2 |
| 1923 | CIN | OF | 29 | 0 | 56 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1924 | CIN | OF | 22 | 0 | 51 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1924 | PHI | OF | 109 | 0 | 219 | 13 | 2 | 4 |
| 1925 | PHI | OF | 126 | 0 | 319 | 16 | 10 | 5 |
| 1926 | PHI | OF | 55 | 0 | 111 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| 1927 | NY1 | OF | 142 | 0 | 299 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 1928 | NY1 | OF | 18 | 0 | 40 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 1928 | SLN | OF | 84 | 0 | 156 | 13 | 2 | 2 |
| 1929 | BSN | OF | 130 | 0 | 266 | 7 | 8 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 223 |
| Center Field | 118 |
| Right Field | 607 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 18th | 3.0 | 80 | 0 |