Rollie Hemsley, baseball player, 1928-1947

Rollie Hemsley

Born: 6/24/1907 in Syracuse, OH, USA

Died: 7/31/1972 in Washington, DC, USA

MLB Debut: 1928-04-19 | Final Game: 1947-04-17

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 170 lbs

Full name: Ralston Burdett Hemsley

Biography

Rollie Hemsley was a professional baseball player born in 1907 who made a significant impact in Major League Baseball from 1928 to 1947. Known for his versatility as a position player, Hemsley played in 1,593 games over the course of his career, accumulating 1,321 hits and achieving a batting average of .262. His offensive contributions included 31 home runs and 555 runs batted in (RBIs), showcasing his ability to drive in runs during critical moments. Additionally, he demonstrated speed on the bases with a total of 29 stolen bases, reflecting the aggressive style of play that characterized the era in which he competed. Hemsley was selected as an All-Star five times, a testament to his consistent performance and recognition among peers during a period that included some of baseball's greatest players. His career spanned the late 1920s through the mid-1940s, a time marked by significant changes in the game, including the integration of baseball and the transition from the deadball era to the more offensive-minded approach of the post-war years. Rollie Hemsley remains a notable figure in baseball history, remembered for his contributions both at the plate and in the field.

Negro Leagues Career Statistics

Batting

PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS
37.0 35.0 2.0 11.0 1.0 1.0 0 6.0 1.0 0 1.0 0.314 0.351 0.400 0.751

Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
1593 5047 562 1321 257 72 31 555 29 357 395 0.262 0.311 0.360 0.671 -8376.3

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0.000

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1932 WS CHN 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0.000

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 2 0 6 1 0 0
C 1482 0 5868 897 154 141
OF 7 0 13 1 0 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Catcher 1480
First Base 2
Left Field 7
Center Field 1
Right Field 1

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1938 Baseball Magazine All-Star C2

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1944 Most Valuable Player AL 26th 4.0 336 0
1940 Most Valuable Player AL 27th 2.0 336 0
1935 Most Valuable Player AL 9th 16.0 80 0