Pinky Higgins
Born: 5/27/1909 in Red Oak, TX, USA
Died: 3/21/1969 in Dallas, TX, USA
MLB Debut: 1930-06-25 | Final Game: 1946-09-29
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Michael Franklin Higgins
Biography
Pinky Higgins, born in 1909, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball whose career spanned from 1930 until 1946. Known for his exceptional batting prowess and solid fielding, he played a total of 1,802 games, during which he accumulated 1,941 hits, 140 home runs, and 1,075 RBIs, finishing with an impressive batting average of .292. A versatile player, Higgins also showcased his speed on the bases, recording 61 stolen bases throughout his career. His contributions to the game were recognized with three All-Star selections, highlighting his status as one of the premier players of his era.
Higgins played during a transformative period in baseball, navigating the sport through the Great Depression and into the post-World War II era. His ability to perform consistently at a high level made him a key figure on the teams he played for, as he helped shape the competitive landscape of baseball during the 1930s and 1940s. With a blend of power and contact hitting, Higgins left a lasting legacy that resonated with fans and players alike, solidifying his place in baseball history as a skilled athlete and a respected competitor.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1802 | 6636 | 930 | 1941 | 374 | 51 | 140 | 1075 | 61 | 800 | 590 | 0.292 | 0.370 | 0.428 | 0.798 | 16379.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | PHA | AL | 14 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 1933 | PHA | AL | 152 | 567 | 85 | 178 | 34 | 12 | 13 | 99 | 2 | 61 | 53 | 0.314 | 2610.5 |
| 1934 | PHA | AL | 144 | 543 | 89 | 179 | 37 | 6 | 16 | 90 | 9 | 56 | 70 | 0.330 | 2465.6 |
| 1935 | PHA | AL | 133 | 524 | 69 | 155 | 32 | 4 | 23 | 94 | 6 | 42 | 62 | 0.296 | 1552.5 |
| 1936 | PHA | AL | 146 | 550 | 89 | 159 | 32 | 2 | 12 | 80 | 7 | 67 | 61 | 0.289 | 605.0 |
| 1937 | BOS | AL | 153 | 570 | 88 | 172 | 33 | 5 | 9 | 106 | 2 | 76 | 51 | 0.302 | 1275.1 |
| 1938 | BOS | AL | 139 | 524 | 77 | 159 | 29 | 5 | 5 | 106 | 10 | 71 | 55 | 0.303 | 994.3 |
| 1939 | DET | AL | 132 | 489 | 57 | 135 | 23 | 2 | 8 | 76 | 7 | 56 | 41 | 0.276 | -0.9 |
| 1940 | DET | AL | 131 | 480 | 70 | 130 | 24 | 3 | 13 | 76 | 4 | 61 | 31 | 0.271 | 710.4 |
| 1941 | DET | AL | 147 | 540 | 79 | 161 | 28 | 3 | 11 | 73 | 5 | 67 | 45 | 0.298 | 1529.1 |
| 1942 | DET | AL | 143 | 499 | 65 | 133 | 34 | 2 | 11 | 79 | 3 | 72 | 21 | 0.267 | 1517.0 |
| 1943 | DET | AL | 138 | 523 | 62 | 145 | 20 | 1 | 10 | 84 | 2 | 57 | 31 | 0.277 | 946.8 |
| 1944 | DET | AL | 148 | 543 | 79 | 161 | 32 | 4 | 7 | 76 | 4 | 81 | 34 | 0.297 | 2116.1 |
| 1946 | BOS | AL | 64 | 200 | 18 | 55 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 0 | 24 | 24 | 0.275 | 224.2 |
| 1946 | DET | AL | 18 | 60 | 2 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0.217 | 224.2 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 48 | 3 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0.271 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | WS | BOS | 7 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.208 |
| 1940 | WS | DET | 7 | 24 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0.333 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 1768 | 0 | 1848 | 3258 | 356 | 288 |
| SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | PHA | 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1930 | PHA | 3B | 5 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1930 | PHA | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1933 | PHA | 3B | 152 | 0 | 159 | 270 | 24 | 23 |
| 1934 | PHA | 3B | 144 | 0 | 147 | 247 | 37 | 34 |
| 1935 | PHA | 3B | 131 | 0 | 162 | 214 | 21 | 15 |
| 1936 | PHA | 3B | 145 | 0 | 151 | 266 | 26 | 24 |
| 1937 | BOS | 3B | 152 | 0 | 161 | 258 | 29 | 29 |
| 1938 | BOS | 3B | 138 | 0 | 140 | 272 | 39 | 28 |
| 1939 | DET | 3B | 130 | 0 | 140 | 241 | 36 | 22 |
| 1940 | DET | 3B | 129 | 0 | 133 | 239 | 29 | 16 |
| 1941 | DET | 3B | 145 | 0 | 153 | 304 | 26 | 14 |
| 1942 | DET | 3B | 137 | 0 | 134 | 243 | 30 | 24 |
| 1943 | DET | 3B | 138 | 0 | 156 | 253 | 26 | 22 |
| 1944 | DET | 3B | 146 | 0 | 146 | 311 | 22 | 21 |
| 1946 | BOS | 3B | 59 | 0 | 52 | 109 | 9 | 14 |
| 1946 | DET | 3B | 17 | 0 | 12 | 25 | 2 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 2 |
| Third Base | 1768 |
| Shortstop | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1936 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
| 1935 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1934 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
| 1933 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Texas at Austin | Austin | TX | 1928, 1929, 1930 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 19th | 7.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 21th | 8.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1941 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 27th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1935 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 20th | 3.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1934 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 17th | 3.0 | 80 | 0 |