Wally Judnich
Born: 1/24/1916 in San Francisco, CA, USA
Died: 7/10/1971 in Glendale, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1940-04-16 | Final Game: 1949-05-12
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 205 lbs
Full name: Walter Franklin Judnich
Biography
Wally Judnich was a notable American baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1940 to 1949. Born in 1916, Judnich played primarily as a position player, showcasing his talents across a solid career that spanned 790 games. He recorded a total of 782 hits, demonstrating a keen ability to make contact and maintain a solid batting average of .281. His offensive contributions included 90 home runs and 420 runs batted in (RBIs), highlighting his capability as a power hitter during an era marked by the transition from the deadball period to a more offensively charged game.
Judnich was also known for his speed on the bases, accumulating 20 stolen bases throughout his career. His ability to combine hitting prowess with base-running agility made him a valuable asset to his teams. As baseball evolved in the post-war years, Judnich's contributions to the sport were a reflection of the changing dynamics within the game, as players began to embrace a more aggressive style of play. His legacy continues to be remembered by baseball historians and fans alike, as he played a significant role during a transformative time in Major League Baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 790 | 2786 | 424 | 782 | 150 | 29 | 90 | 420 | 20 | 385 | 298 | 0.281 | 0.369 | 0.452 | 0.822 | 9670.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | SLA | AL | 137 | 519 | 97 | 157 | 27 | 7 | 24 | 89 | 8 | 54 | 71 | 0.303 | 2269.9 |
| 1941 | SLA | AL | 146 | 546 | 90 | 155 | 40 | 6 | 14 | 83 | 5 | 80 | 45 | 0.284 | 2020.9 |
| 1942 | SLA | AL | 132 | 457 | 78 | 143 | 22 | 6 | 17 | 82 | 3 | 74 | 41 | 0.313 | 3263.1 |
| 1946 | SLA | AL | 142 | 511 | 60 | 134 | 23 | 4 | 15 | 72 | 0 | 60 | 54 | 0.262 | 886.7 |
| 1947 | SLA | AL | 144 | 500 | 58 | 129 | 24 | 3 | 18 | 64 | 2 | 60 | 62 | 0.258 | 668.9 |
| 1948 | CLE | AL | 79 | 218 | 36 | 56 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 29 | 2 | 56 | 23 | 0.257 | 561.1 |
| 1949 | PIT | NL | 10 | 35 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.229 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0.077 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | WS | CLE | 4 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0.077 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 149 | 0 | 1214 | 83 | 14 | 137 |
| OF | 604 | 0 | 1636 | 33 | 20 | 9 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | SLA | OF | 133 | 0 | 356 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| 1941 | SLA | OF | 140 | 0 | 383 | 11 | 8 | 3 |
| 1942 | SLA | OF | 122 | 0 | 330 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 1946 | SLA | OF | 137 | 0 | 409 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| 1947 | SLA | 1B | 129 | 0 | 1067 | 76 | 13 | 118 |
| 1947 | SLA | OF | 15 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1948 | CLE | 1B | 20 | 0 | 147 | 7 | 1 | 19 |
| 1948 | CLE | OF | 49 | 0 | 93 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 1949 | PIT | OF | 8 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 149 |
| Left Field | 6 |
| Center Field | 583 |
| Right Field | 16 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 16th | 14.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1940 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 6.0 | 336 | 0 |