Otto Knabe
Born: 6/12/1884 in Carrick, PA, USA
Died: 5/17/1961 in Philadelphia, PA, USA
MLB Debut: 1905-10-03 | Final Game: 1916-09-25
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: Franz Otto Knabe
Biography
Otto Knabe was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball during the early 20th century, playing primarily as a second baseman. Born in 1884, Knabe's career spanned from 1905 to 1916, during which he participated in 1,278 games and accumulated 1,103 hits. He was known for his tenacity on the base paths, finishing his career with 143 stolen bases, illustrating his speed and agility. Despite a batting average of .247 and a modest total of 8 home runs, Knabe's contributions to his teams extended beyond hitting, as he recorded 365 RBIs throughout his career.
Knabe played during an era characterized by a transition in baseball strategies and player dynamics. As teams began to place a greater emphasis on speed and defensive skills, Knabe's ability to steal bases and provide solid infield play made him a valuable asset. He played for several teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Giants, and was recognized for his gritty playing style and dedication on the field. His legacy is noted not only for his individual statistics but also for his role in shaping the game in a period that laid the groundwork for modern baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1278 | 4469 | 572 | 1103 | 178 | 48 | 8 | 365 | 143 | 485 | 326 | 0.247 | 0.325 | 0.313 | 0.639 | -463.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 | PIT | NL | 3 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0.300 | 0.0 |
| 1907 | PHI | NL | 129 | 444 | 67 | 113 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 34 | 18 | 52 | 48 | 0.255 | 926.6 |
| 1908 | PHI | NL | 151 | 555 | 63 | 121 | 26 | 8 | 0 | 27 | 27 | 49 | 46 | 0.218 | -269.0 |
| 1909 | PHI | NL | 113 | 402 | 40 | 94 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 9 | 35 | 39 | 0.234 | -225.4 |
| 1910 | PHI | NL | 137 | 510 | 73 | 133 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 44 | 15 | 47 | 42 | 0.261 | 150.6 |
| 1911 | PHI | NL | 142 | 528 | 99 | 125 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 42 | 23 | 94 | 35 | 0.237 | -384.2 |
| 1912 | PHI | NL | 126 | 426 | 56 | 120 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 46 | 16 | 55 | 20 | 0.282 | 179.3 |
| 1913 | PHI | NL | 148 | 571 | 70 | 150 | 25 | 7 | 2 | 53 | 14 | 45 | 26 | 0.263 | -187.9 |
| 1914 | BLF | FL | 147 | 469 | 45 | 106 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 10 | 53 | 28 | 0.226 | -598.5 |
| 1915 | BLF | FL | 103 | 320 | 38 | 81 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 7 | 37 | 16 | 0.253 | 151.5 |
| 1916 | CHC | NL | 51 | 145 | 17 | 40 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 18 | 0.276 | 74.2 |
| 1916 | PIT | NL | 28 | 89 | 4 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0.191 | 74.2 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 1239 | 517 | 2743 | 3583 | 287 | 483 |
| 3B | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| OF | 8 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 | PIT | 3B | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| 1907 | PHI | 2B | 121 | 121 | 293 | 336 | 26 | 53 |
| 1907 | PHI | OF | 5 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1908 | PHI | 2B | 151 | 151 | 344 | 470 | 26 | 42 |
| 1909 | PHI | 2B | 110 | 110 | 237 | 312 | 36 | 38 |
| 1909 | PHI | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1910 | PHI | 2B | 136 | 135 | 383 | 381 | 37 | 72 |
| 1911 | PHI | 2B | 142 | 0 | 310 | 412 | 38 | 54 |
| 1912 | PHI | 2B | 123 | 0 | 258 | 342 | 30 | 45 |
| 1913 | PHI | 2B | 148 | 0 | 311 | 466 | 33 | 58 |
| 1914 | BLF | 2B | 144 | 0 | 289 | 389 | 31 | 49 |
| 1915 | BLF | 2B | 94 | 0 | 203 | 264 | 12 | 52 |
| 1915 | BLF | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1916 | CHN | 2B | 42 | 0 | 72 | 128 | 13 | 17 |
| 1916 | CHN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1916 | CHN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1916 | CHN | OF | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1916 | PIT | 2B | 28 | 0 | 43 | 83 | 5 | 3 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 1240 |
| Third Base | 4 |
| Shortstop | 1 |
| Left Field | 2 |
| Right Field | 6 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 19th | 4.0 | 64 | 0 |
| 1912 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 11th | 10.0 | 64 | 0 |
| 1911 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 22th | 2.0 | 64 | 0 |