Joe Kuhel, baseball player, 131 home runs, 1930-1947

Joe Kuhel

Born: 6/25/1906 in Cleveland, OH, USA

Died: 2/26/1984 in Kansas City, KS, USA

MLB Debut: 1930-07-31 | Final Game: 1947-05-11

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: Joseph Anthony Kuhel

Biography

Joe Kuhel was a prominent American baseball player, active from 1930 until 1947, who made a significant impact in Major League Baseball as a reliable position player. Born in 1906, Kuhel played the majority of his career as a first baseman and outfielder, showcasing his versatility on the field. Over the course of 2,104 games, he accumulated 2,212 hits, demonstrating consistent hitting ability that earned him a career batting average of .277. His offensive contributions included 131 home runs and 1,049 runs batted in, marking him as a key player in the lineup for teams he played for, including the Washington Senators and the Chicago White Sox. Kuhel's playing style was characterized by a blend of power and speed, as evidenced by his 178 stolen bases, a notable achievement for a player of his era. His career unfolded during a time when baseball was transitioning through the Great Depression and into World War II, impacting the game and its players significantly. Kuhel's durability and performance made him a mainstay in the league, and he is remembered for his contributions not only as a player but also as a competitor who exemplified the spirit of the game during an evolving period in baseball history.

Negro Leagues Career Statistics

Batting

PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS
8.0 6.0 1.0 1.0 0 1.0 0 0 1.0 2.0 0 0.167 0.286 0.500 0.786

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
2104 7984 1236 2212 412 111 131 1049 178 980 612 0.277 0.359 0.406 0.765 12008.4

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
5 20 1 3 0 0 0 1 1 4 0.150

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1933 WS WS1 5 20 1 3 0 0 0 1 1 4 0.150

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 2057 0 19386 1163 173 1769

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
First Base 2057

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1945 Most Valuable Player AL 12th 29.0 336 1
1940 Most Valuable Player AL 13th 18.0 336 0
1939 Most Valuable Player AL 21th 8.0 336 0
1936 Most Valuable Player AL 6th 27.0 80 0
1933 Most Valuable Player AL 15th 5.0 80 0