Norm Larker
Born: 12/27/1930 in Beaver Meadows, PA, USA
Died: 3/12/2007 in Long Beach, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1958-04-15 | Final Game: 1963-09-28
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Norman Howard John Larker
Biography
Norm Larker was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Born in 1930, Larker played primarily as a position player from 1958 until his retirement on September 28, 1963. Over the course of his career, he participated in 667 games, compiling 538 hits and achieving a respectable batting average of .275. His offensive contributions included 32 home runs and 271 runs batted in (RBIs), showcasing his ability to be a consistent presence at the plate.
Larker was recognized for his talents with two All-Star selections, affirming his status among the top players of his era. He played during a time when baseball was transitioning into a more modern game, marked by a blend of traditional approaches and the emergence of power hitters. Although he was not primarily known for his speed, Larker did manage to steal three bases throughout his career. His contributions to the teams he played for, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Braves, remain a part of baseball history, reflecting the competitive spirit and evolving dynamics of the game during the post-war baseball landscape.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 667 | 1953 | 227 | 538 | 97 | 15 | 32 | 271 | 3 | 211 | 165 | 0.275 | 0.347 | 0.390 | 0.736 | 1581.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | LAD | NL | 99 | 253 | 32 | 70 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 29 | 1 | 29 | 21 | 0.277 | 376.4 |
| 1959 | LAD | NL | 108 | 311 | 37 | 90 | 14 | 1 | 8 | 49 | 0 | 26 | 25 | 0.289 | 372.8 |
| 1960 | LAD | NL | 133 | 440 | 56 | 142 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 78 | 1 | 36 | 24 | 0.323 | 1011.6 |
| 1961 | LAD | NL | 97 | 282 | 29 | 76 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 38 | 0 | 24 | 22 | 0.270 | -132.3 |
| 1962 | HOU | NL | 147 | 506 | 58 | 133 | 19 | 5 | 9 | 63 | 1 | 70 | 47 | 0.263 | 408.0 |
| 1963 | ATL | NL | 64 | 147 | 15 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 24 | 24 | 0.177 | -455.6 |
| 1963 | SFG | NL | 19 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.071 | -455.6 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.188 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | WS | LAN | 6 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.188 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 473 | 429 | 3629 | 326 | 35 | 349 |
| OF | 82 | 79 | 104 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | LAN | 1B | 25 | 22 | 178 | 14 | 4 | 18 |
| 1958 | LAN | OF | 43 | 43 | 61 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | LAN | 1B | 55 | 50 | 456 | 42 | 5 | 53 |
| 1959 | LAN | OF | 30 | 30 | 35 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | LAN | 1B | 119 | 112 | 914 | 80 | 7 | 81 |
| 1960 | LAN | OF | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | LAN | 1B | 86 | 79 | 589 | 52 | 3 | 68 |
| 1961 | LAN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | HOU | 1B | 135 | 130 | 1148 | 103 | 11 | 103 |
| 1962 | HOU | OF | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963 | ML1 | 1B | 42 | 35 | 320 | 33 | 3 | 23 |
| 1963 | SFN | 1B | 11 | 1 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 473 |
| Left Field | 72 |
| Right Field | 10 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 15th | 21.0 | 336 | 0 |