Paul Lehner
Born: 7/1/1920 in Dolomite, AL, USA
Died: 12/27/1967 in Birmingham, AL, USA
MLB Debut: 1946-09-10 | Final Game: 1952-06-30
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 160 lbs
Full name: Paul Eugene Lehner
Biography
Paul Lehner, born in 1920, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1946 to 1952. Known for his versatility as a position player, Lehner appeared in 540 games throughout his career, where he showcased his skills as an effective hitter and reliable contributor to his teams. He finished his career with 455 hits, 22 home runs, and 197 RBIs, maintaining a batting average of .257. Despite the challenges of transitioning back to baseball after World War II, Lehner adapted well to the changing landscape of the game during this post-war era, when many veterans returned to the sport.
Lehner's playing style reflected the gritty determination of the time, characterized by a focus on contact hitting and situational awareness on the field. Although he recorded only 6 stolen bases over his career, his ability to drive in runs was a valuable asset to his teams. Lehner's contributions to the game, particularly during the late 1940s and early 1950s, helped pave the way for future players as baseball continued to grow in popularity and evolve into the modern era. He remains a notable figure in baseball history, representing the resilience and spirit of the post-war generation of athletes.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 540 | 1768 | 175 | 455 | 80 | 21 | 22 | 197 | 6 | 127 | 118 | 0.257 | 0.309 | 0.364 | 0.672 | -2474.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | SLA | AL | 16 | 45 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.222 | 0.0 |
| 1947 | SLA | AL | 135 | 483 | 59 | 120 | 25 | 9 | 7 | 48 | 5 | 28 | 29 | 0.248 | -734.7 |
| 1948 | SLA | AL | 103 | 333 | 23 | 92 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 46 | 0 | 30 | 19 | 0.276 | -241.7 |
| 1949 | SLA | AL | 104 | 297 | 25 | 68 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 37 | 0 | 16 | 20 | 0.229 | -1283.5 |
| 1950 | PHA | AL | 114 | 427 | 48 | 132 | 17 | 5 | 9 | 52 | 1 | 32 | 33 | 0.309 | 439.7 |
| 1951 | CHW | AL | 23 | 72 | 9 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 0.208 | -225.2 |
| 1951 | CLE | AL | 12 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.231 | -225.2 |
| 1951 | PHA | AL | 9 | 28 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.143 | -225.2 |
| 1951 | SLA | AL | 21 | 67 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0.134 | -225.2 |
| 1952 | BOS | AL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.667 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 20 | 0 | 173 | 14 | 2 | 14 |
| OF | 432 | 0 | 1093 | 21 | 22 | 3 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | SLA | OF | 12 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1947 | SLA | OF | 127 | 0 | 344 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| 1948 | SLA | 1B | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1948 | SLA | OF | 89 | 0 | 223 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| 1949 | SLA | 1B | 18 | 0 | 161 | 13 | 2 | 13 |
| 1949 | SLA | OF | 56 | 0 | 153 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1950 | PHA | OF | 101 | 0 | 247 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| 1951 | CHA | OF | 20 | 0 | 47 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1951 | CLE | OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1951 | PHA | OF | 6 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1951 | SLA | OF | 18 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1952 | BOS | OF | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 20 |
| Left Field | 110 |
| Center Field | 297 |
| Right Field | 37 |