Barney McCosky
Born: 4/11/1917 in Coal Run, PA, USA
Died: 9/6/1996 in Venice, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 1939-04-18 | Final Game: 1953-07-08
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 184 lbs
Full name: William Barney McCosky
Biography
Barney McCosky was a prominent American baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1939 to 1953. Born in 1917, McCosky showcased his talents primarily as a position player over the course of his career, appearing in 1,170 games. He established himself as a reliable hitter, amassing 1,301 hits and achieving a commendable batting average of .312, which underscored his offensive capabilities during an era when batting prowess was highly prized.
Known for his speed and agility on the bases, McCosky recorded 58 stolen bases and contributed significantly to his teams with 397 RBIs and 24 home runs. His playing style combined a keen eye for hitting with the ability to drive in runs, making him a valuable asset to the clubs he represented. Over his career, McCosky's achievements reflected the competitive spirit of the game in the early 20th century, a time marked by the transition from the deadball era to a more dynamic offensive game. His contributions to baseball have left a lasting legacy, and he remains a noteworthy figure among the players of his time.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.600 | 0.333 | 0.933 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.600 | 0.333 | 0.933 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1170 | 4172 | 664 | 1301 | 214 | 71 | 24 | 397 | 58 | 497 | 261 | 0.312 | 0.386 | 0.414 | 0.801 | 11126.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | DET | AL | 147 | 611 | 120 | 190 | 33 | 14 | 4 | 58 | 20 | 70 | 45 | 0.311 | 1332.4 |
| 1940 | DET | AL | 143 | 589 | 123 | 200 | 39 | 19 | 4 | 57 | 13 | 67 | 41 | 0.340 | 2879.2 |
| 1941 | DET | AL | 127 | 494 | 80 | 160 | 25 | 8 | 3 | 55 | 8 | 61 | 33 | 0.324 | 1757.6 |
| 1942 | DET | AL | 154 | 600 | 75 | 176 | 28 | 11 | 7 | 50 | 11 | 68 | 37 | 0.293 | 1797.3 |
| 1946 | DET | AL | 25 | 91 | 11 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 17 | 9 | 0.198 | -127.0 |
| 1946 | PHA | AL | 92 | 308 | 33 | 109 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 34 | 2 | 43 | 13 | 0.354 | -127.0 |
| 1947 | PHA | AL | 137 | 546 | 77 | 179 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 52 | 1 | 57 | 29 | 0.328 | 1395.0 |
| 1948 | PHA | AL | 135 | 515 | 95 | 168 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 68 | 22 | 0.326 | 1205.3 |
| 1950 | PHA | AL | 66 | 179 | 19 | 43 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 22 | 12 | 0.240 | -506.9 |
| 1951 | CIN | NL | 25 | 50 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0.320 | 115.7 |
| 1951 | CLE | AL | 31 | 61 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 0.213 | 115.7 |
| 1951 | PHA | AL | 12 | 27 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.296 | 115.7 |
| 1952 | CLE | AL | 54 | 80 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 0.212 | -185.7 |
| 1953 | CLE | AL | 22 | 21 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.190 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0.304 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | WS | DET | 7 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0.304 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1036 | 0 | 2490 | 48 | 41 | 12 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | DET | OF | 145 | 0 | 428 | 7 | 6 | 2 |
| 1940 | DET | OF | 141 | 0 | 349 | 7 | 6 | 2 |
| 1941 | DET | OF | 122 | 0 | 328 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| 1942 | DET | OF | 154 | 0 | 351 | 7 | 7 | 2 |
| 1946 | DET | OF | 24 | 0 | 56 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1946 | PHA | OF | 85 | 0 | 207 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 1947 | PHA | OF | 136 | 0 | 346 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| 1948 | PHA | OF | 134 | 0 | 277 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| 1950 | PHA | OF | 42 | 0 | 73 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1951 | CIN | OF | 11 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1951 | CLE | OF | 16 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1951 | PHA | OF | 7 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1952 | CLE | OF | 19 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 489 |
| Center Field | 523 |
| Right Field | 26 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 27th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1947 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 11th | 35.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 29th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1941 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 15th | 12.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1940 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 16th | 11.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1939 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 27th | 6.0 | 336 | 0 |