Jack Merson
Born: 1/17/1922 in Elkridge, MD, USA
Died: 4/28/2000 in Elkridge, MD, USA
MLB Debut: 1951-09-14 | Final Game: 1953-04-24
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: John Warren Merson
Biography
Jack Merson, born in 1922, was an American professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball as a position player during the early 1950s. Merson's career spanned from 1951 to 1953, a time characterized by the transition from the post-war era of baseball into a period of increasing competitiveness and talent in the league. Over the course of 125 games, he showcased his skills as a reliable hitter, accumulating 116 hits and achieving a batting average of .257. His offensive contributions included 6 home runs and 52 runs batted in, highlighting his role as a solid presence in the lineup.
Merson's playing style was characterized by his versatility and tenacity on the field. While he was not known for his speed, as evidenced by just 1 stolen base in his career, he made up for it with a disciplined approach at the plate. His contributions were particularly valuable during a time when the league was beginning to see a shift towards power hitting, yet Merson managed to hold his own with a balanced offensive skill set. Although his time in the majors was relatively brief, he remains a part of baseball history, representing a generation of players who laid the groundwork for the game’s evolution in the years that followed.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125 | 452 | 47 | 116 | 22 | 4 | 6 | 52 | 1 | 23 | 45 | 0.257 | 0.294 | 0.363 | 0.657 | -623.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | PIT | NL | 13 | 50 | 6 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0.360 | 181.2 |
| 1952 | PIT | NL | 111 | 398 | 41 | 98 | 20 | 2 | 5 | 38 | 1 | 22 | 38 | 0.246 | -805.0 |
| 1953 | BOS | AL | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 95 | 0 | 223 | 264 | 11 | 66 |
| 3B | 27 | 0 | 30 | 52 | 3 | 3 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | PIT | 2B | 13 | 0 | 30 | 46 | 1 | 7 |
| 1952 | PIT | 2B | 81 | 0 | 190 | 214 | 9 | 59 |
| 1952 | PIT | 3B | 27 | 0 | 30 | 52 | 3 | 3 |
| 1953 | BOS | 2B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 91 |
| Third Base | 32 |