Lennie Merullo
Born: 5/5/1917 in Boston, MA, USA
Died: 5/30/2015 in Reading, MA, USA
MLB Debut: 1941-09-12 | Final Game: 1947-08-22
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 166 lbs
Full name: Leonard Richard Merullo
Biography
Lennie Merullo, born in 1917, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1941 to 1947. Primarily recognized as a position player, Merullo played in 639 games during his career, where he showcased his skills as a versatile athlete. He accumulated 497 hits, contributing to a career batting average of .240. Known for his speed on the bases, he recorded 38 stolen bases and drove in 152 runs, along with hitting 6 home runs throughout his time in the league.
Merullo's career unfolded during a pivotal era in baseball, characterized by the challenges of World War II and the subsequent integration of the sport. He played for teams such as the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Braves, where he demonstrated a solid defensive presence and a determined playing style. While he may not have achieved superstar status, Merullo's contributions to his teams and his ability to adapt to the evolving game left a lasting impact on the players around him, securing his place in the annals of baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 639 | 2071 | 191 | 497 | 92 | 8 | 6 | 152 | 38 | 136 | 174 | 0.240 | 0.291 | 0.301 | 0.591 | -5350.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | CHC | NL | 7 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0.353 | 0.0 |
| 1942 | CHC | NL | 143 | 515 | 53 | 132 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 37 | 14 | 35 | 45 | 0.256 | -615.5 |
| 1943 | CHC | NL | 129 | 453 | 37 | 115 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 7 | 26 | 42 | 0.254 | -788.1 |
| 1944 | CHC | NL | 66 | 193 | 20 | 41 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 16 | 18 | 0.212 | -621.6 |
| 1945 | CHC | NL | 121 | 394 | 40 | 94 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 37 | 7 | 31 | 30 | 0.239 | -945.6 |
| 1946 | CHC | NL | 65 | 126 | 14 | 19 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 0.151 | -825.9 |
| 1947 | CHC | NL | 108 | 373 | 24 | 90 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 4 | 15 | 26 | 0.241 | -1553.3 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | WS | CHN | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 601 | 0 | 1150 | 1808 | 172 | 328 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | CHN | SS | 7 | 0 | 12 | 18 | 1 | 5 |
| 1942 | CHN | SS | 143 | 0 | 299 | 438 | 42 | 80 |
| 1943 | CHN | SS | 125 | 0 | 218 | 396 | 39 | 68 |
| 1944 | CHN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1944 | CHN | SS | 56 | 0 | 115 | 167 | 19 | 26 |
| 1945 | CHN | SS | 118 | 0 | 209 | 336 | 30 | 49 |
| 1946 | CHN | SS | 44 | 0 | 78 | 131 | 12 | 23 |
| 1947 | CHN | SS | 108 | 0 | 219 | 322 | 29 | 77 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 2 |
| Shortstop | 601 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villanova University | Villanova | PA | 1937, 1938 |