Dale Mitchell
Born: 8/23/1921 in Colony, OK, USA
Died: 1/5/1987 in Tulsa, OK, USA
MLB Debut: 1946-09-15 | Final Game: 1956-09-26
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: Loren Dale Mitchell
Biography
Dale Mitchell, born in 1921, was a notable position player whose career spanned from 1946 until his retirement in 1956. He played primarily for the Cleveland Indians and was recognized for his exceptional batting prowess, finishing his career with a remarkable .312 batting average over 1,127 games. Mitchell collected 1,244 hits, including 41 home runs and 403 RBIs. His ability to reach base consistently and contribute offensively made him a key player during the post-World War II era, when baseball was experiencing a resurgence in popularity.
Throughout his career, Mitchell earned two All-Star selections, underscoring his status as one of the top players of his time. He was known for his keen eye at the plate, which contributed to his impressive hitting statistics, and he also showcased speed on the bases with 45 stolen bases. Dale Mitchell's contributions to the game, particularly during a transformative period in baseball history, cemented his legacy as a skilled and respected player in the annals of Major League Baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1127 | 3984 | 555 | 1244 | 169 | 61 | 41 | 403 | 45 | 346 | 119 | 0.312 | 0.368 | 0.416 | 0.784 | 6480.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | CLE | AL | 11 | 44 | 7 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.432 | 0.0 |
| 1947 | CLE | AL | 123 | 493 | 69 | 156 | 16 | 10 | 1 | 34 | 2 | 23 | 14 | 0.316 | 250.7 |
| 1948 | CLE | AL | 141 | 608 | 82 | 204 | 30 | 8 | 4 | 56 | 13 | 45 | 17 | 0.336 | 1489.3 |
| 1949 | CLE | AL | 149 | 640 | 81 | 203 | 16 | 23 | 3 | 56 | 10 | 43 | 11 | 0.317 | 846.9 |
| 1950 | CLE | AL | 130 | 506 | 81 | 156 | 27 | 5 | 3 | 49 | 3 | 67 | 21 | 0.308 | 730.8 |
| 1951 | CLE | AL | 134 | 510 | 83 | 148 | 21 | 7 | 11 | 62 | 7 | 53 | 16 | 0.290 | 822.9 |
| 1952 | CLE | AL | 134 | 511 | 61 | 165 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 58 | 6 | 52 | 9 | 0.323 | 1584.3 |
| 1953 | CLE | AL | 134 | 500 | 76 | 150 | 26 | 4 | 13 | 60 | 3 | 42 | 20 | 0.300 | 864.1 |
| 1954 | CLE | AL | 53 | 60 | 6 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0.283 | 44.4 |
| 1955 | CLE | AL | 61 | 58 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0.259 | -153.2 |
| 1956 | BRO | NL | 19 | 24 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.292 | 0.0 |
| 1956 | CLE | AL | 38 | 30 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0.133 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 29 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0.138 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | WS | BRO | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 1954 | WS | CLE | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1948 | WS | CLE | 6 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0.174 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 9 | 2 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| OF | 931 | 6 | 1906 | 41 | 30 | 8 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | CLE | OF | 11 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1947 | CLE | OF | 115 | 0 | 252 | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| 1948 | CLE | OF | 140 | 0 | 307 | 12 | 3 | 3 |
| 1949 | CLE | OF | 149 | 0 | 337 | 10 | 2 | 2 |
| 1950 | CLE | OF | 127 | 0 | 236 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| 1951 | CLE | OF | 124 | 0 | 253 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1952 | CLE | OF | 128 | 0 | 258 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1953 | CLE | OF | 125 | 0 | 224 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| 1954 | CLE | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1954 | CLE | OF | 6 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1955 | CLE | 1B | 8 | 2 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 1955 | CLE | OF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1956 | BRO | OF | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1956 | CLE | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 9 |
| Left Field | 880 |
| Center Field | 62 |
| Right Field | 2 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oklahoma | Norman | OK | 1942, 1946 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 20th | 11.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1951 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 28th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1949 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 26th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1947 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 26th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |