Danny O'Connell
Born: 1/21/1929 in Paterson, NJ, USA
Died: 10/2/1969 in Clifton, NJ, USA
MLB Debut: 1950-07-14 | Final Game: 1962-09-26
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 168 lbs
Full name: Daniel Francis O'Connell
Biography
Danny O'Connell was a professional baseball player who had a notable career spanning from 1950 to 1962. Born in 1929, he emerged as a versatile position player, primarily known for his time in the Major Leagues. Over the course of 1,143 games, O'Connell amassed 1,049 hits, achieving a respectable batting average of .260. His career totals included 39 home runs and 320 runs batted in, along with 48 stolen bases, highlighting his ability to contribute both offensively and on the base paths.
O'Connell played during an era that was marked by significant changes in the game, including the transition from the deadball era to a more offensive-minded approach. His playing style was characterized by a solid contact hitter's approach, which allowed him to maintain a consistent presence at the plate. Throughout his career, O'Connell was known for his resilience and adaptability, attributes that helped him navigate the competitive landscape of Major League Baseball in the 1950s and early 1960s. His contributions to the game reflect the evolution of baseball during a transformative period, making him a noteworthy figure in the sport's history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1143 | 4035 | 527 | 1049 | 181 | 35 | 39 | 320 | 48 | 431 | 396 | 0.260 | 0.333 | 0.351 | 0.684 | -3974.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | PIT | NL | 79 | 315 | 39 | 92 | 16 | 1 | 8 | 32 | 7 | 24 | 33 | 0.292 | 102.0 |
| 1953 | PIT | NL | 149 | 588 | 88 | 173 | 26 | 8 | 7 | 55 | 3 | 57 | 42 | 0.294 | 526.1 |
| 1954 | ATL | NL | 146 | 541 | 61 | 151 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 37 | 2 | 38 | 46 | 0.279 | -651.5 |
| 1955 | ATL | NL | 124 | 453 | 47 | 102 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 40 | 2 | 28 | 43 | 0.225 | -1738.4 |
| 1956 | ATL | NL | 139 | 498 | 71 | 119 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 42 | 3 | 76 | 42 | 0.239 | -728.1 |
| 1957 | ATL | NL | 48 | 183 | 29 | 43 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 19 | 20 | 0.235 | -370.9 |
| 1957 | NY1 | NL | 95 | 364 | 57 | 97 | 18 | 3 | 7 | 28 | 8 | 33 | 30 | 0.266 | -370.9 |
| 1958 | SFG | NL | 107 | 306 | 44 | 71 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 2 | 51 | 35 | 0.232 | -375.9 |
| 1959 | SFG | NL | 34 | 58 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 0.190 | -297.4 |
| 1961 | WS2 | AL | 138 | 493 | 61 | 128 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 15 | 77 | 62 | 0.260 | -191.2 |
| 1962 | WS2 | AL | 84 | 236 | 24 | 62 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 5 | 23 | 28 | 0.263 | -310.5 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 8 | 8 | 63 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| 2B | 713 | 633 | 1657 | 2049 | 74 | 508 |
| 3B | 335 | 184 | 346 | 700 | 48 | 63 |
| SS | 68 | 0 | 148 | 230 | 9 | 48 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | PIT | 3B | 12 | 0 | 15 | 39 | 2 | 2 |
| 1950 | PIT | SS | 65 | 0 | 147 | 228 | 9 | 47 |
| 1953 | PIT | 2B | 47 | 0 | 107 | 149 | 8 | 27 |
| 1953 | PIT | 3B | 104 | 0 | 119 | 221 | 15 | 16 |
| 1954 | ML1 | 1B | 8 | 8 | 63 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| 1954 | ML1 | 2B | 103 | 100 | 244 | 314 | 12 | 83 |
| 1954 | ML1 | 3B | 35 | 28 | 44 | 67 | 0 | 7 |
| 1954 | ML1 | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | ML1 | 2B | 114 | 111 | 309 | 357 | 13 | 76 |
| 1955 | ML1 | 3B | 7 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 1955 | ML1 | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1956 | ML1 | 2B | 138 | 132 | 295 | 381 | 10 | 98 |
| 1956 | ML1 | 3B | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | ML1 | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1957 | ML1 | 2B | 48 | 47 | 128 | 145 | 5 | 43 |
| 1957 | NY1 | 2B | 68 | 63 | 156 | 194 | 7 | 50 |
| 1957 | NY1 | 3B | 30 | 26 | 33 | 69 | 4 | 6 |
| 1958 | SFN | 2B | 104 | 99 | 222 | 278 | 7 | 70 |
| 1958 | SFN | 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | SFN | 2B | 8 | 4 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| 1959 | SFN | 3B | 26 | 14 | 15 | 36 | 4 | 3 |
| 1961 | WS2 | 2B | 61 | 58 | 144 | 170 | 7 | 52 |
| 1961 | WS2 | 3B | 73 | 74 | 75 | 173 | 16 | 14 |
| 1962 | WS2 | 2B | 22 | 19 | 36 | 52 | 5 | 8 |
| 1962 | WS2 | 3B | 41 | 35 | 34 | 89 | 5 | 13 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 8 |
| Second Base | 712 |
| Third Base | 336 |
| Shortstop | 68 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 16th | 10.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1950 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 3rd | 4.0 | 24 | 4 |