Ken O'Dea
Born: 3/16/1913 in Lima, NY, USA
Died: 12/17/1985 in Lima, NY, USA
MLB Debut: 1935-04-21 | Final Game: 1946-08-06
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: James Kenneth O'Dea
Biography
Ken O'Dea was a professional baseball player born in 1913 who enjoyed a solid career spanning from 1935 to 1946. Known primarily for his role as a position player, O'Dea appeared in 832 games over his career, accumulating 560 hits and 40 home runs. He recorded 323 RBIs and finished with a batting average of .255. Though often overshadowed by larger stars of his era, O'Dea made a notable impact on the field and was selected as an All-Star once during his career, highlighting his skills and contributions to the teams he played for.
O'Dea's playing career unfolded during a transformative time in Major League Baseball, witnessing the transition from the deadball era to the more offensive-friendly environment that characterized the late 1930s and early 1940s. Despite the challenges of competing against some of the game's legends, O'Dea carved out a respectable niche for himself, known for his steady play and resilience. With three stolen bases to his credit, while not primarily recognized for speed, he showcased a well-rounded approach to the game that contributed to his teams' successes during his active years. O'Dea's legacy endures as a reflection of the hard-working players of his generation, who contributed to the rich history of baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 832 | 2195 | 262 | 560 | 101 | 20 | 40 | 323 | 3 | 273 | 251 | 0.255 | 0.338 | 0.374 | 0.712 | 483.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | CHC | NL | 76 | 202 | 30 | 52 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 38 | 0 | 26 | 18 | 0.257 | 199.6 |
| 1936 | CHC | NL | 80 | 189 | 36 | 58 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 38 | 0 | 38 | 18 | 0.307 | 592.0 |
| 1937 | CHC | NL | 83 | 219 | 31 | 66 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 32 | 1 | 24 | 26 | 0.301 | 356.1 |
| 1938 | CHC | NL | 86 | 247 | 22 | 65 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 33 | 1 | 12 | 18 | 0.263 | -592.4 |
| 1939 | NY1 | NL | 52 | 97 | 7 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 16 | 0.175 | -497.0 |
| 1940 | NY1 | NL | 48 | 96 | 9 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 16 | 15 | 0.240 | -128.1 |
| 1941 | NY1 | NL | 59 | 89 | 13 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 8 | 20 | 0.213 | -116.3 |
| 1942 | STL | NL | 58 | 192 | 22 | 45 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 32 | 0 | 17 | 23 | 0.234 | -115.7 |
| 1943 | STL | NL | 71 | 203 | 15 | 57 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 19 | 25 | 0.281 | 379.1 |
| 1944 | STL | NL | 85 | 265 | 35 | 66 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 37 | 1 | 37 | 29 | 0.249 | 295.0 |
| 1945 | STL | NL | 100 | 307 | 36 | 78 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 43 | 0 | 50 | 31 | 0.254 | 436.9 |
| 1946 | BSN | NL | 12 | 32 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0.219 | 0.0 |
| 1946 | STL | NL | 22 | 57 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0.123 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0.462 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | WS | SLN | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 |
| 1943 | WS | SLN | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.667 |
| 1942 | WS | SLN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1938 | WS | CHN | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.200 |
| 1935 | WS | CHN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 627 | 0 | 2450 | 336 | 48 | 44 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | CHN | C | 63 | 0 | 213 | 27 | 9 | 3 |
| 1936 | CHN | C | 55 | 0 | 211 | 27 | 5 | 1 |
| 1937 | CHN | C | 64 | 0 | 234 | 29 | 4 | 4 |
| 1938 | CHN | C | 71 | 0 | 294 | 32 | 10 | 3 |
| 1939 | NY1 | C | 30 | 0 | 78 | 11 | 5 | 1 |
| 1940 | NY1 | C | 31 | 0 | 89 | 29 | 1 | 1 |
| 1941 | NY1 | C | 14 | 0 | 62 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 1942 | SLN | C | 49 | 0 | 247 | 37 | 6 | 6 |
| 1943 | SLN | C | 56 | 0 | 237 | 32 | 3 | 6 |
| 1944 | SLN | C | 69 | 0 | 326 | 34 | 2 | 4 |
| 1945 | SLN | C | 91 | 0 | 321 | 50 | 2 | 14 |
| 1946 | BSN | C | 12 | 0 | 39 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1946 | SLN | C | 22 | 0 | 99 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 620 |