Vern Olsen
Born: 3/16/1918 in Hillsboro, OR, USA
Died: 7/13/1989 in Maywood, IL, USA
MLB Debut: 1939-09-08 | Final Game: 1946-09-13
Bats: R | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: Vern Jarl Olsen
Biography
Vern Olsen was a professional baseball pitcher who played from 1939 to 1946, showcasing his talents in an era characterized by the transition from the pre-war years to the post-war boom in Major League Baseball. Throughout his career, he recorded a win-loss record of 30-26 and maintained an earned run average (ERA) of 3.4, reflecting his effectiveness on the mound during a competitive period in the sport. His career was marked by a total of 201 strikeouts and 2 saves, demonstrating his ability to both start games and contribute in high-pressure situations.
Olsen's playing style was defined by a combination of resilience and skill, which allowed him to navigate the challenges faced by pitchers during his time. As baseball evolved in the post-World War II landscape, he contributed to the game's rich history, leaving a legacy that is remembered by enthusiasts of the sport. Although his career was relatively brief compared to some of his contemporaries, Olsen's performance encapsulated the determination and spirit of players who competed in the formative years of modern baseball.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.500 | .000 | 0.500 |
Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.59 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1943 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.500 | .000 | 0.500 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Pitching
| Season | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1943 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.46 |
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 26 | 112 | 60 | 23 | 7 | 2 | 516.0 | 547 | 195 | 18 | 192 | 201 | 3.40 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | CHC | NL | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.7 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0.00 | - |
| 1940 | CHC | NL | 13 | 9 | 34 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 172.7 | 172 | 57 | 62 | 71 | 2.97 | - |
| 1941 | CHC | NL | 10 | 8 | 37 | 23 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 185.7 | 202 | 65 | 59 | 73 | 3.15 | - |
| 1942 | CHC | NL | 6 | 9 | 32 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 140.3 | 161 | 70 | 55 | 46 | 4.49 | - |
| 1946 | CHC | NL | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.7 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 2.79 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 113 | 169 | 16 | 39 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 11 | 22 | 0.231 | 0.278 | 0.284 | 0.562 | -597.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | CHC | NL | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1940 | CHC | NL | 35 | 57 | 4 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 0.263 | -169.3 |
| 1941 | CHC | NL | 37 | 63 | 7 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0.238 | -207.7 |
| 1942 | CHC | NL | 32 | 48 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0.188 | -220.3 |
| 1946 | CHC | NL | 5 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 112 | 0 | 26 | 141 | 2 | 4 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | CHN | P | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940 | CHN | P | 34 | 0 | 9 | 53 | 0 | 1 |
| 1941 | CHN | P | 37 | 0 | 9 | 48 | 2 | 2 |
| 1942 | CHN | P | 32 | 0 | 8 | 37 | 0 | 1 |
| 1946 | CHN | P | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 112 |