Mickey Owen
Born: 4/4/1916 in Nixa, MO, USA
Died: 7/13/2005 in Mount Vernon, MO, USA
MLB Debut: 1937-05-02 | Final Game: 1954-09-11
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Arnold Malcolm Owen
Biography
Mickey Owen was a notable American professional baseball player born in 1916, who played primarily as a catcher and utility player from 1937 until his retirement in 1954. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 1,209 games, accumulating 929 hits, 14 home runs, and 378 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .255. Owen's versatility on the field was evident not only in his performance as a catcher but also in his ability to contribute in various positions, amassing 36 stolen bases throughout his career.
Owen was a four-time All-Star, recognized for his skills behind the plate and his ability to handle pitching staffs effectively during a time when baseball was transitioning into a more offensive-oriented game. His career unfolded in the years leading up to and following World War II, a period marked by significant changes in baseball, including the integration of the sport and the emergence of new playing styles. Despite not being one of the game's biggest sluggers, Owen's consistent performance and defensive capabilities established him as a respected figure in the league during his era. His legacy lives on as a testament to the hardworking players who contributed to the evolving landscape of Major League Baseball.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.400 | 0.500 | 0.900 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.400 | 0.500 | 0.900 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1209 | 3649 | 338 | 929 | 163 | 21 | 14 | 378 | 36 | 326 | 181 | 0.255 | 0.318 | 0.322 | 0.640 | -6773.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | STL | NL | 80 | 234 | 17 | 54 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 15 | 13 | 0.231 | -1185.7 |
| 1938 | STL | NL | 122 | 397 | 45 | 106 | 25 | 2 | 4 | 36 | 2 | 32 | 14 | 0.267 | -507.6 |
| 1939 | STL | NL | 131 | 344 | 32 | 89 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 35 | 6 | 43 | 28 | 0.259 | -364.7 |
| 1940 | STL | NL | 117 | 307 | 27 | 81 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 4 | 34 | 13 | 0.264 | -378.4 |
| 1941 | BRO | NL | 128 | 386 | 32 | 89 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 44 | 1 | 34 | 14 | 0.231 | -1318.0 |
| 1942 | BRO | NL | 133 | 421 | 53 | 109 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 10 | 44 | 17 | 0.259 | -302.0 |
| 1943 | BRO | NL | 106 | 365 | 31 | 95 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 4 | 25 | 15 | 0.260 | -559.2 |
| 1944 | BRO | NL | 130 | 461 | 43 | 126 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 42 | 4 | 36 | 17 | 0.273 | -275.5 |
| 1945 | BRO | NL | 24 | 84 | 5 | 24 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0.286 | 163.1 |
| 1949 | CHC | NL | 62 | 198 | 15 | 54 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 0.273 | -214.2 |
| 1950 | CHC | NL | 86 | 259 | 22 | 63 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 2 | 13 | 16 | 0.243 | -1082.1 |
| 1951 | CHC | NL | 58 | 125 | 10 | 23 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 19 | 13 | 0.184 | -581.4 |
| 1954 | BOS | AL | 32 | 68 | 6 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0.235 | -168.3 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0.167 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | WS | BRO | 5 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0.167 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| C | 1175 | 16 | 4527 | 581 | 96 | 93 |
| SS | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | SLN | C | 78 | 0 | 287 | 49 | 9 | 6 |
| 1938 | SLN | C | 116 | 0 | 463 | 67 | 11 | 8 |
| 1939 | SLN | C | 126 | 0 | 452 | 52 | 9 | 8 |
| 1940 | SLN | C | 113 | 0 | 378 | 56 | 9 | 8 |
| 1941 | BRO | C | 128 | 0 | 530 | 64 | 3 | 7 |
| 1942 | BRO | C | 133 | 0 | 595 | 66 | 9 | 12 |
| 1943 | BRO | C | 100 | 0 | 414 | 47 | 6 | 11 |
| 1943 | BRO | 3B | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 1943 | BRO | SS | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1944 | BRO | C | 125 | 0 | 506 | 57 | 12 | 8 |
| 1944 | BRO | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1945 | BRO | C | 24 | 0 | 92 | 13 | 4 | 2 |
| 1949 | CHN | C | 59 | 0 | 219 | 35 | 8 | 5 |
| 1950 | CHN | C | 86 | 0 | 318 | 39 | 8 | 8 |
| 1951 | CHN | C | 57 | 0 | 188 | 28 | 7 | 6 |
| 1954 | BOS | C | 30 | 16 | 85 | 8 | 1 | 4 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1175 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 3 |
| Shortstop | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1942 | TSN All-Star | C |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 4th | 103.0 | 336 | 0 |