Don Padgett
Born: 12/5/1911 in Caroleen, NC, USA
Died: 12/2/1980 in High Point, NC, USA
MLB Debut: 1937-04-23 | Final Game: 1948-09-12
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Don Wilson Padgett
Biography
Don Padgett was a professional baseball player born in 1911, who enjoyed a notable career in Major League Baseball from 1937 until his retirement in 1948. Primarily a position player, Padgett showcased his talents over 699 games, where he established himself as a reliable hitter with a career batting average of .288. His offensive contributions included 573 hits and 37 home runs, along with 338 runs batted in, demonstrating his ability to drive in runs during crucial moments of the game.
Padgett's playing style was characterized by his solid contact hitting and an ability to get on base, which was particularly valuable during the era he played in. As a member of teams such as the St. Louis Browns and the New York Giants, he contributed to the competitive landscape of baseball in the late 1930s and 1940s, a time marked by the transition towards more powerful hitting in the post-war years. While his career was not without challenges, Padgett's contributions to his teams and the game of baseball as a whole remain a significant part of his legacy.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 699 | 1991 | 247 | 573 | 111 | 16 | 37 | 338 | 6 | 141 | 130 | 0.288 | 0.336 | 0.415 | 0.752 | 1034.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | STL | NL | 123 | 446 | 62 | 140 | 22 | 6 | 10 | 74 | 4 | 30 | 43 | 0.314 | 787.2 |
| 1938 | STL | NL | 110 | 388 | 59 | 105 | 26 | 5 | 8 | 65 | 0 | 18 | 28 | 0.271 | -294.6 |
| 1939 | STL | NL | 92 | 233 | 38 | 93 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 53 | 1 | 18 | 11 | 0.399 | 1553.9 |
| 1940 | STL | NL | 93 | 240 | 24 | 58 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 41 | 1 | 26 | 14 | 0.242 | -108.0 |
| 1941 | STL | NL | 107 | 324 | 39 | 80 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 44 | 0 | 21 | 16 | 0.247 | -651.0 |
| 1946 | BRO | NL | 19 | 30 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0.167 | 0.0 |
| 1946 | BSN | NL | 44 | 98 | 6 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0.255 | 0.0 |
| 1947 | PHI | NL | 75 | 158 | 14 | 50 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 0.316 | 234.1 |
| 1948 | PHI | NL | 36 | 74 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0.230 | -349.9 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 26 | 0 | 178 | 12 | 1 | 14 |
| C | 251 | 0 | 835 | 92 | 37 | 13 |
| OF | 242 | 0 | 480 | 24 | 22 | 8 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | SLN | OF | 109 | 0 | 225 | 9 | 11 | 5 |
| 1938 | SLN | C | 6 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1938 | SLN | 1B | 16 | 0 | 138 | 11 | 0 | 12 |
| 1938 | SLN | OF | 71 | 0 | 140 | 14 | 6 | 3 |
| 1939 | SLN | C | 61 | 0 | 249 | 18 | 6 | 5 |
| 1939 | SLN | 1B | 6 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1940 | SLN | C | 72 | 0 | 243 | 34 | 11 | 5 |
| 1940 | SLN | 1B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1941 | SLN | C | 18 | 0 | 62 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| 1941 | SLN | 1B | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1941 | SLN | OF | 62 | 0 | 115 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 1946 | BRO | C | 10 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1946 | BSN | C | 26 | 0 | 65 | 12 | 5 | 1 |
| 1947 | PHI | C | 39 | 0 | 111 | 16 | 5 | 1 |
| 1948 | PHI | C | 19 | 0 | 64 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 250 |
| First Base | 26 |
| Left Field | 67 |
| Center Field | 11 |
| Right Field | 164 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lenoir-Rhyne College | Hickory | NC | 1934 |