Babe Phelps
Born: 4/16/1908 in Odenton, MD, USA
Died: 12/10/1992 in Odenton, MD, USA
MLB Debut: 1931-09-17 | Final Game: 1942-09-27
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 225 lbs
Full name: Ernest Gordon Phelps
Biography
Babe Phelps, born in 1908, was a prominent American baseball player whose career spanned from 1931 to 1942. Renowned for his offensive prowess, Phelps played primarily as a position player, appearing in 726 games over his eleven-year career. He showcased a remarkable batting average of .31, collecting 657 hits, including 54 home runs and driving in 345 runs. His ability to consistently get on base and contribute to his team's offense earned him three All-Star selections, highlighting his status as one of the top players of his era.
Phelps played during a transformative time in baseball history, navigating both the tail end of the Great Depression and the onset of World War II, which impacted player availability and team rosters. His playing style was characterized by a keen eye at the plate and a strong hitting ability, making him a valuable asset in the lineup. Although he is often overshadowed by other legends of the game, Phelps' contributions to baseball during a competitive era solidified his legacy as a skilled hitter and an influential player in the sport's rich history.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.0 | 23.0 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0.304 | 0.304 | 0.478 | 0.782 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 11.0 | 11.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.182 | 0.182 | 0.273 | 0.455 |
| 1932 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0.417 | 0.417 | 0.667 | 1.084 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 726 | 2117 | 239 | 657 | 143 | 19 | 54 | 345 | 9 | 160 | 157 | 0.310 | 0.362 | 0.472 | 0.835 | 5374.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | WSN | AL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 1933 | CHC | NL | 3 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.286 | 0.0 |
| 1934 | CHC | NL | 44 | 70 | 7 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0.286 | 44.8 |
| 1935 | BRO | NL | 47 | 121 | 17 | 44 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 22 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 0.364 | 693.0 |
| 1936 | BRO | NL | 115 | 319 | 36 | 117 | 23 | 2 | 5 | 57 | 1 | 27 | 18 | 0.367 | 1468.5 |
| 1937 | BRO | NL | 121 | 409 | 42 | 128 | 37 | 3 | 7 | 58 | 2 | 25 | 28 | 0.313 | 823.4 |
| 1938 | BRO | NL | 66 | 208 | 33 | 64 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 46 | 2 | 23 | 15 | 0.308 | 515.9 |
| 1939 | BRO | NL | 98 | 323 | 33 | 92 | 21 | 2 | 6 | 42 | 0 | 24 | 24 | 0.285 | 61.4 |
| 1940 | BRO | NL | 118 | 370 | 47 | 109 | 24 | 5 | 13 | 61 | 2 | 30 | 27 | 0.295 | 1045.8 |
| 1941 | BRO | NL | 16 | 30 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.233 | 0.0 |
| 1942 | PIT | NL | 95 | 257 | 21 | 73 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 41 | 2 | 20 | 24 | 0.284 | 721.8 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| C | 592 | 0 | 2251 | 291 | 69 | 43 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | CHN | C | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1934 | CHN | C | 18 | 0 | 44 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 1935 | BRO | C | 34 | 0 | 118 | 16 | 6 | 4 |
| 1936 | BRO | C | 98 | 0 | 334 | 49 | 9 | 6 |
| 1936 | BRO | OF | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1937 | BRO | C | 111 | 0 | 465 | 76 | 16 | 10 |
| 1938 | BRO | C | 55 | 0 | 218 | 25 | 5 | 5 |
| 1939 | BRO | C | 92 | 0 | 361 | 40 | 8 | 9 |
| 1940 | BRO | C | 99 | 0 | 428 | 35 | 11 | 3 |
| 1940 | BRO | 1B | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1941 | BRO | C | 11 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1942 | PIT | C | 72 | 0 | 244 | 40 | 12 | 5 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 593 |
| First Base | 1 |
| Right Field | 1 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 18th | 3.0 | 80 | 0 |