Johnny Rigney
Born: 10/28/1914 in Oak Park, IL, USA
Died: 10/21/1984 in Lombard, IL, USA
MLB Debut: 1937-04-21 | Final Game: 1947-07-04
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: John Dungan Rigney
Biography
Johnny Rigney was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1937 until 1947. Born in 1914, Rigney made a significant impact on the mound during an era that saw the transition from the more traditional styles of play to a game that embraced greater offensive strategies. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 63 wins and 64 losses, with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.59, showcasing his ability to compete effectively in a challenging league.
Rigney was known for his durability and skill, striking out a total of 605 batters during his time in the majors. Although he recorded only five saves, his contributions as a starting pitcher were pivotal for the teams he played for. His career spanned the late 1930s to the mid-1940s, a period marked by World War II when many players served in the military, creating unique opportunities and challenges in the game. Rigney's performances and adaptability during this dynamic time in baseball history solidified his place in the annals of the sport.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63 | 64 | 197 | 132 | 66 | 10 | 5 | 1186.3 | 1101 | 473 | 90 | 450 | 605 | 3.59 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | CHW | AL | 2 | 5 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 90.7 | 107 | 50 | 46 | 38 | 4.96 | - |
| 1938 | CHW | AL | 9 | 9 | 38 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 167.0 | 164 | 66 | 72 | 84 | 3.56 | - |
| 1939 | CHW | AL | 15 | 8 | 35 | 29 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 218.7 | 208 | 90 | 84 | 119 | 3.70 | - |
| 1940 | CHW | AL | 14 | 18 | 39 | 33 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 280.7 | 240 | 97 | 90 | 141 | 3.11 | - |
| 1941 | CHW | AL | 13 | 13 | 30 | 29 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 237.0 | 224 | 101 | 92 | 119 | 3.84 | - |
| 1942 | CHW | AL | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 59.0 | 40 | 21 | 16 | 34 | 3.20 | - |
| 1946 | CHW | AL | 5 | 5 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 82.7 | 76 | 37 | 35 | 51 | 4.03 | - |
| 1947 | CHW | AL | 2 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.7 | 42 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 1.95 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 198 | 401 | 25 | 71 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 17 | 113 | 0.177 | 0.211 | 0.209 | 0.420 | -2007.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | CHW | AL | 22 | 30 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 0.167 | 0.0 |
| 1938 | CHW | AL | 38 | 55 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 0.145 | -543.5 |
| 1939 | CHW | AL | 35 | 80 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 0.200 | -523.6 |
| 1940 | CHW | AL | 40 | 93 | 5 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 28 | 0.215 | -513.5 |
| 1941 | CHW | AL | 30 | 84 | 8 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 27 | 0.202 | -427.1 |
| 1942 | CHW | AL | 7 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.053 | 0.0 |
| 1946 | CHW | AL | 15 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.154 | 0.0 |
| 1947 | CHW | AL | 11 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 197 | 0 | 32 | 202 | 11 | 12 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | CHA | P | 22 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| 1938 | CHA | P | 38 | 0 | 4 | 32 | 2 | 4 |
| 1939 | CHA | P | 35 | 0 | 3 | 30 | 3 | 1 |
| 1940 | CHA | P | 39 | 0 | 4 | 46 | 0 | 2 |
| 1941 | CHA | P | 30 | 0 | 13 | 42 | 3 | 2 |
| 1942 | CHA | P | 7 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| 1946 | CHA | P | 15 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 1947 | CHA | P | 11 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 197 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of St. Thomas | St. Paul | MN | 1933, 1934, 1935 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 20th | 9.0 | 336 | 0 |