Johnny Rizzo
Born: 7/30/1912 in Houston, TX, USA
Died: 12/4/1977 in Houston, TX, USA
MLB Debut: 1938-04-19 | Final Game: 1942-09-25
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: John Costa Rizzo
Biography
Johnny Rizzo was an American professional baseball player born in 1912, who made a notable impact in Major League Baseball between 1938 and 1942. Primarily a position player, Rizzo played in a total of 557 games throughout his career, where he showcased his offensive skills and versatility on the field. He finished his career with 497 hits, including 61 home runs and 289 RBIs, while maintaining a respectable batting average of .27. Rizzo also demonstrated speed on the bases, accumulating 7 stolen bases during his time in the league.
Rizzo's career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, as the sport was navigating the challenges posed by the Great Depression and the onset of World War II. His contributions as a reliable hitter and an impactful presence on the field helped solidify his place in the game. Although his career was relatively short, Rizzo remains a part of baseball history, remembered for his performance and the passion he brought to the diamond.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 557 | 1842 | 268 | 497 | 90 | 16 | 61 | 289 | 7 | 200 | 197 | 0.270 | 0.345 | 0.435 | 0.781 | 2926.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | PIT | NL | 143 | 555 | 97 | 167 | 31 | 9 | 23 | 111 | 1 | 54 | 61 | 0.301 | 2111.2 |
| 1939 | PIT | NL | 94 | 330 | 49 | 86 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 55 | 0 | 42 | 27 | 0.261 | 131.2 |
| 1940 | CIN | NL | 31 | 110 | 17 | 31 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 1 | 14 | 14 | 0.282 | 229.4 |
| 1940 | PHI | NL | 103 | 367 | 53 | 107 | 12 | 2 | 20 | 53 | 2 | 37 | 31 | 0.292 | 229.4 |
| 1940 | PIT | NL | 9 | 28 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0.179 | 229.4 |
| 1941 | PHI | NL | 99 | 235 | 20 | 51 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 1 | 24 | 34 | 0.217 | -568.6 |
| 1942 | BRO | NL | 78 | 217 | 31 | 50 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 27 | 2 | 24 | 25 | 0.230 | -227.8 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 9 | 0 | 7 | 28 | 5 | 2 |
| OF | 486 | 0 | 992 | 33 | 38 | 10 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | PIT | OF | 140 | 0 | 284 | 5 | 15 | 1 |
| 1939 | PIT | OF | 86 | 0 | 186 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 1940 | CIN | OF | 30 | 0 | 68 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| 1940 | PHI | 3B | 7 | 0 | 6 | 26 | 3 | 2 |
| 1940 | PHI | OF | 91 | 0 | 207 | 6 | 7 | 4 |
| 1940 | PIT | OF | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1941 | PHI | 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1941 | PHI | OF | 62 | 0 | 114 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| 1942 | BRO | OF | 70 | 0 | 124 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Third Base | 10 |
| Left Field | 330 |
| Center Field | 33 |
| Right Field | 129 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 29th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1938 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 6th | 96.0 | 336 | 0 |