Pete Runnels
Born: 1/28/1928 in Lufkin, TX, USA
Died: 5/20/1991 in Pasadena, TX, USA
MLB Debut: 1951-07-01 | Final Game: 1964-05-14
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: James Edward Runnels
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Biography
Pete Runnels was a distinguished American baseball player born in 1928, who had a notable career spanning from 1951 to 1964. Primarily recognized for his versatility as a position player, Runnels played in a total of 1,799 games, where he amassed 1,854 hits and achieved a commendable batting average of .291. His offensive contributions included 49 home runs and 630 RBIs, highlighting his ability to drive in runs during pivotal moments. Additionally, he displayed speed on the bases, recording 37 stolen bases throughout his career.
Runnels was selected as an All-Star five times, underscoring his status as one of the premier players of his era. He played during a transformative period in baseball, marked by the post-war boom and the evolving dynamics of the game. Runnelsโ consistent performance and professional demeanor on the field made him a respected figure among peers and fans alike. His legacy remains significant in the annals of Major League Baseball, as he exemplified the skill and dedication that defined the sport during the early 1960s.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1799 | 6373 | 876 | 1854 | 282 | 64 | 49 | 630 | 37 | 844 | 627 | 0.291 | 0.375 | 0.378 | 0.753 | 9384.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | WSN | AL | 78 | 273 | 31 | 76 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 31 | 24 | 0.278 | -153.8 |
| 1952 | WSN | AL | 152 | 555 | 70 | 158 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 64 | 0 | 72 | 55 | 0.285 | 345.6 |
| 1953 | WSN | AL | 137 | 486 | 64 | 125 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 50 | 3 | 64 | 36 | 0.257 | -695.9 |
| 1954 | WSN | AL | 139 | 488 | 75 | 131 | 17 | 15 | 3 | 56 | 2 | 78 | 60 | 0.268 | 542.5 |
| 1955 | WSN | AL | 134 | 503 | 66 | 143 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 49 | 3 | 55 | 51 | 0.284 | -266.1 |
| 1956 | WSN | AL | 147 | 578 | 72 | 179 | 29 | 9 | 8 | 76 | 5 | 58 | 64 | 0.310 | 1274.2 |
| 1957 | WSN | AL | 134 | 473 | 53 | 109 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 35 | 2 | 55 | 51 | 0.230 | -1316.7 |
| 1958 | BOS | AL | 147 | 568 | 103 | 183 | 32 | 5 | 8 | 59 | 1 | 87 | 49 | 0.322 | 2610.7 |
| 1959 | BOS | AL | 147 | 560 | 95 | 176 | 33 | 6 | 6 | 57 | 6 | 95 | 48 | 0.314 | 2460.3 |
| 1960 | BOS | AL | 143 | 528 | 80 | 169 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 35 | 5 | 71 | 51 | 0.320 | 1574.6 |
| 1961 | BOS | AL | 143 | 360 | 49 | 114 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 38 | 5 | 46 | 32 | 0.317 | 992.6 |
| 1962 | BOS | AL | 152 | 562 | 80 | 183 | 33 | 5 | 10 | 60 | 3 | 79 | 57 | 0.326 | 2548.8 |
| 1963 | HOU | NL | 124 | 388 | 35 | 98 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 2 | 45 | 42 | 0.253 | -365.4 |
| 1964 | HOU | NL | 22 | 51 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0.196 | -167.3 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 644 | 542 | 4876 | 346 | 30 | 492 |
| 2B | 642 | 607 | 1583 | 1675 | 67 | 500 |
| 3B | 49 | 49 | 46 | 115 | 6 | 13 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 463 | 105 | 848 | 1231 | 91 | 297 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | WS1 | SS | 73 | 0 | 159 | 176 | 18 | 41 |
| 1952 | WS1 | 2B | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| 1952 | WS1 | SS | 147 | 0 | 314 | 406 | 25 | 97 |
| 1953 | WS1 | 2B | 11 | 0 | 24 | 27 | 3 | 7 |
| 1953 | WS1 | SS | 121 | 0 | 195 | 324 | 23 | 87 |
| 1954 | WS1 | 2B | 27 | 27 | 90 | 59 | 5 | 23 |
| 1954 | WS1 | SS | 107 | 104 | 174 | 313 | 24 | 69 |
| 1954 | WS1 | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | WS1 | 2B | 132 | 129 | 349 | 338 | 17 | 107 |
| 1955 | WS1 | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | WS1 | 1B | 81 | 79 | 693 | 49 | 4 | 73 |
| 1956 | WS1 | 2B | 69 | 65 | 179 | 177 | 10 | 56 |
| 1956 | WS1 | SS | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 1957 | WS1 | 1B | 72 | 70 | 616 | 44 | 3 | 59 |
| 1957 | WS1 | 2B | 23 | 17 | 52 | 43 | 2 | 13 |
| 1957 | WS1 | 3B | 32 | 32 | 31 | 73 | 3 | 12 |
| 1958 | BOS | 1B | 42 | 40 | 364 | 15 | 2 | 41 |
| 1958 | BOS | 2B | 106 | 106 | 267 | 320 | 9 | 88 |
| 1959 | BOS | 1B | 44 | 42 | 387 | 28 | 0 | 48 |
| 1959 | BOS | 2B | 101 | 101 | 273 | 272 | 10 | 82 |
| 1959 | BOS | SS | 9 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 1960 | BOS | 1B | 57 | 7 | 142 | 11 | 1 | 15 |
| 1960 | BOS | 2B | 129 | 127 | 274 | 360 | 9 | 99 |
| 1960 | BOS | 3B | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 1961 | BOS | 1B | 113 | 75 | 701 | 50 | 4 | 92 |
| 1961 | BOS | 2B | 7 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 5 |
| 1961 | BOS | 3B | 11 | 11 | 8 | 29 | 2 | 0 |
| 1961 | BOS | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | BOS | 1B | 151 | 151 | 1309 | 104 | 10 | 125 |
| 1963 | HOU | 1B | 70 | 65 | 526 | 40 | 4 | 31 |
| 1963 | HOU | 2B | 36 | 33 | 64 | 64 | 2 | 18 |
| 1963 | HOU | 3B | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 1964 | HOU | 1B | 14 | 13 | 138 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 644 |
| Second Base | 641 |
| Third Base | 49 |
| Shortstop | 463 |
| Left Field | 1 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 9.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1960 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 17th | 18.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1959 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 26th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1958 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 10th | 29.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1956 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 17th | 24.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1952 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 8.0 | 336 | 0 |