Ben Sankey
Born: 9/2/1907 in Nauvoo, AL, USA
Died: 10/14/2001 in Washington, GA, USA
MLB Debut: 1929-10-05 | Final Game: 1931-09-27
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 155 lbs
Full name: Benjamin Turner Sankey
Biography
Ben Sankey was a professional baseball player born in 1907, whose career spanned from 1929 to 1931. Primarily serving as a position player, he played a total of 72 games in Major League Baseball during his tenure. Sankey recorded 36 hits, contributing to a batting average of .213. Although he did not hit any home runs, he managed to drive in 14 runs throughout his career, showcasing his ability to contribute to his team's offense despite the challenges of competing during the late 1920s and early 1930s, a time when the game was beginning to transition from the deadball era to a more offensive-minded approach.
Sankey's playing style reflected the grit and determination of the era, as he took to the field with a focus on contact hitting and situational awareness. While his personal statistics may not have placed him among the most celebrated players of his time, he was part of a larger narrative in baseball history that included the evolution of player roles and the strategic complexities of the game. After his final game on September 27, 1931, Sankey's contributions remained a part of the fabric of baseball history, even as the sport continued to evolve rapidly in the decades that followed.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.400 | 0.400 | 0.600 | 1.000 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.400 | 0.400 | 0.600 | 1.000 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 169 | 21 | 36 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 16 | 14 | 0.213 | 0.281 | 0.284 | 0.565 | -369.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | PIT | NL | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.143 | 0.0 |
| 1930 | PIT | NL | 13 | 30 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.167 | 0.0 |
| 1931 | PIT | NL | 57 | 132 | 14 | 30 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 0.227 | -369.1 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 6 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 1 |
| 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 57 | 0 | 85 | 148 | 22 | 27 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | PIT | SS | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 1930 | PIT | 2B | 4 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| 1930 | PIT | SS | 6 | 0 | 10 | 17 | 4 | 2 |
| 1931 | PIT | 2B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1931 | PIT | 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1931 | PIT | SS | 49 | 0 | 72 | 124 | 17 | 24 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 6 |
| Third Base | 2 |
| Shortstop | 57 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University | Auburn | AL | 1926, 1927, 1928 |