Mule Shirley
Born: 5/24/1901 in Snow Hill, NC, USA
Died: 8/3/1955 in Goldsboro, NC, USA
MLB Debut: 1924-05-06 | Final Game: 1925-07-12
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Ernest Raeford Shirley
Biography
Mule Shirley was a professional baseball player born in 1901, who played as a position player in Major League Baseball from 1924 to 1925. Despite a brief career spanning just 44 games, Shirley made his mark during an era characterized by the transition from the deadball era to a more offensively productive time in baseball history. He displayed a determined playing style, contributing significantly to his teams with 21 hits and 18 RBIs, despite finishing his career with a batting average of .21 and no home runs.
Shirley's time in the majors was relatively short, yet he was part of a generation of players navigating the evolving landscape of baseball in the 1920s. While he did not achieve the statistical accolades of some of his contemporaries, his contributions to the game during this formative period remain a part of baseball's rich tapestry. His experiences in the sport illustrate the challenges and dynamics faced by players of his time, and he is remembered for his dedication to the game.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 100 | 14 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 0.210 | 0.240 | 0.280 | 0.520 | -322.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | WSN | AL | 30 | 77 | 12 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0.234 | -322.2 |
| 1925 | WSN | AL | 14 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0.130 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | WS | WS1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 34 | 0 | 225 | 17 | 3 | 21 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | WS1 | 1B | 25 | 0 | 176 | 14 | 3 | 17 |
| 1925 | WS1 | 1B | 9 | 0 | 49 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 34 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | NC | 1921, 1922, 1923 |