Jim Tabor
Born: 11/5/1916 in New Hope, AL, USA
Died: 8/22/1953 in Sacramento, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1938-08-02 | Final Game: 1947-09-17
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: James Reubin Tabor
Biography
Jim Tabor, born in 1916, was a prominent American professional baseball player known for his versatility on the field. Playing primarily as a position player from 1938 until his retirement in 1947, Tabor appeared in 1,005 games throughout his career. He distinguished himself with a solid batting average of .270, accumulating 1,021 hits, 104 home runs, and 598 RBIs. His ability to contribute both at the plate and on the bases was evident, as he also recorded 69 stolen bases during his time in Major League Baseball.
Tabor's era was marked by significant changes in the game, including the transition from the deadball era to a more offense-oriented approach. His offensive prowess and reliable performance made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for, notably the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Athletics. Tabor's legacy includes not only his notable statistics but also his role in shaping the game during a pivotal time in baseball history, as the sport began to embrace a more dynamic style of play in the post-war years.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1005 | 3788 | 473 | 1021 | 191 | 29 | 104 | 598 | 69 | 286 | 377 | 0.270 | 0.322 | 0.418 | 0.739 | 3059.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | BOS | AL | 19 | 57 | 8 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0.316 | 67.8 |
| 1939 | BOS | AL | 149 | 577 | 76 | 167 | 33 | 8 | 14 | 95 | 16 | 40 | 54 | 0.289 | 525.4 |
| 1940 | BOS | AL | 120 | 459 | 73 | 131 | 28 | 6 | 21 | 81 | 14 | 42 | 58 | 0.285 | 1464.0 |
| 1941 | BOS | AL | 126 | 498 | 65 | 139 | 29 | 3 | 16 | 101 | 17 | 36 | 48 | 0.279 | 713.2 |
| 1942 | BOS | AL | 139 | 508 | 56 | 128 | 18 | 2 | 12 | 75 | 6 | 37 | 47 | 0.252 | -181.3 |
| 1943 | BOS | AL | 137 | 537 | 57 | 130 | 26 | 3 | 13 | 85 | 7 | 43 | 54 | 0.242 | -51.7 |
| 1944 | BOS | AL | 116 | 438 | 58 | 125 | 25 | 3 | 13 | 72 | 4 | 31 | 38 | 0.285 | 1003.6 |
| 1946 | PHI | NL | 124 | 463 | 53 | 124 | 15 | 2 | 10 | 50 | 3 | 36 | 51 | 0.268 | 43.5 |
| 1947 | PHI | NL | 75 | 251 | 27 | 59 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 31 | 2 | 20 | 21 | 0.235 | -525.3 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 980 | 0 | 1077 | 1979 | 220 | 178 |
| OF | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | BOS | 3B | 11 | 0 | 15 | 25 | 5 | 2 |
| 1938 | BOS | SS | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| 1939 | BOS | 3B | 148 | 0 | 144 | 338 | 40 | 32 |
| 1940 | BOS | 3B | 120 | 0 | 143 | 267 | 33 | 25 |
| 1941 | BOS | 3B | 125 | 0 | 123 | 277 | 30 | 24 |
| 1942 | BOS | 3B | 138 | 0 | 168 | 236 | 33 | 24 |
| 1943 | BOS | 3B | 133 | 0 | 135 | 261 | 26 | 32 |
| 1943 | BOS | OF | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1944 | BOS | 3B | 114 | 0 | 125 | 258 | 20 | 14 |
| 1946 | PHI | 3B | 124 | 0 | 156 | 221 | 18 | 17 |
| 1947 | PHI | 3B | 67 | 0 | 68 | 96 | 15 | 8 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Third Base | 980 |
| Shortstop | 2 |
| Left Field | 2 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa | AL | 1935, 1936 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 20th | 10.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 33th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |