Johnny Temple
Born: 8/8/1927 in Lexington, NC, USA
Died: 1/9/1994 in White Rock, SC, USA
MLB Debut: 1952-04-15 | Final Game: 1964-07-14
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: John Ellis Temple
Biography
Johnny Temple was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1952 to 1964. Born in 1927, Temple made a significant impact in the league, particularly noted for his consistent offensive production and defensive versatility. Over the course of 1,420 games, he amassed 1,484 hits and maintained a commendable batting average of .284. This earned him six All-Star selections, underscoring his status as one of the top players of his era. Temple was known for his keen batting eye and speed on the base paths, as evidenced by his 140 stolen bases, which made him a constant threat to opposing pitchers.
Throughout his career, Temple played primarily as a second baseman and was celebrated for his ability to contribute both offensively and defensively. He finished his career with 22 home runs and 395 RBIs, showcasing his capability to drive in runs while also being a reliable contact hitter. Temple's playing style reflected the evolving nature of baseball during the 1950s, an era marked by the transition from the deadball era to a more offensively driven game. His contributions to the teams he played for remain a testament to his skill and dedication to the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1420 | 5218 | 720 | 1484 | 208 | 36 | 22 | 395 | 140 | 648 | 338 | 0.284 | 0.363 | 0.351 | 0.713 | 1748.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | CIN | NL | 30 | 97 | 8 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0.196 | -478.0 |
| 1953 | CIN | NL | 63 | 110 | 14 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 0.264 | -245.9 |
| 1954 | CIN | NL | 146 | 505 | 60 | 155 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 44 | 21 | 62 | 24 | 0.307 | 641.1 |
| 1955 | CIN | NL | 150 | 588 | 94 | 165 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 50 | 19 | 80 | 32 | 0.281 | -301.3 |
| 1956 | CIN | NL | 154 | 632 | 88 | 180 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 41 | 14 | 58 | 40 | 0.285 | -794.3 |
| 1957 | CIN | NL | 145 | 557 | 85 | 158 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 19 | 94 | 34 | 0.284 | 694.5 |
| 1958 | CIN | NL | 141 | 542 | 82 | 166 | 31 | 6 | 3 | 47 | 15 | 91 | 41 | 0.306 | 1754.8 |
| 1959 | CIN | NL | 149 | 598 | 102 | 186 | 35 | 6 | 8 | 67 | 14 | 72 | 40 | 0.311 | 1671.8 |
| 1960 | CLE | AL | 98 | 381 | 50 | 102 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 11 | 32 | 20 | 0.268 | -537.9 |
| 1961 | CLE | AL | 129 | 518 | 73 | 143 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 9 | 61 | 36 | 0.276 | -232.9 |
| 1962 | BAL | AL | 78 | 270 | 28 | 71 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 36 | 22 | 0.263 | -235.9 |
| 1962 | HOU | NL | 31 | 95 | 14 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 0.263 | -235.9 |
| 1963 | HOU | NL | 100 | 322 | 22 | 85 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 41 | 24 | 0.264 | 37.1 |
| 1964 | CIN | NL | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2B | 1312 | 1227 | 3172 | 3329 | 172 | 829 |
| 3B | 47 | 43 | 40 | 73 | 9 | 4 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | CIN | 2B | 22 | 0 | 63 | 57 | 2 | 18 |
| 1953 | CIN | 2B | 44 | 0 | 71 | 90 | 6 | 20 |
| 1954 | CIN | 2B | 144 | 140 | 428 | 374 | 22 | 117 |
| 1955 | CIN | 2B | 149 | 149 | 408 | 410 | 24 | 119 |
| 1955 | CIN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1956 | CIN | 2B | 154 | 152 | 389 | 432 | 16 | 89 |
| 1956 | CIN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1957 | CIN | 2B | 145 | 141 | 391 | 372 | 20 | 81 |
| 1958 | CIN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1958 | CIN | 2B | 141 | 139 | 395 | 353 | 16 | 90 |
| 1959 | CIN | 2B | 149 | 149 | 322 | 390 | 19 | 96 |
| 1960 | CLE | 2B | 77 | 76 | 169 | 164 | 9 | 55 |
| 1960 | CLE | 3B | 17 | 16 | 13 | 27 | 1 | 3 |
| 1961 | CLE | 2B | 129 | 129 | 239 | 317 | 18 | 79 |
| 1962 | BAL | 2B | 71 | 71 | 141 | 169 | 6 | 41 |
| 1962 | HOU | 2B | 26 | 24 | 37 | 59 | 6 | 6 |
| 1962 | HOU | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963 | HOU | 2B | 61 | 57 | 119 | 142 | 8 | 18 |
| 1963 | HOU | 3B | 29 | 27 | 27 | 46 | 8 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1 |
| Second Base | 1309 |
| Third Base | 47 |
| Shortstop | 1 |
| Right Field | 1 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 16th | 8.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1958 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 14th | 26.0 | 336 | 0 |