Hal Trosky
Born: 11/11/1912 in Norway, IA, USA
Died: 6/18/1979 in Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
MLB Debut: 1933-09-11 | Final Game: 1946-09-27
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 207 lbs
Full name: Harold Arthur Trosky
Biography
Hal Trosky was a prominent American baseball player, born in 1912, who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1933 to 1946. Known for his powerful left-handed bat and solid defensive skills, Trosky played primarily as a first baseman and outfielder. Over his 14-year career, he appeared in 1,347 games and recorded a .302 batting average, showcasing his ability to consistently hit for both average and power. With 1,561 hits, 228 home runs, and 1,012 RBIs, he established himself as a key offensive contributor during his tenure in the league, particularly noted for his run production in the pre-World War II era.
Trosky's playing style was characterized by his keen eye at the plate and his capability to drive in runs, earning him a reputation as one of the more formidable sluggers of his time. His career coincided with a transformative period in baseball, as the sport began to recover from the Great Depression and navigate the challenges of World War II. Trosky's contributions to the game extended beyond his statistics; he was part of a generation of players who helped maintain the popularity of baseball in America. Despite facing competition from emerging talents, he remained a consistent performer and a respected figure among his peers until his retirement in 1946.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1347 | 5161 | 835 | 1561 | 331 | 58 | 228 | 1012 | 28 | 545 | 440 | 0.302 | 0.371 | 0.522 | 0.892 | 22726.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | CLE | AL | 11 | 44 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 0.295 | 0.0 |
| 1934 | CLE | AL | 154 | 625 | 117 | 206 | 45 | 9 | 35 | 142 | 2 | 58 | 49 | 0.330 | 4219.9 |
| 1935 | CLE | AL | 154 | 632 | 84 | 171 | 33 | 7 | 26 | 113 | 1 | 46 | 60 | 0.271 | 703.5 |
| 1936 | CLE | AL | 151 | 629 | 124 | 216 | 45 | 9 | 42 | 162 | 6 | 36 | 58 | 0.343 | 4460.1 |
| 1937 | CLE | AL | 153 | 601 | 104 | 179 | 36 | 9 | 32 | 128 | 3 | 65 | 60 | 0.298 | 2797.0 |
| 1938 | CLE | AL | 150 | 554 | 106 | 185 | 40 | 9 | 19 | 110 | 5 | 67 | 40 | 0.334 | 3281.8 |
| 1939 | CLE | AL | 122 | 448 | 89 | 150 | 31 | 4 | 25 | 104 | 2 | 52 | 28 | 0.335 | 3052.4 |
| 1940 | CLE | AL | 140 | 522 | 85 | 154 | 39 | 4 | 25 | 93 | 1 | 79 | 45 | 0.295 | 2965.0 |
| 1941 | CLE | AL | 89 | 310 | 43 | 91 | 17 | 0 | 11 | 51 | 1 | 44 | 21 | 0.294 | 1126.6 |
| 1944 | CHW | AL | 135 | 497 | 55 | 120 | 32 | 2 | 10 | 70 | 3 | 62 | 30 | 0.241 | 274.0 |
| 1946 | CHW | AL | 88 | 299 | 22 | 76 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 31 | 4 | 34 | 37 | 0.254 | -153.7 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1321 | 0 | 12124 | 752 | 121 | 1146 |
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | CLE | 1B | 11 | 0 | 91 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 1934 | CLE | 1B | 154 | 0 | 1487 | 86 | 22 | 145 |
| 1935 | CLE | 1B | 153 | 0 | 1567 | 88 | 11 | 129 |
| 1936 | CLE | 1B | 151 | 0 | 1367 | 85 | 22 | 126 |
| 1936 | CLE | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1937 | CLE | 1B | 152 | 0 | 1403 | 76 | 10 | 131 |
| 1938 | CLE | 1B | 148 | 0 | 1232 | 102 | 10 | 121 |
| 1939 | CLE | 1B | 118 | 0 | 1004 | 97 | 9 | 97 |
| 1940 | CLE | 1B | 139 | 0 | 1207 | 70 | 11 | 129 |
| 1941 | CLE | 1B | 85 | 0 | 727 | 54 | 9 | 77 |
| 1944 | CHA | 1B | 130 | 0 | 1310 | 57 | 9 | 122 |
| 1946 | CHA | 1B | 80 | 0 | 729 | 33 | 7 | 63 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1320 |
| Second Base | 1 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 30th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1938 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 13th | 22.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1936 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 10th | 19.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1934 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 7th | 18.0 | 80 | 0 |