Emil Verban
Born: 8/27/1915 in Lincoln, IL, USA
Died: 6/8/1989 in Quincy, IL, USA
MLB Debut: 1944-04-18 | Final Game: 1950-10-01
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: Emil Matthew Verban
Biography
Emil Verban, born in 1915, was a notable American professional baseball player who graced Major League Baseball from 1944 to 1950. Primarily playing as a position player, Verban made a significant impact in the post-World War II era, a time when baseball was experiencing a surge in popularity and a shift in talent dynamics due to the return of veterans. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 853 games, amassing 793 hits, with a batting average of .272. His offensive contributions included 1 home run and 241 RBIs, showcasing his ability to drive in runs during crucial moments.
Verban’s versatility on the field was complemented by his speed, as evidenced by his 21 stolen bases throughout his career. He was recognized for his skills with three All-Star selections, reflecting his status as one of the more prominent players of his time. While he may not have been among the power hitters of his era, Verban's consistency and ability to perform in the clutch helped solidify his place in baseball history. His career, spanning the transformative years of the late 1940s, contributed to the evolving narrative of baseball as a national pastime during a pivotal period in American sports.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 853 | 2911 | 301 | 793 | 99 | 26 | 1 | 241 | 21 | 108 | 74 | 0.272 | 0.301 | 0.325 | 0.626 | -6121.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | STL | NL | 146 | 498 | 51 | 128 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 19 | 14 | 0.257 | -1517.6 |
| 1945 | STL | NL | 155 | 597 | 59 | 166 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 72 | 4 | 19 | 15 | 0.278 | -868.3 |
| 1946 | PHI | NL | 138 | 473 | 44 | 130 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 34 | 5 | 21 | 18 | 0.275 | -792.8 |
| 1946 | STL | NL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | -792.8 |
| 1947 | PHI | NL | 155 | 540 | 50 | 154 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 42 | 5 | 23 | 8 | 0.285 | -1002.7 |
| 1948 | CHC | NL | 56 | 248 | 37 | 73 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 0.294 | -332.3 |
| 1948 | PHI | NL | 55 | 169 | 14 | 39 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 0.231 | -332.3 |
| 1949 | CHC | NL | 98 | 343 | 38 | 99 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 0.289 | -897.9 |
| 1950 | BSN | NL | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1950 | CHC | NL | 45 | 37 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0.108 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 17 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.412 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | WS | SLN | 6 | 17 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.412 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 802 | 0 | 1994 | 2179 | 123 | 534 |
| 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | SLN | 2B | 146 | 0 | 319 | 380 | 23 | 105 |
| 1945 | SLN | 2B | 155 | 0 | 398 | 406 | 18 | 95 |
| 1946 | PHI | 2B | 138 | 0 | 353 | 381 | 28 | 83 |
| 1947 | PHI | 2B | 155 | 0 | 450 | 453 | 17 | 111 |
| 1948 | CHN | 2B | 56 | 0 | 134 | 164 | 11 | 47 |
| 1948 | PHI | 2B | 54 | 0 | 104 | 126 | 6 | 25 |
| 1949 | CHN | 2B | 88 | 0 | 218 | 249 | 17 | 60 |
| 1950 | BSN | 2B | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 1950 | CHN | 2B | 8 | 0 | 11 | 17 | 1 | 6 |
| 1950 | CHN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1950 | CHN | SS | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1950 | CHN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 802 |
| Third Base | 1 |
| Shortstop | 4 |
| Center Field | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 2B |
| 1944 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 2B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 22th | 9.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1946 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 20th | 10.0 | 336 | 0 |