Mickey Vernon
Born: 4/22/1918 in Marcus Hook, PA, USA
Died: 9/24/2008 in Media, PA, USA
MLB Debut: 1939-07-08 | Final Game: 1960-09-27
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: James Barton Vernon
Biography
Mickey Vernon, born in 1918, was a prominent American baseball player whose career spanned from 1939 to 1960. Known for his exceptional hitting and consistency at the plate, Vernon played primarily as a first baseman and left a lasting impact on the game during his era. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 2,409 games, accumulating a remarkable 2,495 hits and posting a batting average of .286. With 172 home runs and 1,311 RBIs, he demonstrated a well-rounded offensive skill set, complemented by his speed on the basepaths, as evidenced by his 137 stolen bases.
Vernon was selected as an All-Star seven times, a testament to his prowess and popularity during the peak of his career. His contributions were particularly significant during the post-World War II period, a time when baseball was undergoing significant changes, including the emergence of new talent and the integration of the sport. Throughout his tenure, Vernon established himself as a reliable player who could consistently deliver in clutch situations, making him a valuable asset to the teams he played for, including the Washington Senators and the Pittsburgh Pirates. His legacy endures as one of the standout players of his generation, remembered for his skillful approach to the game and his contributions to baseball history.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78.0 | 71.0 | 13.0 | 28.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.394 | 0.449 | 0.549 | 0.998 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.667 | 0.500 | 1.167 |
| 1946 | 75.0 | 69.0 | 13.0 | 27.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.391 | 0.440 | 0.551 | 0.991 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2409 | 8731 | 1196 | 2495 | 490 | 120 | 172 | 1311 | 137 | 955 | 869 | 0.286 | 0.359 | 0.428 | 0.787 | 18418.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | WSN | AL | 76 | 276 | 23 | 71 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 24 | 28 | 0.257 | -536.0 |
| 1940 | WSN | AL | 5 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.158 | 0.0 |
| 1941 | WSN | AL | 138 | 531 | 73 | 159 | 27 | 11 | 9 | 93 | 9 | 43 | 51 | 0.299 | 1120.7 |
| 1942 | WSN | AL | 151 | 621 | 76 | 168 | 34 | 6 | 9 | 86 | 25 | 59 | 63 | 0.271 | 855.9 |
| 1943 | WSN | AL | 145 | 553 | 89 | 148 | 29 | 8 | 7 | 70 | 24 | 67 | 55 | 0.268 | 1332.9 |
| 1946 | WSN | AL | 148 | 587 | 88 | 207 | 51 | 8 | 8 | 85 | 14 | 49 | 64 | 0.353 | 3548.3 |
| 1947 | WSN | AL | 154 | 600 | 77 | 159 | 29 | 12 | 7 | 85 | 12 | 49 | 42 | 0.265 | -267.4 |
| 1948 | WSN | AL | 150 | 558 | 78 | 135 | 27 | 7 | 3 | 48 | 15 | 54 | 43 | 0.242 | -1381.2 |
| 1949 | CLE | AL | 153 | 584 | 72 | 170 | 27 | 4 | 18 | 83 | 9 | 58 | 51 | 0.291 | 1135.1 |
| 1950 | CLE | AL | 28 | 90 | 8 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 0.189 | -548.2 |
| 1950 | WSN | AL | 90 | 327 | 47 | 100 | 17 | 3 | 9 | 65 | 6 | 50 | 29 | 0.306 | -548.2 |
| 1951 | WSN | AL | 141 | 546 | 69 | 160 | 30 | 7 | 9 | 87 | 7 | 53 | 45 | 0.293 | 851.7 |
| 1952 | WSN | AL | 154 | 569 | 71 | 143 | 33 | 9 | 10 | 80 | 7 | 89 | 66 | 0.251 | 920.7 |
| 1953 | WSN | AL | 152 | 608 | 101 | 205 | 43 | 11 | 15 | 115 | 4 | 63 | 57 | 0.337 | 3228.8 |
| 1954 | WSN | AL | 151 | 597 | 90 | 173 | 33 | 14 | 20 | 97 | 1 | 61 | 61 | 0.290 | 1990.1 |
| 1955 | WSN | AL | 150 | 538 | 74 | 162 | 23 | 8 | 14 | 85 | 0 | 74 | 50 | 0.301 | 1779.9 |
| 1956 | BOS | AL | 119 | 403 | 67 | 125 | 28 | 4 | 15 | 84 | 1 | 57 | 40 | 0.310 | 2166.2 |
| 1957 | BOS | AL | 102 | 270 | 36 | 65 | 18 | 1 | 7 | 38 | 0 | 41 | 35 | 0.241 | 313.4 |
| 1958 | CLE | AL | 119 | 355 | 49 | 104 | 22 | 3 | 8 | 55 | 0 | 44 | 56 | 0.293 | 975.5 |
| 1959 | ATL | NL | 74 | 91 | 8 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 20 | 0.220 | -166.3 |
| 1960 | PIT | NL | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.125 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 2237 | 550 | 19808 | 1448 | 211 | 2044 |
| OF | 4 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | WS1 | 1B | 75 | 0 | 690 | 40 | 11 | 75 |
| 1940 | WS1 | 1B | 4 | 0 | 41 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 1941 | WS1 | 1B | 132 | 0 | 1186 | 80 | 10 | 122 |
| 1942 | WS1 | 1B | 151 | 0 | 1360 | 95 | 26 | 109 |
| 1943 | WS1 | 1B | 143 | 0 | 1351 | 75 | 14 | 125 |
| 1946 | WS1 | 1B | 147 | 0 | 1320 | 101 | 15 | 133 |
| 1947 | WS1 | 1B | 154 | 0 | 1299 | 105 | 19 | 123 |
| 1948 | WS1 | 1B | 150 | 0 | 1297 | 113 | 15 | 128 |
| 1949 | CLE | 1B | 153 | 0 | 1438 | 155 | 14 | 168 |
| 1950 | CLE | 1B | 25 | 0 | 216 | 17 | 1 | 28 |
| 1950 | WS1 | 1B | 85 | 0 | 743 | 61 | 8 | 93 |
| 1951 | WS1 | 1B | 137 | 0 | 1157 | 87 | 8 | 121 |
| 1952 | WS1 | 1B | 153 | 0 | 1291 | 115 | 10 | 139 |
| 1953 | WS1 | 1B | 152 | 0 | 1376 | 94 | 12 | 158 |
| 1954 | WS1 | 1B | 148 | 148 | 1365 | 76 | 11 | 144 |
| 1955 | WS1 | 1B | 144 | 141 | 1258 | 69 | 8 | 137 |
| 1956 | BOS | 1B | 108 | 102 | 930 | 58 | 11 | 96 |
| 1957 | BOS | 1B | 70 | 68 | 662 | 51 | 6 | 47 |
| 1958 | CLE | 1B | 96 | 87 | 774 | 50 | 11 | 90 |
| 1959 | ML1 | 1B | 10 | 4 | 54 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 1959 | ML1 | OF | 4 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 2237 |
| Left Field | 2 |
| Right Field | 2 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1946 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 1B |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villanova University | Villanova | PA | 1937, 1938 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 21th | 14.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1955 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1954 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 9th | 30.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1953 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 3rd | 162.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1946 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 5th | 134.0 | 336 | 1 |