Alan Strange
Encyclopedia
Alan Cochrane "Inky" Strange is a former Major League Baseball
shortstop
. He was born on November 7, 1906 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. As a baseball player, he threw and batted right-handed, and was 5'9" in height and 162 pounds in weight. Strange attended Northeast High School
in Philadelphia which has seen its fair share of alumni-turned-major leaguers-Benny Culp
, Bill Hoffman
, Bert Kuczynski
, Jesse Levis
and Eddie Stanky
all went to that school and became major leaguers. After high school, Strange attended Penn State University.
On April 17, 1934, at the age of 27, Strange made his major league debut with the St. Louis Browns
. He would go on to hit .223 in 314 career games, mostly with the Browns, although he did spend 20 games in 1935 with the Washington Senators
. In the field, Strange had a .960 career fielding percentage.
Strange played his final game on August 16, 1942.
On June 27, 1994, Strange died in Seattle, Washington. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Seattle.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
. He was born on November 7, 1906 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. As a baseball player, he threw and batted right-handed, and was 5'9" in height and 162 pounds in weight. Strange attended Northeast High School
Northeast High School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Northeast High School is a high school located at 1601 Cottman Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States....
in Philadelphia which has seen its fair share of alumni-turned-major leaguers-Benny Culp
Benny Culp
Benjamin Baldy Culp was a Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies .Culp is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II...
, Bill Hoffman
Bill Hoffman
William Joseph Hoffman was a professional baseball player. He pitched in three games for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1939.-Statistics:-External links:* *...
, Bert Kuczynski
Bert Kuczynski
Bernard Carl "Bert" Kuczynski was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics of the MLB and an American football tight end in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles. He attended the University of Pennsylvania...
, Jesse Levis
Jesse Levis
Jesse Levis is an American Major League Baseball scout and former Major League Baseball player...
and Eddie Stanky
Eddie Stanky
Edward Raymond Stanky , nicknamed "The Brat", was an American second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago Cubs , Brooklyn Dodgers , Boston Braves , New York Giants , and St. Louis Cardinals...
all went to that school and became major leaguers. After high school, Strange attended Penn State University.
On April 17, 1934, at the age of 27, Strange made his major league debut with the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. He would go on to hit .223 in 314 career games, mostly with the Browns, although he did spend 20 games in 1935 with the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. In the field, Strange had a .960 career fielding percentage.
Strange played his final game on August 16, 1942.
On June 27, 1994, Strange died in Seattle, Washington. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Seattle.
Major transactions
- On December 14, 1933, Strange was sent from Hollywood of the PCL to the Browns for Jim LeveyJim LeveyJames Julius "Jim" Levey was a Jewish Major League Baseball shortstop who played from 1930 to 1933 for the St. Louis Browns. His professional career began in 1927...
and Wally HebertWally HebertWallace Andrew "Wally" Hebert was a sidearming left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher who played from 1931 to 1933 for the St. Louis Browns and in 1943 for the Pittsburgh Pirates...
. - On June 29, 1935, the Browns sent Strange to the Senators for Lyn LaryLyn LaryLynford Hobart Lary was a shortstop in Major League Baseball from through , primarily for the New York Yankees. Lary batted and threw right-handed...
. - On October 3, 1939, the Browns drafted Strange back from a PCL team in the Rule V Draft.
Other facts
- Strange did not play any major league baseball in 1936, '37, '38 or '39.
- Strange got his nickname "Inky" because he worked as a printer in the off-season.
- Strange was a teammate of Harlond CliftHarlond CliftHarlond Benton Clift born in El Reno, Oklahoma, was a third baseman for the St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators ....
for five years-longer than any other teammate. - As the PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
' batboyBatboyA batboy is an individual who carries the baseball bats around to a baseball team. A batboy may also lay out the equipment and mud the baseballs to be used in the game.Mascots and batboys had both been part of baseball since the 1880s....
, Strange saved a bat broken by Rogers HornsbyRogers HornsbyRogers Hornsby, Sr. , nicknamed "The Rajah", was an American baseball infielder, manager, and coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball . He played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants , Boston Braves , Chicago Cubs , and St. Louis Browns...
as a mementoSouvenirA souvenir , memento, keepsake or token of remembrance is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it. The term souvenir brings to mind the mass-produced kitsch that is the main commodity of souvenir and gift shops in many tourist traps around the world...
. In 1934, as manager of the Browns, Hornsby installed Strange as his shortstop. - Strange wore three numbers in his career. From 1934-35 with the Browns, he wore 1. In the 20 games he spent with the Senators in 1935, he wore 28. During his tenure with the Browns from 1940-'42, he wore 2.