Art Mahan
Encyclopedia
Arthur Leo Mahan was a former professional baseball player, who played as a first baseman
in the major leagues
for the Philadelphia Phillies
during the season. Born in Somerville, Massachusetts
, he batted and threw left-handed.
Mahan played in the Boston Red Sox
organization from 1936 until he was sold to the Phillies in April 1940. He played one season for the Phillies, and posted a .244 batting average
(133-for-544) with two home run
s and 39 RBI
in 146 games played
, including 55 runs
, 24 doubles
and five triples
. He hit a double off the wall his first time at bat and led the Phillies in stolen bases. During World War II
, Mahan served as a training officer in the United States Navy
, working in training cadets. After the season, Mahan was sold back to his previous minor league team, the Little Rock Travelers
of the Southern Association. He made one last minor league appearance, in 1946 for the Providence Chiefs
of the class-B New England League.
A 1936 graduate of Villanova University
, Mahan later became their head baseball coach from 1950 until 1972, and Athletic Director until 1978.
Mahan died on December 7, 2010 in Villanova, Pennsylvania
at the age of 97. Up to the time of his death, he had been recognized as the fourth-oldest living major league baseball player.
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
in the major leagues
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...
for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The 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...
during the season. Born in Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
, he batted and threw left-handed.
Mahan played in the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
organization from 1936 until he was sold to the Phillies in April 1940. He played one season for the Phillies, and posted a .244 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(133-for-544) with two home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 39 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 146 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, including 55 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 24 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and five triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
. He hit a double off the wall his first time at bat and led the Phillies in stolen bases. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Mahan served as a training officer in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, working in training cadets. After the season, Mahan was sold back to his previous minor league team, the Little Rock Travelers
Little Rock Travelers
The Little Rock Travelers were an American minor league baseball team located in Little Rock, Arkansas and members of the Southern Association, which as a Class A, A1 or AA circuit was typically two rungs below Major League Baseball...
of the Southern Association. He made one last minor league appearance, in 1946 for the Providence Chiefs
Providence Chiefs
The Providence Chiefs, sometimes known as the Cranston Chiefs, were a Rhode Island-based minor-league baseball club in the class-B New England League. From 1946-47 the club was known as the Chiefs, and its team logo was a fire chief. In 1948 and 1949 the team was known as the Providence Grays...
of the class-B New England League.
A 1936 graduate of Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, Mahan later became their head baseball coach from 1950 until 1972, and Athletic Director until 1978.
Mahan died on December 7, 2010 in Villanova, Pennsylvania
Villanova, Pennsylvania
Villanova is a community in the United States Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It straddles Lower Merion Township of Montgomery County and Radnor Township of Delaware County. It is located at the center of the Pennsylvania Main Line, a series of highly affluent Philadelphia suburban towns located...
at the age of 97. Up to the time of his death, he had been recognized as the fourth-oldest living major league baseball player.