Babe Borton
Encyclopedia
William Baker "Babe" Borton (born August 14, 1888 - July 29, 1954) was a Major League Baseball
first baseman
. Borton played for the Chicago White Sox
, New York Yankees
, St. Louis Terriers
, and St. Louis Browns
from 1912-1916. He stood at 6' 0".
in 1888. He started his professional baseball career in 1910, at the age of 21. In 1912, he was hitting .369 in the Western League
when he was acquired by the White Sox late in the season. He played one season for them before being traded to the Yankees for Hal Chase
. He hit just .130 in New York and was released. In 1914, he played in the Pacific Coast League
.
1915 was Borton's only full major league campaign, and he made it count. With the St. Louis Terriers
, he led the Federal League
in walks
(92) and runs scored
(97) and was fourth in on-base percentage (.395). After the season, the Federal League folded, and Borton was purchased by the American League
's Browns. He hit just .224 in 1916 and never played in the majors again. From 1917-1920, he played in the Pacific Coast League. He batted .303 in 1919, as his team - the Vernon Tigers
- won the pennant. In 1920, he was batting .326 late in the season when he was suspended.
In July 1920, Borton had tried to bribe an opposing pitcher
into throwing a game. As details in the scandal emerged, it was discovered that he and some Vernon teammates had also bribed opponents in 1919 to throw
the pennant to the Tigers. Borton was eventually cleared of any criminal charges in December, but he was expelled from the Pacific Coast League.
Borton never played in organized baseball after 1920. He later worked for Standard Oil
until his death in 1954.
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...
first baseman
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...
. Borton played for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, St. Louis Terriers
St. Louis Terriers
The St. Louis Terriers were a baseball club that played in the short-lived Federal League in and . They played their home games at Handlan's Park. The St. Louis Chapter of SABR placed a marker at the site of Handland's Park, now on the campus of St. Louis University, on October 17, 2007. The team...
, and 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...
from 1912-1916. He stood at 6' 0".
Biography
Borton was born in Marion, IllinoisMarion, Illinois
The city of Marion is the county seat of Williamson County, Illinois. The 2010 census counted 17,193 residents, making Marion the 25th most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in Illinois, and the second most populous city in Southern Illinois, outside of the Metro-East, behind...
in 1888. He started his professional baseball career in 1910, at the age of 21. In 1912, he was hitting .369 in the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
when he was acquired by the White Sox late in the season. He played one season for them before being traded to the Yankees for Hal Chase
Hal Chase
Harold Homer Chase , nicknamed "Prince Hal", was a first baseman in Major League Baseball, widely viewed as the best fielder at his position...
. He hit just .130 in New York and was released. In 1914, he played in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
.
1915 was Borton's only full major league campaign, and he made it count. With the St. Louis Terriers
St. Louis Terriers
The St. Louis Terriers were a baseball club that played in the short-lived Federal League in and . They played their home games at Handlan's Park. The St. Louis Chapter of SABR placed a marker at the site of Handland's Park, now on the campus of St. Louis University, on October 17, 2007. The team...
, he led the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
in walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
(92) and runs scored
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...
(97) and was fourth in on-base percentage (.395). After the season, the Federal League folded, and Borton was purchased by the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
's Browns. He hit just .224 in 1916 and never played in the majors again. From 1917-1920, he played in the Pacific Coast League. He batted .303 in 1919, as his team - the Vernon Tigers
Vernon Tigers
The Vernon Tigers were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1909 through 1925. Vernon, California, was and is a small town in Los Angeles County. The Tigers, together with the Sacramento Solons, joined the PCL as new teams in 1909 as the league expanded from...
- won the pennant. In 1920, he was batting .326 late in the season when he was suspended.
In July 1920, Borton had tried to bribe an opposing pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
into throwing a game. As details in the scandal emerged, it was discovered that he and some Vernon teammates had also bribed opponents in 1919 to throw
Match fixing
In organised sports, match fixing, game fixing, race fixing, or sports fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. Where the sporting competition in question is a race then the incident is referred to as...
the pennant to the Tigers. Borton was eventually cleared of any criminal charges in December, but he was expelled from the Pacific Coast League.
Borton never played in organized baseball after 1920. He later worked for Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
until his death in 1954.