Dale Alexander
Encyclopedia
David Dale Alexander nicknamed "Moose," was a Major League Baseball
player for the Detroit Tigers
(1929–1932) and Boston Red Sox
(1932–1933). Dale "Moose" Alexander was a big 6 foot, 3 inch, 210 first baseman. He won the American League batting crown in 1932 and was one of the best hitters in baseball between 1929 and 1932, but a leg injury shortened his Major League career.
, Alexander first played professional baseball with his hometown team. Alexander hit .300 or better in five straight minor league seasons. In 1928, playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Alexander won the International League
triple crown
with a .380 batting average, 31 home runs, and 144 runs batted in.
. In his rookie season Alexander hit .343, scored 110 runs, led the American League with 215 hits, and was among the league leaders with 83 extra base hits (second in AL), 363 total bases (second in AL), 137 RBIs (third in AL), 25 home runs (fifth in the AL), a .580 slugging percentage (fifth in the AL), 43 doubles (fifth in AL), and 15 triples (fourth in AL).
In , Alexander had a .326 batting average, 20 home runs and 135 RBIs. In his first two Major League seasons, Alexander had 272 RBIs. The only player to hit more RBIs in their first two seasons was Joe DiMaggio
.
In , Alexander got off to a slow start, batting .250 in the first two months of the season.
to the Boston Red Sox
, for Earl Webb
, who had set the Major League record for doubles (67) the previous season. Webb hit only 19 doubles for the Tigers in 1932 and retired one year later. Alexander won the American League batting crown with a career-high .367 average
. He beat Jimmie Foxx
by a mere three points, depriving Foxx of the triple crown. Alexander is the only Major League batting champion to be traded to another team in the same league during the season in which he won the title. (In 1990, Willie McGee won the National League batting title despite being traded to the American League in late August.)
On August 6, 1932, Alexander broke up a no-hitter by Cleveland pitcher, Wes Ferrell
, who ended up with a one-hitter.
On May 30, 1933, Alexander twisted a knee in a game at Philadelphia. He was given diathermy
treatment ("electrically induced heat" used for muscle relaxation) in the clubhouse by Red Sox trainer, Doc Woods. Alexander's leg suffered third degree burns during the treatment, and gangrene eventually set in. "It was a new method of treatment and not too much was known about it," Alexander said, years later. "I noticed my leg felt awfully hot. I ended up with third-degree burns and a gangrene infection and almost lost my leg. I was finished in the Majors... I couldn't run and I couldn't field and when I got hurt, that was the end."
Alexander attempted a comeback but injured his leg again in July 1933 and saw limited action for the rest of the season, mostly as a pinch hitter. Alexander wound up hitting .281 in and played his last Major League game was on September 23, 1933 against the New York Yankees
.
-owned Kansas City Blues
, Alexander hit four home runs in a game against Minneapolis on June 14, 1935.
In , Alexander (age 36) was hired as player-manager for the Sanford Lookouts in the Florida State League
. Alexander hit .345 (highest on the team) and led the Lookouts to a 98-35 record and a Florida State League championship.
During his minor league career, Alexander never hit under .300 until 1942, his final year as a professional baseball player. His minor league batting average was .338 with 2,072 hits and 1,171 RBIs.
for 13 years (1951–1963) and for the Milwaukee Braves
in 1964.
Alexander died at his birthplace, Greeneville, Tennessee
, at age 75.
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...
player for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1929–1932) and 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"...
(1932–1933). Dale "Moose" Alexander was a big 6 foot, 3 inch, 210 first baseman. He won the American League batting crown in 1932 and was one of the best hitters in baseball between 1929 and 1932, but a leg injury shortened his Major League career.
Early years (1925-1928)
Born in Greeneville, TennesseeGreeneville, Tennessee
Greeneville is a town in Greene County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 15,198 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Greene County. The town was named in honor of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene. It is the only town with this spelling in the United States, although there...
, Alexander first played professional baseball with his hometown team. Alexander hit .300 or better in five straight minor league seasons. In 1928, playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Alexander won the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
triple crown
Triple crown (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a player earns the Triple Crown when he leads a league in three specific statistical categories. For batters, a player must lead the league in home runs, run batted in , and batting average; pitchers must lead the league in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average...
with a .380 batting average, 31 home runs, and 144 runs batted in.
Detroit Tigers
In , Alexander won the first baseman job with the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. In his rookie season Alexander hit .343, scored 110 runs, led the American League with 215 hits, and was among the league leaders with 83 extra base hits (second in AL), 363 total bases (second in AL), 137 RBIs (third in AL), 25 home runs (fifth in the AL), a .580 slugging percentage (fifth in the AL), 43 doubles (fifth in AL), and 15 triples (fourth in AL).
In , Alexander had a .326 batting average, 20 home runs and 135 RBIs. In his first two Major League seasons, Alexander had 272 RBIs. The only player to hit more RBIs in their first two seasons was Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
.
In , Alexander got off to a slow start, batting .250 in the first two months of the season.
Boston Red Sox
On June 12, 1932, the Tigers traded him with Roy JohnsonRoy Johnson
Roy Cleveland Johnson was a left fielder/right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees and Boston Bees . A native of Pryor, Oklahoma, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
to 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"...
, for Earl Webb
Earl Webb
William Earl Webb was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball, playing from 1925 to 1933. He played for five teams, including the Boston Red Sox for three years. He was born in White County, Tennessee and died in Jamestown, Tennessee. In 1931, while playing for the Red Sox, he hit a...
, who had set the Major League record for doubles (67) the previous season. Webb hit only 19 doubles for the Tigers in 1932 and retired one year later. Alexander won the American League batting crown with a career-high .367 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 :...
. He beat Jimmie Foxx
Jimmie Foxx
James Emory "Jimmie" Foxx , nicknamed "Double X" and "The Beast", was a right-handed American Major League Baseball first baseman and noted power hitter....
by a mere three points, depriving Foxx of the triple crown. Alexander is the only Major League batting champion to be traded to another team in the same league during the season in which he won the title. (In 1990, Willie McGee won the National League batting title despite being traded to the American League in late August.)
On August 6, 1932, Alexander broke up a no-hitter by Cleveland pitcher, Wes Ferrell
Wes Ferrell
Wesley Cheek Ferrell was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball from 1927 through 1941. Primarily a starting pitcher, Ferrell played for the Cleveland Indians , Boston Red Sox , Washington Senators , New York Yankees , Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Braves...
, who ended up with a one-hitter.
On May 30, 1933, Alexander twisted a knee in a game at Philadelphia. He was given diathermy
Diathermy
In the natural sciences, the term diathermy means "electrically induced heat" and is commonly used for muscle relaxation. It is also a method of heating tissue electromagnetically or ultrasonically for therapeutic purposes in medicine.-Surgical uses:...
treatment ("electrically induced heat" used for muscle relaxation) in the clubhouse by Red Sox trainer, Doc Woods. Alexander's leg suffered third degree burns during the treatment, and gangrene eventually set in. "It was a new method of treatment and not too much was known about it," Alexander said, years later. "I noticed my leg felt awfully hot. I ended up with third-degree burns and a gangrene infection and almost lost my leg. I was finished in the Majors... I couldn't run and I couldn't field and when I got hurt, that was the end."
Alexander attempted a comeback but injured his leg again in July 1933 and saw limited action for the rest of the season, mostly as a pinch hitter. Alexander wound up hitting .281 in and played his last Major League game was on September 23, 1933 against the 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...
.
Minor League Career (1934-1942)
After 1933, Alexander's mobility and fielding suffered, but he was able to hit well enough to continue playing in the minor leagues until . Playing for Newark in , he hit .336 and collected 123 RBIs, 14 home runs, 35 doubles, and 7 stolen bases. While playing for the Johnny KlingJohnny Kling
John Kling was a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs , Boston Rustlers & Braves , and Cincinnati Reds .-Early years:John Gransfield Kling was born and raised in Kansas City, the son of John and...
-owned Kansas City Blues
Kansas City Blues (American Association)
The Kansas City Blues are a former minor league baseball team located in Kansas City, Missouri, in the Midwestern United States. The team was one of the eight founding members of the American Association....
, Alexander hit four home runs in a game against Minneapolis on June 14, 1935.
In , Alexander (age 36) was hired as player-manager for the Sanford Lookouts in the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. Alexander hit .345 (highest on the team) and led the Lookouts to a 98-35 record and a Florida State League championship.
During his minor league career, Alexander never hit under .300 until 1942, his final year as a professional baseball player. His minor league batting average was .338 with 2,072 hits and 1,171 RBIs.
Life after baseball
Alexander was a scout for the New York & San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for 13 years (1951–1963) and for the Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in 1964.
Alexander died at his birthplace, Greeneville, Tennessee
Greeneville, Tennessee
Greeneville is a town in Greene County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 15,198 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Greene County. The town was named in honor of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene. It is the only town with this spelling in the United States, although there...
, at age 75.