George Staller
Encyclopedia
George Walborn Staller was an American
outfielder
, scout and coach
in Major League Baseball
. He served as first base coach on Earl Weaver
's Baltimore Orioles
staff from 1968-75, working on the Orioles' three consecutive American League
championship teams (1969
-70
-71
) and Baltimore's 1970 World Series
champion.
Born in Rutherford Heights, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
, Staller threw and batted left-handed and stood 5'11" (180 cm) tall and weighed 200 pounds (91 kg). He originally signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers
in 1937 and progressed as far as the top-level Montreal Royals
in 1940-41, where he led the International League
in doubles
(40) and triples
(12) in 1940. But his only major league service occurred in 1943
, when he was purchased by the Philadelphia Athletics
from the minor league version of the Baltimore Orioles
after leading the 1943 IL in runs batted in (with 98). Staller appeared in 21 games with the 1943 A's
, batting
.271 with 23 hits
in 85 at bats, including three home runs and 12 RBI. He then joined the armed forces in 1944-45.
Staller was a minor league
manager
for 14 seasons, 1948 through 1961. He began in the A's system (1948-53), then moved with Philadelphia general manager
Arthur Ehlers
to the American League Orioles organization in its first season in Baltimore, 1954. Staller reached the Triple-A level for one season, in 1960 with the Vancouver Mounties
; his career managing record was 922 wins, 1,043 losses (.469).
Staller's first term as an Orioles coach came in 1962
, when he served one year under skipper Billy Hitchcock
. Then, after six seasons as a Baltimore scout, he joined Weaver in midyear 1968 and served until his retirement at the close of the 1975 season
. He died at age 76 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, scout and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
in Major League Baseball
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...
. He served as first base coach on Earl Weaver
Earl Weaver
Earl Sidney Weaver is a former Major League Baseball manager. He spent his entire 17-year managerial career with the Baltimore Orioles . Weaver was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.-Playing career:After playing for Beaumont High School in St...
's Baltimore Orioles
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...
staff from 1968-75, working on the Orioles' three consecutive 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...
championship teams (1969
1969 in baseball
-Expansion:Four expansion teams joined Major League Baseball for this season: the San Diego Padres, the Kansas City Royals, the Seattle Pilots, and the first MLB team in Canada, the Montreal Expos. To accommodate the additional teams, the two leagues were split into two divisions of East and West...
-70
1970 in baseball
-Major Leagues:*World Series MVP: Brooks Robinson*All-Star Game, July 14 at Riverfront Stadium: National League, 5-4 ; Carl Yastrzemski, MVP-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Navegantes del Magallanes *College World Series: USC...
-71
1971 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:National League: Pittsburgh PiratesAmerican League: Baltimore Orioles1971 World Series: Pittsburgh def. Baltimore , 4 games to 3.Inter-league playoff: Pittsburgh declined challenge by Tokyo Yomiuri Giants....
) and Baltimore's 1970 World Series
1970 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 10, 1970 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioThe Jackson 5 performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to the game, which almost became an embarrassment when the group realized shortly before their performance that they weren't familiar with the lyrics...
champion.
Born in Rutherford Heights, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital...
, Staller threw and batted left-handed and stood 5'11" (180 cm) tall and weighed 200 pounds (91 kg). He originally signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in 1937 and progressed as far as the top-level Montreal Royals
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
in 1940-41, where he led 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...
in 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....
(40) and 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....
(12) in 1940. But his only major league service occurred in 1943
1943 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over St. Louis Cardinals *All-Star Game, July 13 at Shibe Park: American League, 5-3-Other champions:*Negro League World Series: Homestead Grays over Birmingham Black Barons...
, when he was purchased by the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
from the minor league version of the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (minor league)
The city of Baltimore, Maryland has been home to two minor league baseball teams called the Baltimore Orioles.-Name history:"Orioles" is a traditional name for baseball clubs in Baltimore . It was used by major league teams from 1882 through 1899 in the American Association/National League and by...
after leading the 1943 IL in runs batted in (with 98). Staller appeared in 21 games with the 1943 A's
1943 Philadelphia Athletics season
The 1943 Philadelphia Athletics season involved the A's finishing 8th in the American League with a record of 49 wins and 105 losses.- Offseason :* November 2, 1942: Johnny Welaj was drafted by the Athletics from the Detroit Tigers in the 1942 rule 5 draft....
, batting
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 :...
.271 with 23 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 85 at bats, including three home runs and 12 RBI. He then joined the armed forces in 1944-45.
Staller was a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
for 14 seasons, 1948 through 1961. He began in the A's system (1948-53), then moved with Philadelphia general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
Arthur Ehlers
Arthur Ehlers
Arthur H. Ehlers was an American front office executive in Major League Baseball. He was the first general manager in the history of the modern Baltimore Orioles, serving as their front-office boss during their return to the American League as the former St...
to the American League Orioles organization in its first season in Baltimore, 1954. Staller reached the Triple-A level for one season, in 1960 with the Vancouver Mounties
Vancouver Mounties
The Vancouver Mounties were a high-level minor league baseball club based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Mounties played in the Pacific Coast League from 1956 through 1962 as the relocated Oakland Oaks franchise, and from 1965 through 1969 when the Dallas Rangers moved back to Canada.The...
; his career managing record was 922 wins, 1,043 losses (.469).
Staller's first term as an Orioles coach came in 1962
1962 in baseball
The 1962 season is perhaps most notable for the dismal 40–120 record of the New York Mets, the third-worst winning percentage and the record for most games lost since 1900.-Major League Baseball:...
, when he served one year under skipper Billy Hitchcock
Billy Hitchcock
William Clyde Hitchcock was an American infielder, coach, manager and scout in Major League Baseball. He also served as president of the class AA Southern League from 1971-80...
. Then, after six seasons as a Baltimore scout, he joined Weaver in midyear 1968 and served until his retirement at the close of the 1975 season
1975 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cincinnati Reds over Boston Red Sox ; Pete Rose, MVP*All-Star Game, July 15 at County Stadium: National League, 6-3; Bill Madlock and Jon Matlack, MVPs-Other champions:...
. He died at age 76 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
.