Herm Merritt
Encyclopedia
Herman G. Merritt was a shortstop in Major League Baseball
who played 20 games for the Detroit Tigers
in 1921. Born in Independence, Kansas
, Merritt made his major league debut on August 24, 1921, and replaced Donie Bush
as the Tigers' shortstop for the last month of the 1921 season. In 20 games, Merritt hit for an impressive .370 batting average with a .478 slugging percentage. (The 1921 Tigers
had a team batting average of .316—the highest team batting average in major league history.) Merritt did not perform well in the field, having a .882 fielding percentage (60 points lower than the league average for shortstops) and a 2.65 range factor
(2.50 points lower than the league average for shortstops). In 1922, the Tiger signed Topper Rigney
at shortstop and had no need for Merritt's services. Despite having a career btting average of .370, Merritt did not play in the major leagues after the 1921 season. He died in Kansas City, Missouri
at age 26 in 1927.
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...
who played 20 games 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...
in 1921. Born in Independence, Kansas
Independence, Kansas
Independence is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,483.-Geography:...
, Merritt made his major league debut on August 24, 1921, and replaced Donie Bush
Donie Bush
Owen Joseph "Donie" Bush , was a Major League Baseball shortstop in the American League for the Detroit Tigers and the Washington Senators...
as the Tigers' shortstop for the last month of the 1921 season. In 20 games, Merritt hit for an impressive .370 batting average with a .478 slugging percentage. (The 1921 Tigers
1921 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers finished in sixth place in the American League, 27 games behind the Yankees, with a record of 71-82. Despite their sixth place finish, the 1921 Tigers amassed 1,724 hits and a team batting average of .316—the highest team hit total and batting average in American League history...
had a team batting average of .316—the highest team batting average in major league history.) Merritt did not perform well in the field, having a .882 fielding percentage (60 points lower than the league average for shortstops) and a 2.65 range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
(2.50 points lower than the league average for shortstops). In 1922, the Tiger signed Topper Rigney
Topper Rigney
Emory Elmo "Topper" Rigney was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , and Washington Senators . Rigney had speed and a good sense of the strike zone...
at shortstop and had no need for Merritt's services. Despite having a career btting average of .370, Merritt did not play in the major leagues after the 1921 season. He died in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
at age 26 in 1927.