Hughie Critz
Encyclopedia
Hugh Melville Critz was an American
second baseman
in Major League Baseball
for the Cincinnati Reds
in the 1920s and the New York Giants
in the 1930s.
and attended school in his home state, at Mississippi State University
. His father, Professor Colonel Critz, was a respected instructor at the school.
In his first game, Critz had two hits off Grover Alexander and hit .322 in 102 games on the rookie season, with 19 stolen bases.
Through the 1920s, Critz was an extremely solid, speedy, good-hitting second basemen for many decent Reds teams, although the team began to decline in the late 1920s, finishing 7th in the 8-team National League
in and . In the year in which the Reds did the best with Critz on the team, , they finished 2nd in the league, two games behind the St. Louis Cardinals
. Besides the Reds' success, Critz also had, what can easily be considered, his best season. On the year, he batted .270 with 3 homers and 79 RBIs. He tied a career-high with 14 triples and shattered his next-best career-high with his 79 RBIs. That year, he finished 2nd in MVP
voting, behind only Bob O'Farrell
.
Although his speed numbers only decreased from his rookie season, when he stole 19 bases, he still averaged 11 SB's per season, in his career.
In 1930, his career took a sudden turn when he was traded to the Giants for pitcher Larry Benton
. With them, he won a World Series in 1933
, had more quality years and retired on September 27, .
In a 12-season career, he batted
.268 with 38 home run
s and 531 RBIs
in 1478 games. He had 97 career stolen base
s, 832 runs scored
, 195 doubles
, and 95 triples
. Critz accumulated 1591 hits
in 5930 at bat
s.
Critz made the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in . He died in Greenwood
, Mississippi at age 79.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
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...
for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in the 1920s and the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in the 1930s.
Career overview
Critz was born in Starkville, MississippiStarkville, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 21,869 people, 9,462 households, and 4,721 families residing in the city. The population density was 851.4 people per square mile . There were 10,191 housing units at an average density of 396.7 per square mile...
and attended school in his home state, at Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
. His father, Professor Colonel Critz, was a respected instructor at the school.
In his first game, Critz had two hits off Grover Alexander and hit .322 in 102 games on the rookie season, with 19 stolen bases.
Through the 1920s, Critz was an extremely solid, speedy, good-hitting second basemen for many decent Reds teams, although the team began to decline in the late 1920s, finishing 7th in the 8-team National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in and . In the year in which the Reds did the best with Critz on the team, , they finished 2nd in the league, two games behind the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Besides the Reds' success, Critz also had, what can easily be considered, his best season. On the year, he batted .270 with 3 homers and 79 RBIs. He tied a career-high with 14 triples and shattered his next-best career-high with his 79 RBIs. That year, he finished 2nd in MVP
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
voting, behind only Bob O'Farrell
Bob O'Farrell
Robert Arthur "Bob" O'Farrell was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for 21 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Giants. O'Farrell also played for the Cincinnati Reds, albeit briefly...
.
Although his speed numbers only decreased from his rookie season, when he stole 19 bases, he still averaged 11 SB's per season, in his career.
In 1930, his career took a sudden turn when he was traded to the Giants for pitcher Larry Benton
Larry Benton
Lawrence James Benton was an American baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of thirteen seasons with the Boston Braves, New York Giants and Cincinnati Reds. He was the National League wins leader in 1928 with New York...
. With them, he won a World Series in 1933
1933 World Series
The 1933 World Series featured the New York Giants and the Washington Senators, with the Giants winning in five games for their first championship since , and their fourth overall....
, had more quality years and retired on September 27, .
In a 12-season career, he batted
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 :...
.268 with 38 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 531 RBIs
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 1478 games. He had 97 career stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, 832 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...
, 195 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 95 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....
. Critz accumulated 1591 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 5930 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s.
Critz made the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in . He died in Greenwood
Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Leflore County, Mississippi, United States, located at the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta approximately 96 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi, and 130 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The population was 15,205 at the 2010 census. It is the...
, Mississippi at age 79.