John Baumgartner
Encyclopedia
John Edward Baumgartner is a retired American
professional baseball
player. He appeared in seven Major League
games
as a member of the Detroit Tigers
and played six seasons (1950–1955) in minor league baseball
. While he played third base
exclusively in MLB, he also was an outfielder
and first baseman
in the minor leagues. Baumgartner threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighed 190 pounds (86.2 kg).
Baumgartner played college baseball
at the University of Alabama
, which qualified for the 1950 College World Series
led by Baumgartner and other future big leaguers such as longtime MLB pitchers Frank Lary
(who would be one the Tigers' stalwart starting pitcher
s of the 1950s and early 1960s) and Al Worthington
. Baumgartner signed with Detroit in 1950 and made the Tigers' 1953 roster
coming out of spring training
. He started the first seven games of the regular season at third base for Detroit, collecting five hits
(all singles
) in 27 at bats and scoring three runs
. In the field, he made two errors
in 23 chances
for a fielding percentage
of .913. Those would be Baumgartner's only games played
in the Majors; he was sent back to the minors, and Ray Boone
was eventually acquired from the Cleveland Indians
to play the hot corner for Detroit.
In 657 minor league games, Baumgartner batted
.261 with 624 hits.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He appeared in seven Major League
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...
games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
as a member of 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...
and played six seasons (1950–1955) in minor league baseball
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...
. While he played third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
exclusively in MLB, he also was an 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...
and 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...
in the minor leagues. Baumgartner threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighed 190 pounds (86.2 kg).
Baumgartner played college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, which qualified for the 1950 College World Series
1950 College World Series
The 1950 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska from June 15 to June 23. It was the first College World Series to be held at the stadium, which hosted the event through 2010....
led by Baumgartner and other future big leaguers such as longtime MLB pitchers Frank Lary
Frank Lary
Frank Strong Lary is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers , New York Mets , Milwaukee Braves , and Chicago White Sox . He led the American League with 21 wins in 1956 and ranked second in the same category with 23 wins in 1961...
(who would be one the Tigers' stalwart starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
s of the 1950s and early 1960s) and Al Worthington
Al Worthington
Allan Fulton Worthington , nicknamed "Red", is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Giants , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins . Worthington batted and threw right-handed...
. Baumgartner signed with Detroit in 1950 and made the Tigers' 1953 roster
1953 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The team finished sixth in the American League with a record of 60-94, 40½ games behind the New York Yankees.-Offseason:...
coming out of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. He started the first seven games of the regular season at third base for Detroit, collecting five 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....
(all singles
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
) in 27 at bats and scoring three runs
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...
. In the field, he made two errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 23 chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
for a fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
of .913. Those would be Baumgartner's only games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
in the Majors; he was sent back to the minors, and Ray Boone
Ray Boone
Raymond Otis Boone was an American Major League Baseball player. He batted and threw right-handed.Boone was born in San Diego, California. An infielder, he broke into the major leagues on September 3, , with the Cleveland Indians...
was eventually acquired from the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
to play the hot corner for Detroit.
In 657 minor league games, Baumgartner 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 :...
.261 with 624 hits.