WHY I THINK WILLIE KAMM SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK WILLIE KAMM SHOULD BE

IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

Willie Kamm is, incredibly, ranked in the same class as Brooks Robinson as the two

best defensive third basemen ever. Robinson got in solely for his defense, but he could hit very well.

Kamm outhit Robinson by 14 points, not a small margin when the guy not in the Hall of Fame is beating

the Hall of Famer. Willie Kamm was not only the best defensive third baseman ever, but he was also one

of the best players of his time, no matter the position. Kamm hit for a lifetime batting average of .281, was

a very fine bunter, hit ten or more triples three years in a row, hit 20 or more doubles ten years straight

and eleven total, and won eight fielding titles and finished second for a ninth. Willie Kamm started his

career with the White Sox in 1923, batting .292 with 87 RBI’s as a rookie. He drove in 93 runs in 1924 and

83 in 1925, but didn’t bat as high as .300 until 1928, when he recorded a .308 mark. Kamm slumped to

.268 and .269 but rebounded to hit .290 in 1931, when he split playing time with the White Sox and the

Indians. He was immensely popular in Cleveland, as he hit consistently and robbed hit after hit after hit at

the hot corner. Kamm batted .286 and .282 in his first two full seasons with the Tribe, but fell to .269 in

1934. He retired after batting .333 in six games in 1935. Willie Kamm was a heck of a defensive third

baseman and a great overall hitter. His defense alone would be enough to assure him a Hall of Fame

plaque, but his dangerous bat is a nice bonus. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS

Games career: 1,693 season high: 155 in 1928 led AL: 155 in 1928 

At Bats career: 5,851 season high: 552 in 1928 

Hits career: 1,643 season high: 170 in 1928 

Doubles career: 348 season high: 39 in 1923 

Triples career: 85 season high: 13 in 1927 

Home Runs career: 29 season high: 6 in 1923, 1924 and 1925 

Runs career: 802 season high: 85 in 1927 

Runs Batted In career: 827 season high: 93 in 1924 

Stolen Bases career: 126 season high: 18 in 1923 

Walks career: 824 season high: 90 in 1925 led AL: 90 in 1925 

Strikeouts career: 405 season high: 82 in 1923 

Batting Average career: .281 season high: .308 in 1928 

On Base Percentage career: .372 season high: .396 in 1926 

Slugging Percentage career: .384 season high: .430 in 1923 

Total Bases career: 2,248 season high: 227 in 1928 

Sacrifice Hits career: 238 season high: 37 in 1925 

Fielding Percentage career: .967 season high: .984 in 1933 led AL 3B: .971 in 1924, .957 in 1925, .978

in 1926, .972 in 1927, .977 in 1928, .978 in 1929, .984 in 1933, .978 in 1934 

Double Plays career: 299 season high: 33 in 1928 and 1931 led AL 3B: 29 in 1923, 31 in 1924,

33 in 1931 

Putouts career: 2,151 season high: 243 in 1928 led AL 3B: 190 in 1924, 177 in 1926,

236 in 1927, 243 in 1928, 221 in 1929, 158 in 1931, 164 in 1932 

Assists career: 3,345 season high: 352 in 1923 led AL 3B: 312 in 1924, 310 in 1925,

323 in 1926, 299 in 1932 

DID YOU KNOW?

-is best known for being the first minor leaguer to be purchased for $100,000 

-was a master of the hidden ball trick, and even pulled a triple play on the sneaky move

against the Indians on April 30, 1929 

-finished fifth in the AL MVP voting in 1928, 12th in 1925 and 21st in 1933 

-his 243 putouts as a third baseman in 1928 are the fourth most of all time,

and his 236 in 1927 rank sixth 

-led AL third basemen in games in 1923 (149), 1926 (142), 1927 (146) and 1928 (155) 

-was used as a pinch hitter 22 times and as a pinch runner once 

-had 75 or more RBI’s in a season six times 

-ranks 47th in career sacrifice hits 

-among MLB third basemen, ranks 21st in career fielding percentage, 30th in double plays,

ninth in putouts, and 29th in assists