WHY I THINK BOBBY VEACH SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK BOBBY VEACH SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

Bobby Veach was the regular Tiger leftfielder from 1913 through 1922. He shared the outfield with three Hall of Famers during that time (Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, and later Harry Heilmann), and he often played in their long shadows. He was a fantastic hitter and the perhaps best fielder of the four, but he had the misfortune of being remembered as the worst outfielder in Detroit instead of as a member of the greatest outfield of all time. Bobby Veach began his career with the Tigers in 1912, batting .342 in 23 games near the end of the season. He took over as a regular in 1913 and established himself as a star in 1915 when he hit .313 and won his first of three RBI titles. Always a steady hitter, Veach had his best season to date in 1919, when he batted .355 and led the Majors in hits, doubles, and triples. As the dead ball era turned into the live ball era, Veach began to hit for power. His 16 home runs in 1921 was an impressive power number in those days, and it complemented a robust .338 batting average. In 1923, Veach shared playing time with yet another Hall of Famer - Heinie Manush - and seeing as how Veach was 35, he was the natural choice to go. He was sold to the Red Sox in the offseason. Veach still had some life in his bat, as he batted .295 in 1924 and drove in 99 runs. He played one last season in 1925, splitting his services between three teams, and batted a combined .323. He appeared in two World Series games with the Washington Senators, who fell to the Pirates in seven games. Bobby Veach was a marvelous hitter, a consistent run producer, and a solid defensive leftfielder. He would not at all be out of place if he were in the Hall of Fame. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,821 season high: 155 in 1922 led AL: 154 in 1920, 155 in 1922 

At Bats career: 6,656 season high: 618 in 1922 

Hits career: 2,063 season high: 207 in 1921 led AL: 191 in 1919 

Doubles career: 393 season high: 45 in 1919 led AL: 40 in 1915, 45 in 1919 

Triples career: 147 season high: 17 in 1919 led AL: 17 in 1919 

Home Runs career: 64 season high: 16 in 1921 

Runs career: 957 season high: 110 in 1921 

Runs Batted In career: 1,174 season high: 128 in 1921 led AL: 112 in 1915, 110 in 1917, 84 in 1918 

Stolen Bases career: 195 season high: 24 in 1916 

Walks career: 571 season high: 68 in 1915 

Strikeouts career: 370 season high: 44 in 1917 

Batting Average career: .310 season high: .355 in 1919 

On Base Percentage career: .370 season high: .398 in 1919 

Slugging Percentage career: .442 season high: .529 in 1921 

Total Bases career: 2,942 season high: 324 in 1921 

Sacrifice Hits career: 271 season high: 36 in 1922 

Fielding Percentage career: .964 season high: .982 in 1922 led AL LF: .975 in 1915, .973 in 1921, .982 in 1922 

Double Plays career: 42 season high: 6 in 1914 and 1920 led AL LF: 6 in 1914, 4 in 1915, 5 in 1916 

Putouts career: 3,754 season high: 384 in 1921 led AL LF: 297 in 1915, 354 in 1917 and 1920, 277 in 1918, 335 in 1919, 370 in 1921, 366 in 1922 led AL OF: 384 in 1921 

Assists career: 207 season high: 26 in 1920 led AL LF: 19 in 1915, 24 in 1920 led AL OF: 26 in 1920 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-went 1-for-3 in his final regular season game 

-led the AL in hit by pitch (9) in 1917 

-led the AL in plate appearances (705) in 1922 

-finished second to Cobb in the AL Batting race in 1919 

-went 6-for-6 and hit for the cycle on September 17, 1920, the same day that George Burns hit for the cycle 

-pinch hit for Babe Ruth on August 9, 1925 

-hit three home runs each off of Urban Shocker and Stan Coveleski, two off of Waite Hoyt, and one each off of Carl Mays, Herb Pennock, Red Faber, and Jack Quinn 

-originally a pitcher, he pitched one game in 1918 and earned a save 

-seven times led AL leftfielders in games (and three times led all outfielders) 

-ended Babe Ruth’s 25 inning scoreless streak in 1916