WHY I THINK SHERRY MAGEE SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK SHERRY MAGEE SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Sherry Magee was one of the top hitters of the dead ball era. A .291 lifetime hitter, Magee led the NL in RBI’s four times. He stole 441 bases, including home plate 23 times. Magee was also a superb fielder, as he played first base and all three outfield positions, compiling a career fielding percentage seven points above the league average. He could also fill in at second, third, and short when called upon, and played each position brilliantly. Sherry Magee began his career with the Phillies in 1904, driving in 57 runs in 95 games. That excellent rookie season solidified Magee as the Phils’ regular leftfielder, and he proved his value by playing every game in 1905 and hitting .299. Magee established himself as one of the best hitters in the game. He finished in the NL’s top ten in batting, homers, and RBI’s a total of 22 times. Magee had the best season of his career in 1910, when he hit .331/.445/.507 and led the MLB in both runs scored and RBI’s. Magee played for Philadelphia until 1915, when he joined the Boston Braves. He hit well that season, but slumped in 1916. After Magee got off to a slow start in 1917, the Braves left him on waivers. He was claimed by the Cincinnati Reds and rallied to finish the season on a high note. Magee had one last great season in 1918 (.298, league leading 76 RBI’s) but was only a part time player in 1919, suffering from a serious illness. He pinch hit twice in the World Series that year, and went 1-for-2. Although 1919 was his last season in the Majors, Magee continued to play in the minors until 1927. He served as a NL umpire in 1928, but died of pneumonia before the start of the 1929 season. Sherry Magee was a great hitter, a consistent run producer, and a stellar fielder. A complete player, Magee should have been in Cooperstown by now. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 2,087 season high: 156 in 1915 led NL: 155 in 1905 

At Bats career: 7,441 season high: 603 in 1905 

Hits career: 2,169 season high: 180 in 1905 led NL: 171 in 1914 

Doubles career: 425 season high: 39 in 1910 and 1914 led NL: 39 in 1914 

Triples career: 166 season high: 17 in 1905 and 1910 

Home Runs career: 83 season high: 15 in 1911 and 1914 

Runs career: 1,112 season high: 110 in 1910 led NL: 110 in 1910 

Runs Batted In career: 1,176 season high: 123 in 1910 led NL: 85 in 1907, 123 in 1910, 103 in 1914, 76 in 1918 

Stolen Bases career: 441 season high: 55 in 1906 

Walks career: 736 season high: 94 in 1910 

Strikeouts career: 624 season high: 60 in 1908 

Batting Average career: .291 season high: .331 in 1910 led NL: .331 in 1910 

On Base Percentage career: .364 season high: .445 in 1910 led NL: .445 in 1910 

Slugging Percentage career: .427 season high: .509 in 1914 led NL: .507 in 1910, .509 in 1914 

Total Bases career: 3,175 season high: 277 in 1914 led NL: 263 in 1910, 277 in 1914 

Sacrifice Hits career: 260 season high: 29 in 1912 

Fielding Percentage career: .971 season high: .987 in 1915 led NL LF: .981 in 1911 and 1916 led NL OF: .981 in 1911 

Double Plays career: 117 season high: 43 in 1918 led NL LF: 7 in 1905 and 1907 

Putouts career: 5,135 season high: 692 in 1918 led NL LF: 341 in 1905, 318 in 1906 

Assists career: 433 season high: 187 in 1914 led NL LF: 17 in 1906 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-finished seventh in the NL MVP Award voting in 1914 

-finished second in the 1907 NL Batting Race (.328) 

-led the NL in extra-base hits in 1906 (50), 1910 (62), and 1914 (65) 

-led the NL in times on base in 1910 (278) 

-drove in two runs on his MLB debut 

-hit five home runs off of Hall of Famer Rube Marquard, three off of Christy Mathewson, two off of Babe Adams, and one each off of Grover Cleveland Alexander, Mordecai Brown, Bill Doak, and Sam Leever 

-ranks 27th in career triples and 31st in sacrifice hits 

-also played 53 games as a pinch hitter

fix label outfielder