Augie Galan
Augie Galan | |
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Outfielder | |
Born: Berkeley, California, U.S. | May 23, 1912|
Died: December 28, 1993 Fairfield, California, U.S. | (aged 81)|
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 29, 1934, for the Chicago Cubs | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 26, 1949, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .287 |
Home runs | 100 |
Runs batted in | 830 |
Teams | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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August John Galan (May 23, 1912 – December 28, 1993) was an American
Early life
Galan was born in Berkeley, California, one of eight children. His parents had emigrated from France in the late 19th century, and his father operated a French hand laundry on Berkeley’s University Avenue. At age 11, Augie Galan broke his right elbow playing sandlot ball. He concealed the injury from his parents, fearful of being barred from further play. The arm was never set, healed improperly, and it was never fully healthy throughout Galan's professional career. He graduated from Berkeley High School.[1][2]
Minor leagues
Galan started in the Texas League and graduated to the
Major leagues
In a 16-season big-league career, Galan posted a .287
, each time finishing in the NL's top ten in that category.In 1937, Galan was the first National Leaguer to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in a game.
In 1935, he became the first full-time player to make 649 plate appearances and not hit into a double play,[4] though he hit into one triple play.[5] That year, he led the National League with 133 runs scored. Often injured (he broke his knee in 1940), Galan had a deformed arm from a childhood injury. The knee injury eventually forced him to give up batting from the right side of the plate.
Later years in baseball
After leaving the major leagues in 1949, Galan returned to the San Francisco Bay Area and played two more seasons with the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League, then managed the club to a 77–103 record (seventh place) in 1953. He joined the Philadelphia Athletics' coaching staff in 1954, their last year in that city, and went on to spend 17 years as a minor league coach and manager in the Athletics' organization.[citation needed]
Personal life
Galan died in 1993 in Fairfield, California, at 81 years of age. He was survived by his wife of 40 years, Shirley, and four children.[6]
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
References
- ^ King, Greg. "Augie Galan". sabr.org. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
- ^ a b Bojanowski, Mike. "The Top 100 Cubs Of All Time – #44 Augie Galan". bleedcubbieblue.com. SB Nationdate=January 6, 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
- ^ Solomon, Abbot Neil, "Baseball Records Illustrated", Quintet Publishing, London, 1988.
- ^ "Single Season Grounding Into Double Play Records". baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
- ^ "Reds Stop Cubs, 8-4 Triple Play Aiding – Cincinnati Batsmen Tally Four Runs in 12th After Three-Ply Killing in 11th – Derringer Goes Route – Reached for 16 Hits, Including Homer by Lindstrom, But Strikes Out Ten". The New York Times. The Associated Press. April 22, 1935. p. 20. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "Augie Galan, Baseball Player, 81". The New York Times. December 30, 1993. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
External links
- Augie Galan at Find a Grave
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or SABR Biography Project