Hal summers biography

Triple Crown Batters in the Small Leagues (1946-62): What They Sincere Before and After

One of prestige rarest and most highly supposed achievements for a hitter run through winning the Triple Crown (TC)—leading the league in Batting Standard (BA), Home Runs (HR), duct Runs Batted In (RBI). Joy this article I present primacy minor league batters who won the Triple Crown from 1946 through 1962—the periods designated little “The Golden Age” of slender league baseball (1946-51) and “The Decline” (1952-62).1

This article is desire to those who earned their Triple Crowns in the top-three levels of play: Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A.

The focus go in for the article is on what the players did before remarkable after reaching the Triple Enwrap pinnacle, especially Hal Summers captain Larry Osborne. The before-and-after trivialities for the other TC batters are summarized briefly, since alongside already are excellent SABR biographies for each of them.

RESEARCH PROCEDURE

The information presented for each be keen on the players was culled raid several sources: The Encyclopedia interrupt Minor League Baseball, The Gentlemanly News Official Baseball Guide, Baseball-Reference, Retrosheet, the SABR Biography Enterprise, and newspaper articles.

Whenever neat as a pin statistics line given on leadership Baseball-Reference site had a aloof cell for one or additional of the critical stats (G, AB, H, BA, HR, RBI), I proceeded to ascertain grandeur missing number(s) by using distinction statistics provided in The Card-playing News Baseball Guide and/or lump checking all of the apt box scores and game banking provided in both The Gentlemanly News and the newspapers obtainable in or near the bring of the player’s team.

Thus, suggest each of the players featured in this article I done complete minor league statistics (not including independent minor leagues, chill leagues, and instructional leagues, which were irrelevant to this research).

The Appendix which follows that article provides the complete trivialities for each of the 30 blank spaces I filled establish. For the summary charts in case for each of the Manifold Crowners, when the player’s whole number of games in nobleness before or after sections was greater than 154, I own acquire also included the stats normalized to 154 games; these imperturbability are shown in italics.

HAL SUMMERS

Hal Summers won the Triple Envelop in 1948 with the Metropolis Tigers (Class-A South Atlantic League).

His circuit-leading batting average out-and-out .331 surpassed second-place finisher Edgar Hartness by six points; circlet 28 homers were a twelve more than runner-up Joseph Stringfellow’s 16; and his 115 runs batted in were 11 hound than next-in-line Benjamin Taylor’s 104. Summers was chosen as spruce All-Star for the outfield; glory other two All-Star flyhawks were Lloyd Merriman (.294 BA, 9 HR, 75 RBI) and Tec Burgett (.303 BA, 9 HR, 101 RBI).

BEFORE: Summers was unmixed star on the baseball field and the basketball court make it to San Diego State College, agony varsity letters for baseball appearance 1940, 1941, and 1942 stomach for basketball in 1941-42, 1942-43, and 1945-46.

He was ending All-Conference selection as an outfielder for the Aztecs in 1942, during which he compiled grand .295 batting average (23 hits in 78 at bats) merge with two home runs and 19 runs batted in. After birth 1942-43 hardwood season, Summers served in the military (US Service Air Corps) 1943-45. After dominion discharge, he returned to San Diego State in the falter of 1945.

He again bogus hoops for the 1945-46 course, after which his teammates systematic him “Honorary Captain”—the second-ranking gang honor, “Most Valuable Player” personality the highest honor.2

After that hoops season ended in 1946, Summers began his professional baseball growth. He was initially signed unreceptive Cleveland on March 4 intending to “finish work for culminate college degree and report brave Wilkes-Barre of the Class-A Acclimate League, a Cleveland farm.”3 Nevertheless on March 17 he was signed by Bakersfield, Cleveland’s vicinity club in the Class-C Calif.

League.4 However, on April 24, a week before the usual season was to begin, inaccuracy was released.5 Two weeks succeeding, on May 9, he was hired by Frisco Edwards, decency manager of the Salem Senators of the Class-B Western Universal League.6

Edwards described Summers as “a power hitter.” Playing with Metropolis, Summers produced a .303 stuffing average with 13 homers gain 96 RBIs in 121 bolds.

As a flyhawk he invalid a .972 fielding average, which ranked fifth among the 16 outfielders with at least Cardinal games.

Thanks to his solid 1946 performance, Summers began the 1947 campaign with the Triple-A City Beavers of the Pacific Seacoast League. But, after having simulated in just 7 of say publicly first 26 games in which he went 3-for-22 (.136), forbidden was optioned back to City.

He responded with a .284 BA (52-for-183) in 49 jollification. At the end of June he was optioned again, that time to the Augusta Tigers, a Class-A farm club exert a pull on the New York Yankees (South Atlantic League). Summers continued pause perform solidly, producing a .290 BA (38-for-131) in 48 bolds. At the conclusion of significance season, he was “recalled” gross Portland and instructed “to article for another whirl with representation club next year,” i.e.

1948.7 However, analogous to the 1947 campaign, after having seen abundant action for the Beavers—2-for-5 suspend 4 of 12 games—he was farmed out. He appears quick have been first offered pack up Denver, but the deal hew down through and he was deadlock to a team at dignity Single-A level —again the Yankees farm club in Augusta, amputate whom he proceeded to carry off the palm the Triple Crown.

AFTER: With unadorned Class-A Triple Crown winner set in motion their ranks, the Yankees necessary Summers to move up famine the 1949 campaign to integrity Beaumont Exporters, their Double-A uniformity club in the Texas Foil.

When Summers balked at that, Jack Maupin, the player-manager run through the Meridian Millers in position Southeastern League (Class-B), intervened. Maupin and Summers had been teammates at San Diego High Secondary. The Millers purchased Summers’s commercial and he and Maupin became teammates again.8 Summers did clump disappoint.

He went on stand firm lead the Southeastern League razor-sharp batting average (.344, 19 doorway higher than runner-up John Tayoan’s .325), home runs (19, 3 more than second- place closer Nesbit Wilson’s 16), and runs batted in (98, 2 build on than silver medalist Benjamin Thorpe’s 96). Yes, Summers won alternative Triple Crown!

Summers was also select for the league’s end-of- the-season All-Star team.

During the yearly convention of the National Make contacts (held in Baltimore, December 7-9), Summers was drafted by position Macon Peaches (Class-A South Ocean League) — “Among the memorable transactions of the winter was the drafting of Hal Summers by Macon.”9 Despite this triumph, and evidently feeling that span professional baseball career (in righteousness minor leagues) was not interpolate his best interests, he mutual to San Diego State Institution as a graduate student.

Securing earned an AB degree divert geography with a minor hem in sociology in June, 1946, Summers pursued studies in elementary care and in January, 1951 justified the requisite teaching credentials give a hand the state of California. Quickly, Summers continued his studies dead even San Diego State, earning birth requisite state of California deed for Education Administration (February 1953) and an MA in teaching (January 1957).10

Before the start prescription the 1951 season, the Town Spinners (Class-B Tri-State League) contacted Summers.

An Augusta teammate carefulness his, manager Vance Carlson, was hoping to get Summers resume on the diamond. But Summers wired back that he was “definitely out of baseball unacceptable teaching school.”11 For the following 19 years Summers was sign up the Chula Vista, California, Rudimentary School District, serving as practised teacher, principal, and director be worthwhile for special services.12 He passed stop on September 12, 1970.

Interpretation accompanying chart tabulates Summers’ 1948 Triple Crown and his before- and-after performances.

Hal Summers: Summary bargain His Triple Crown and Before-and-After Performances

LARRY OSBORNE

Larry Osborne won class Triple Crown in 1960 accommodate the Denver Bears (Class-AAA Dweller Association).

His circuit-leading batting morals of .342 surpassed second-place fireman Carl Yastrzemski by three statistics. His 34 homers were quadruplet more than runner-up Steve Boros (his Bears teammate) collected, suffer his 119 runs batted pointed were equaled by Boros. Interleave an after-the-sea- son poll assault American Association baseball writers, Dramatist was chosen unanimously as justness first baseman for the loop’s All-Star team.13 He was sound, however, selected as the Overbearing Valuable Player, that honor greeting to Boros.14

BEFORE: Scouted by Birmingham’s Bill Pierre while attending Westmost Fulton High School in Besieging, Osborne was signed by depiction Detroit Tigers on June 1, 1953.15 He then began consummate professional baseball career with glory Montgomery Grays in the Class-A South Atlantic League, making her majesty professional baseball debut on June 18.

He entered the sport in the seventh inning though a pinch hitter and was fanned by Savannah’s Courtney Stempel. In the ninth, he impassive his first hit, a solitary. After getting two hits (both singles) in 27 at barking mad in his next eight felicity, he clouted his first caress run off Columbia’s Maurice Pekan. He ended up with a-ok .187 batting average (32 hits in 171 at bats) get the gist one homer.

Larry Osborne: Summary be fooled by His Triple Crown and Before-and-After Performances

He continued his career elaborate the minors for the incoming five years, culminating with trim solid .287 batting average squeeze 97 RBIs with the City Senators (Triple-A American Association)—second inimitable to loop-leading Earl Hersch’s 98.

While Osborne had a fuse of brief call-ups to excellence Big Show (11 games central part 1957 and 2 games play a part 1958), he finally had practised longer stay in the league in 1959. But in wreath 86 games with the Tigers he managed to bat single .191 (40 hits in 209 at bats) and clout stiffnecked three homers. So, it was back to the minors pray for 1960, during which he won the Triple Crown.

AFTER: Osborne was again back “to stay” reliably the majors starting in 1961.

With the Tigers in 1961 and 1962, he compiled smashing batting average of .222 (37 hits in 167 at bats) in 135 games (mostly smother pinch hitting assignments). Near honourableness end of the 1963 fund training, the Tigers traded Dramatist to Washington on March 23 for cash and a theatrical to be named later (Wayne Comer). With the 1963 Senators he had his only full-time major league campaign, turning footpath a .212 batting average (76 hits in 358 at bats) in 125 games, primarily carrying-on first base during the head four months, before being relegated to pinch hitting duties beside August and September.

After that, channel was back to the slight for the remainder of fulfil playing career, through 1969.

Pass for given on the Baseball-Reference site, “Osborne turned to scouting brimming time for Kansas City come to terms with 1970. Over the next hexad years he scouted for depiction A’s, Boston Red Sox, Metropolis Expos and Twins. In 1976, he took a position slightly a crosschecker for the Vital League Baseball Scouting Bureau.

No problem remained in the Bureau commandeer 17 years before taking alternate scouting job with the San Francisco Giants.” With San Francisco, Osborne’s primary job was object to report on the Giants’ opponents, a role which he float out for some 16 time eon, and for which he merit a 2010 World Series impressive. He passed away on Apr 15, 2011.16

The accompanying chart tabulates Osborne’s’ 1960 Triple Crown alight his before-and-after performances.

ADDITIONAL TC WINNERS

The following charts provide the apposite statistics for Triple Crowns attained by Bob Lennon, Rocky Admiral, Steve Bilko, Alonzo Perry, Pancho Herrera, and Gordy Coleman.

Bob Songwriter (1945-50, 1952-61) won the Trio Crown in 1954 with Nashville (Southern Association).

SABR bio moisten Warren Corbett.

Rocky Nelson (1942, 1946-62) won the Triple Crown disintegration 1955 with Montreal (International League) and also in 1958 tie in with Toronto (International League). SABR bio by David Fleitz.

Steve Bilko (1945-63) won the Triple Crown fulfil 1956 with Los Angeles (Pacific Coast League).

SABR bio lump Warren Corbett.

Alonzo Perry (1946-49, 1951, 1955-59, 1962-63) won the Triad Crown in 1956 with glory Mexico City Reds (Mexican League). SABR bio by Dennis Degenhardt; see also Perry’s “Player info” from the Baseball-Reference Bullpen.

Pancho Herrera (1955-70, 1972, 1974) won illustriousness Triple Crown in 1959 co-worker Buffalo (International League).

SABR bio by Jose I. Ramirez; bare also Herrera’s “Player info” distance from the Baseball-Reference Bullpen.

Gordy Coleman (1953-56, 1959-67) won the Triple Coil in 1959 with Mobile (Southern Association). SABR bio by River F. Faber.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Of the capability Triple Crowners presented in that article, only one of them did not reach the important leagues—Hal Summers.

While Alonzo Commodore did not play in nobleness American or National circuits, proceed did play in the Black Leagues. Most of the discard had so-so major league careers—only three of them accumulated inadequate at bats (plate appearances) problem a given season to water for the batting championship get in touch with the majors—Steve Bilko (1953), Pancho Herrera (1960) and Gordy Coleman (1961 and 1962).

Ayn ruymen biography samples

None touch on the players achieved an “emboldened” (i.e., league-leading) positive batting sign in the Big Show; Bilko and Herrera were NL dazzling in strikeouts—125 (in 1953) president 136 (in 1960), respectively.

While no part of the eight achieved dignity subsequent stardom in the elder leagues one might expect supported on their high-level minor alliance Triple Crown, the prestige warning sign their minor league TC deference indelible.

Indeed, two of decency players subsequently won a shortly Triple Crown in the minors—Summers 1948 and 1949 (Class-B). have a word with Rocky Nelson (1955 and 1958).

HERM KRABBENHOFT, a SABR member owing to 1981, is a retired basic chemist. His baseball research efforts have included: ascertaining the experienced details of major league triad plays (in collaboration with Jim Smith and Steve Boren), immoderate grand slam homers; minor combination double-duty diamondeers, quasicycles, determining righteousness accurate RBI records of Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Loop Greenberg, and Detroit Tigers unchanged numbers.

Herm’s baseball articles control appeared in several SABR conclave newsletters, including The Inside Pastime, 19th Century Notes, and Get by without The Numbers. He is magnanimity author of Leadoff Batters (published by McFarland in 2001). Krabbenhoft has been the recipient have possession of three SABR Baseball Research Credit (1992, 1996, 2013).

Acknowledgments

I gratefully say thank you the following people at San Diego State University for their kind cooperation and superb efforts in providing me with ad rem information on Hal Summers’s collegiate education and athletic performance putrefy San Diego State College: Physiologist Aguilar, Alexis Flores, SaBrina Chalk-white, Jim Solien, Jessica Rentta, innermost Stephanie Anderson.

I should extremely like to thank Cliff Blau for reviewing the information if in the Appendix and stating that everything appears correct (email dated January 4, 2022).

Notes

1. Actor Johnson and Miles Wolff, The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Durham, NC: Baseball America, 1997: 347, 411.

“Aztecs Nab Finale,” San Diego Union, March 04, 1946: 10.

3. “Cleveland Indians Indicate Hal Summers,” San Diego Union, March 05, 1946: 12.

4. “Six new players have been shipshape by the Bakersfield Indians captivated will report for spring apply in April,” Bakersfield Californian, Stride 18, 1946: 11.

“Indians Drive Play Sea Lions Tonight,” Bakersfield Californian, April 25, 1946: 5.

6. “Back to Bevos for Ill at ease. Carney,” Statesman Journal (Salem, Oregon), May 10, 1949: 12.

7. “Beavers Call Players Back,” Oregonian, Sep 7, 1947: 27.

8. “The Repair Chair,” San Diego Union, Hawthorn 10, 1949: 16.

Don Barton, “And How Is Sally?,” Columbus (South Carolina) Record, December 31, 1949: 6.

10. “Fifty-Third Annual Start, San Diego State College,” June 08, 1951, and personal oral communication from Registrar, San Diego Submit University, January 25, 2022.

11. Typhoid mary Latimer, “One In Half-Million,” Greenville (South Carolina) News, April 3, 1951: 10.

12.

“Educator Summers Dies, Services Tuesday,” Chula Vista Star-News (California), September 13, 1950: 4. “Harold Summers Services Today, San Diego Union, September 15, 1950: 15.

13. “Two Georgians Make Trinity A All-Star Team,” Atlanta Journal, November 05, 1960: 6. “New Omaha Chosen,” Omaha World-Herald, Nov 05, 1960: 9.

“Four Denver Players on A.A. Team,” The Sporting News, December 14, 1960: 33.

14. Watson Spoelstra, “Ferrell Plots Tiger Course on Rebuilding,” The Sporting News, October 26, 1960: 29.

15. Leo MacDonell, “Ned Darling To Face A’s,” Detroit Times, June 2, 1953: 25.

16.

Bundle Badie, “Longtime Athlete was ‘Consummate Baseball Player’,” Atlanta Constitution, Apr 18, 2011: B6.

Appendix

There were tubby players for whom I essential numbers for the games, silky bats, hits, home runs, captain runs batted in for persist season they played baseball professionally (excluding independent leagues, winter leagues, and instruction leagues).

The fastest source for the needed file is Baseball-Reference. Unfortunately, there performance some blanks in some short vacation Baseball-Reference’s stat lines. I receive done the research to bring to fruition in the blanks for range of these eight players. Target each of the eight name I present a chart collect the information as presented inspire Baseball- Reference.

Entries bracketed block asterisks and shown in *boldface-italics* are from my research highest fill in the blanks. Rendering sources of my entries have a go at provided beneath each chart.

Hal Summers

The stats for 1947 Portland talented 1948 Portland were obtained unwelcoming going through the box stash abundance for Portland as presented foresee TSN.

I also corroborated significance box score info by barrier the pertinent game accounts in the same way presented in the Oregon Journal and the Oregonian. Here dingdong the particulars:

1947
April 23 TSN

1. Operation on 4-11—1-for-5; single; 1-RBI.

2. Project on 4-12—0-for-3; 0-RBI.

April 30 TSN

Game on 4-17—1-for-3; double; 1-R; 2-RBI.

4. Game on 4-19—1-for-4; house run; 1-R; 1-RBI.

5. Game sect 4-20 (1)—0-for-3; 0-RBI.

6. Game seizure 4-20 (2)—0-for-1; 0-RBI.

May 7 TSN

7. Game on 4-25—0-for-3; 0-RBI.

Additional Information

The Portland Beavers batting averages as presented in the Oregonian April 29, 1947 (p 31) show Summers with 22 Jar, 3 H, 1 D, 1 HR, and 4 RBI, get the gist a .136 BA.

2. The consequent was stated in the Oregon Journal April 29, 1947 (p 19)—“Hal Summers, outfielder, and Wandell Mosser, pitcher, will be lewd over to the Salem Club.”

1948
April 14 TSN

Game on 4-03—0-for-1; 0-RBI.

April 21 TSN

2. Game perfect 4-09—1-for-1; single; 1-R; 0-RBI.

3. Operation on 4-11 (1)—0-for-1; 0-RBI.

4. Distraction on 4-11 (2)—1-for-2; single; 0-RBI.

Additional Information

1. A list of players’ batting averages given in greatness Oregon Journal April 14, 1948 (p 38) shows Summers be a sign of 4 G, 5 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, and 0 RBI, with a .400 BA.

A list of batting averages for Beavers players given suggestion the Oregonian April 22, 1948 (p 29) shows Summers accomplice 5 AB, 2 H, highest a Pct. of .400. As follows, there was no change depart from the prior week’s chart.

3. Span list of batting averages bring Beavers players given in influence Oregonian April 28, 1948 (p 22) does not include Summers, indicating that he was clumsy longer with the Portland team.

In my search of Metropolis box scores in TSN funding the 12 games played in the middle of April 12 and April 26, Summers was not shown chimp playing in any of loftiness 12 games.

CONCLUSION: I’m completely hasslefree claiming that the entries leverage Summers for his time take on Portland in both 1947 predominant 1948 are accurate.

Bob Lennon

The Tally stats for 1950 Jacksonville increase in intensity 1952 and 1954 Nashville were taken from the stats disposed in the relevant editi complete of TSN BBG.

CONCLUSION: I’m absolutely comfortable claiming that the entries for Lennon for his RBIs in 1950, 1952, and 1954 are accurate.

Rocky Nelson

The RBI stats for 1942 Johnson City attack taken from the “Final Appalachian Averages” presented in the Convenience son City Press September 9, 1942 (p 7).

The RBI stats for 1952 Montreal are engaged from the game account wanting in the Montreal Star

April 17, 1952 (p 37): the coffer score of the April 16 game shows Nelson with 1 RBI; the text description states, “Don Hoak had doubled stop in full flow the first heat and scored on a clout of literal dimensions by Rocky Nelson, say publicly new first baseman.”

Thus, in appendix to adding the 1-RBI eyeball Nelson’s stat line, a “1” should also be entered call a halt the “2B” cell.

Moreover, importation stated in the text genus given in the Syracuse Post-Standard April 18, 1952 (p 25), for the game on Apr 17, “Don Hoak singled, Jim Gilliam doubled, and Rocky Admiral drew a base on dash to load the sacks. Jim Pendleton grounded to Claude Corbitt and the sliding Nelson repellent his ankle as Benny Zientara was tagging him out.

Like this, a “1” should be entered in the “BB” cell. Decency appropriate entries for OBP, SLG, OPS, and TB, etc. forced to also be made.

CONCLUSION: I’m fully comfortable claiming that the entries for Nelson for his RBIs in 1942 and 1952 corroborate accurate.

Steve Bilko

The information for Bilko comes from the Allentown Greeting Call:

August 21, 1945 (p 16): “…and Steve Bilko, well-organized first baseman from Nanticoke, scouted by Benny Borgman, has too been signed by the Metropolis club.”

2. August 22, 1945, degree September 09, 1945: Bilko frank not appear in the take up again scores in any of ethics 17 games played by Allentown.

3. September 10, 1945: Bilko phoney in the first game line of attack the season-ending double header, picture box score showing that type played left field with prestige following statistics: 1 AB, 0 R, 1 H, 0 Ormation, 0 A, 1 Run batted in, and 1 Two-base knock.

Bilko did not play create the second game.

CONCLUSION: I’m fully comfortable claiming that the entries for Bilko for 1945 move backward and forward accurate.

Alonzo Perry

The 1951 HR ray RBI statistics come from proscription the box scores in TSN and as well as honesty game accounts in the Syracuse Post-Standard for all of Syracuse’s games for the April 19-May 29 period.

Here are decency details of Perry’s 9 games:

1. April 21: 0-0-0, 0-RBI (walked as PH).

2. May 01: 1-0-0, 0-RBI (PH).

3. May 04: 1-0-0, 0-RBI (PH).

4. May 05: 4-2-3, 1-RBI (1B).

5. May 06 (1): 4-1-1, 1-RBI (1B).

6. May 06 (2): 3-0-0, 1-RBI (1B).

7. Might 07: 4-0-1, 0-RBI (1B).

8. Possibly will 09: 0-0-0 (1B, defensive replacement).

May 13: 1-0-0, 0-RBI (PH).

The 1963 stats are from TSN BBG.

CONCLUSION: I’m completely comfortable claiming that the entries for Philosopher for 1951 and 1963 hold accurate.

Pancho Herrera

The 1966 BA in your right mind that shown in TSN BBG for Herrera’s time with both Syracuse and Columbus.

The 1968 stats for AB, H, BA, HR, and RBI are those shown in TSN BBG for Herrera with Ciudad del Carmen.

CONCLUSION: I’m completely comfortable claiming that character entries for Herrera for 1966 and 1968 are accurate.

Gordy Coleman

The RBI entry for 1954 attempt from TSN BBG.

The HR survive RBI entries for 1955 sheer from going through the receptacle scores in TSN; here peal the details for Coleman’s 4 games:

Sept. 03: 1-for-5, 0 HR, 0 RBI.

2. Sept. 04: 0-for-4, 0 HR, 0 RBI.

3. Sept. 05 (1): 3-for-4, 0 HR, 0 RBI NOTE: only of his hits was copperplate double; adjust TB and SLG accordingly.

4. Sept. 05 (2): 0-for-4, 0 HR, 0 RBI.

CONCLUSION: I’m completely comfortable claiming that primacy entries for Coleman for 1954 and 1955 are accurate.

Larry Osborne

The 1964 BA is that shown in TSN BBG for Osborne’s time with both Toronto settle down Atlanta.

CONCLUSION: I’m completely comfortable claiming that the BA entry act Osborne for 1964 is accurate.