Mike Balenti, baseball player, 1911-1913

Mike Balenti

Born: 7/3/1886 in Calumet, OK, USA

Died: 8/4/1955 in Altus, OK, USA

MLB Debut: 1911-07-19 | Final Game: 1913-09-22

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 175 lbs

Full name: Michael Richard Balenti

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Biography

Mike Balenti, born in 1886, was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1911 to 1913. Primarily a position player, Balenti appeared in a total of 78 games during his time in Major League Baseball. He played in an era characterized by a transition in the game, as baseball was moving away from the deadball era and beginning to embrace more offensive strategies. Although his career batting average stood at .183, he contributed to his teams with a total of 40 hits and 11 runs batted in. Balenti's playing style was marked by his speed on the base paths, as evidenced by his 6 stolen bases, showcasing a knack for aggressive base running. While he did not hit any home runs during his brief career, his presence on the field and contributions as a role player were part of the fabric of the early 20th-century game. After his retirement in 1913, Balenti's time in baseball became a footnote in the larger narrative of the sport's evolution, but he remains a part of the rich tapestry of baseball history.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
78 219 19 40 2 4 0 11 6 6 33 0.183 0.208 0.228 0.436 -1334.1

Career AVG .183 vs. league average .263 across their career seasons — 30.6% below league average.

Career OBP .208 vs. league average .331 across their career seasons — 37.1% below league average.

Career SLG .228 vs. league average .351 across their career seasons — 35.0% below league average.

Career OPS 0.436 vs. league average 0.682 across their career seasons — 36.0% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1911 CIN NL 8 8 2 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0.250 — — — — 0.0
1913 SLA AL 70 211 17 38 2 4 0 11 3 6 32 0.180 .259 (-31%) .325 (-37%) .345 (-34%) .670 (-35%) -1334.1

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
OF 9 0 17 1 0 1
SS 58 0 109 173 24 26

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1911 CIN OF 1 0 0 0 0 0
1911 CIN SS 2 0 2 4 1 1
1913 SLA OF 8 0 17 1 0 1
1913 SLA SS 56 0 107 169 23 25

Career Games by Position

Position Games
First Base 1
Shortstop 56
Left Field 9
Center Field 2

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Carlisle Indian Industrial School Carlisle PA 1907, 1908, 1909
Texas A&M University College Station TX 1910