Ralph Birkofer, baseball player, 1933-1937

Ralph Birkofer

Born: 11/5/1908 in Cincinnati, OH, USA

Died: 3/16/1971 in Cincinnati, OH, USA

MLB Debut: 1933-04-25 | Final Game: 1937-07-11

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 213 lbs

Full name: Ralph Joseph Birkofer

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Biography

Ralph Birkofer was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1933 to 1937. Born in 1908, Birkofer made his mark during an era that bridged the Great Depression and the pre-World War II years, a time when the game was evolving both in strategy and player development. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 31 wins and 28 losses, demonstrating a competitive spirit on the mound. His earned run average (ERA) stood at 4.19, reflecting the challenges pitchers faced during this period, particularly with the increasing focus on offense in the game. Birkofer was known for his ability to strike out hitters, finishing his career with 224 strikeouts, a notable achievement for a pitcher of his time. He also contributed to his teams with two saves, showcasing his versatility in high-pressure situations. Although not a household name, Birkofer’s contributions to the game during the mid-1930s remain a part of baseball history, illustrating the resilience and talent of players who competed during a transformative era in the sport.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
31 28 132 64 24 2 2 544.0 618 253 24 175 224 4.19 0

Career ERA 4.19 vs. league average 4.28 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year Team Lg W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER BB SO ERA Lg ERA Pitcher PIV
1933 PIT NL 4 2 9 8 3 1 0 50.7 43 13 17 20 2.31 3.86 (+40%) 527.6
1934 PIT NL 11 12 41 24 11 0 1 204.0 227 93 66 71 4.10 4.29 (+4%) 116.3
1935 PIT NL 9 7 37 18 8 1 1 150.3 173 68 42 80 4.07 4.35 (+6%) 3224.3
1936 PIT NL 7 5 34 13 2 0 0 109.3 130 57 41 44 4.69 4.59 (-2%) 828.8
1937 BRO NL 0 2 11 1 0 0 0 29.7 45 22 9 9 6.67 4.34 (-54%) -359.8

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
134 207 18 50 7 1 0 22 0 3 39 0.242 0.256 0.285 0.541 -656.3

Career AVG .242 vs. league average .278 across their career seasons — 13.0% below league average.

Career OBP .256 vs. league average .341 across their career seasons — 25.0% below league average.

Career SLG .285 vs. league average .395 across their career seasons — 27.8% below league average.

Career OPS 0.541 vs. league average 0.736 across their career seasons — 26.5% 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
1933 PIT NL 9 22 1 7 0 0 0 4 0 0 4 0.318 — — — — 0.0
1934 PIT NL 41 75 6 17 3 0 0 11 0 1 14 0.227 .278 (-18%) .340 (-30%) .392 (-32%) .733 (-31%) -419.1
1935 PIT NL 38 58 5 14 3 1 0 4 0 0 8 0.241 .279 (-14%) .342 (-26%) .399 (-18%) .742 (-22%) -237.3
1936 PIT NL 34 41 5 9 1 0 0 3 0 1 9 0.220 — — — — 0.0
1937 BRO NL 12 11 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0.273 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 132 0 7 86 14 2

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1933 PIT P 9 0 1 10 0 0
1934 PIT P 41 0 2 39 3 1
1935 PIT P 37 0 3 18 4 1
1936 PIT P 34 0 1 14 7 0
1937 BRO P 11 0 0 5 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 132