Pete Center, baseball player, 1942-1946

Pete Center

Born: 4/22/1912 in Hazel Green, KY, USA

Died: 8/8/2004 in Campton, KY, USA

MLB Debut: 1942-09-11 | Final Game: 1946-09-08

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 190 lbs

Full name: Marvin Earl Center

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Biography

Pete Center was a professional baseball pitcher who played from 1942 to 1946, a period marked by the challenges and uncertainties of World War II. Born in 1912, Center's career unfolded in an era when many players were enlisted, which created unique opportunities for those who remained in the league. Over his brief but impactful career, he compiled a record of 7-7 with an earned run average (ERA) of 4.1. Known for his competitive spirit on the mound, he notched 50 strikeouts and recorded 3 saves, contributing to his team's efforts during a tumultuous time in American history. Center's playing style reflected the dynamics of the pitching game in the mid-20th century, where versatility and resilience were crucial. Although he did not achieve the same level of fame as some of his contemporaries, his contributions to the teams he played for during the war years were significant in maintaining the integrity and competitiveness of the sport. After retiring in 1946, Center's legacy remained as a symbol of the dedication and perseverance that characterized baseball during one of its most challenging eras.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
7 7 77 9 2 0 3 160.3 154 73 7 70 50 4.10 0

Career ERA 4.10 vs. league average 3.58 across their career seasons — 14.4% worse than 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
1942 CLE AL 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3.3 7 6 4 0 16.20 — 0.0
1943 CLE AL 1 2 24 1 0 0 1 42.3 29 13 18 10 2.76 3.50 (+21%) -932.3
1945 CLE AL 6 3 31 8 2 0 1 85.7 89 38 28 34 3.99 3.67 (-9%) 925.9
1946 CLE AL 0 2 21 0 0 0 1 29.0 29 16 20 6 4.97 3.59 (-38%) -1204.2

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
77 31 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 12 0.065 0.094 0.065 0.158 0.0

Career AVG .065 vs. league average .257 across their career seasons — 74.9% below league average.

Career OBP .094 vs. league average .326 across their career seasons — 71.3% below league average.

Career SLG .065 vs. league average .352 across their career seasons — 81.7% below league average.

Career OPS 0.158 vs. league average 0.679 across their career seasons — 76.7% 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
1942 CLE AL 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1943 CLE AL 24 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1945 CLE AL 31 22 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 0.091 — — — — 0.0
1946 CLE AL 21 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 77 0 5 21 2 1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1942 CLE P 1 0 0 0 0 0
1943 CLE P 24 0 1 8 1 0
1945 CLE P 31 0 4 7 0 1
1946 CLE P 21 0 0 6 1 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 77

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Morehead State University Morehead KY 1935