Flea Clifton, baseball player, 1934-1937

Flea Clifton

Born: 12/12/1908 in Cincinnati, OH, USA

Died: 12/22/1997 in Cincinnati, OH, USA

MLB Debut: 1934-04-29 | Final Game: 1937-07-01

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 160 lbs

Full name: Herman Earl Clifton

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Biography

Flea Clifton was born in 1908 and made his mark in Major League Baseball as a position player during a brief career that spanned from 1934 to 1937. Playing in an era characterized by a transition from the deadball era to a more offensively driven game, Clifton appeared in 87 games, showcasing a combination of speed and defensive capability. While his batting average settled at .200, he contributed to his teams with 39 hits, accumulating 13 RBIs, and successfully stealing 5 bases throughout his career. Clifton's impact on the field extended beyond mere statistics. Although he never hit a home run in the majors, his ability to get on base and create opportunities for his teammates reflected the style of play valued in the mid-1930s. He was part of a generation of players navigating the challenges of the Great Depression, where the game was not only a source of entertainment but also a means of escape for fans. Despite a relatively short career, Flea Clifton remains a part of baseball history, embodying the spirit of perseverance and determination that characterized many players of his time.

Negro Leagues Career Statistics

Batting

PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS
4.0 4.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000

Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting

Season PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS
1933 4.0 4.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
87 195 27 39 7 0 0 13 5 17 28 0.200 0.268 0.236 0.504 -732.2

Career AVG .200 vs. league average .280 across their career seasons — 28.5% below league average.

Career OBP .268 vs. league average .344 across their career seasons — 22.2% below league average.

Career SLG .236 vs. league average .399 across their career seasons — 40.8% below league average.

Career OPS 0.504 vs. league average 0.743 across their career seasons — 32.2% 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
1934 DET AL 16 16 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0.062 — — — — 0.0
1935 DET AL 43 110 15 28 5 0 0 9 2 5 13 0.255 .279 (-9%) .342 (-14%) .399 (-25%) .742 (-20%) -388.8
1936 DET AL 13 26 5 5 1 0 0 1 0 4 3 0.192 — — — — 0.0
1937 DET AL 15 43 4 5 1 0 0 2 3 7 10 0.116 — — — — -343.4

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
4 16 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0.000

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1935 WS DET 4 16 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0.000

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
2B 10 0 19 28 4 5
3B 34 0 33 56 6 4
SS 14 0 18 27 2 5

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1934 DET 2B 1 0 1 2 1 0
1934 DET 3B 4 0 2 5 0 0
1935 DET 2B 5 0 12 19 0 3
1935 DET 3B 21 0 22 35 4 2
1935 DET SS 4 0 0 5 0 1
1936 DET 2B 1 0 0 1 0 0
1936 DET 3B 2 0 0 2 1 1
1936 DET SS 6 0 12 13 2 3
1937 DET 2B 3 0 6 6 3 2
1937 DET 3B 7 0 9 14 1 1
1937 DET SS 4 0 6 9 0 1

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Second Base 10
Third Base 34
Shortstop 14