Jeff Cross, baseball player, 1942-1948

Jeff Cross

Born: 8/28/1918 in Tulsa, OK, USA

Died: 7/23/1997 in Huntsville, TX, USA

MLB Debut: 1942-09-27 | Final Game: 1948-06-08

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 160 lbs

Full name: Joffre James Cross

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Biography

Jeff Cross was a professional baseball player born in 1918, who played primarily as a position player during his career from 1942 until June 8, 1948. He made his mark in a challenging era for Major League Baseball, navigating through the backdrop of World War II, which impacted many players and the overall competitive landscape of the game. Cross appeared in a total of 119 games, during which he recorded 23 hits and drove in 10 runs, finishing his career with a batting average of .162. Despite not being known for his offensive prowess—evidenced by his lack of home runs and modest RBI totals—Cross contributed to his teams with speed on the bases, accumulating 4 stolen bases throughout his time in the league. His playing style reflected the grit and determination of his time, as he played during an era when many players were serving in the military, and opportunities were limited. Although not a standout statistically, Cross's presence in the game during the early post-war years adds to the rich tapestry of baseball history, highlighting the diverse experiences of players during this transformative period in the sport.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
119 142 22 23 4 0 0 10 4 20 18 0.162 0.265 0.190 0.456 -543.6

Career AVG .162 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — 37.5% below league average.

Career OBP .265 vs. league average .332 across their career seasons — 20.1% below league average.

Career SLG .190 vs. league average .366 across their career seasons — 48.0% below league average.

Career OPS 0.456 vs. league average 0.698 across their career seasons — 34.7% 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 STL NL 1 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.250 — — — — 0.0
1946 STL NL 49 69 17 15 3 0 0 6 4 10 8 0.217 .256 (-15%) .328 (-4%) .358 (-27%) .687 (-16%) -161.1
1947 STL NL 51 49 4 5 1 0 0 3 0 10 6 0.102 — — — — -382.6
1948 STL NL 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
1948 CHC NL 16 20 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0.100 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
2B 11 0 20 13 2 0
3B 16 0 5 14 1 1
SS 41 0 43 81 9 19

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1942 SLN SS 1 0 0 3 0 0
1946 SLN 2B 8 0 16 9 2 0
1946 SLN 3B 1 0 0 1 0 0
1946 SLN SS 17 0 25 40 2 10
1947 SLN 2B 2 0 4 4 0 0
1947 SLN 3B 15 0 5 13 1 1
1947 SLN SS 14 0 15 30 4 9
1948 CHN 2B 1 0 0 0 0 0
1948 CHN SS 9 0 3 8 3 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Second Base 11
Third Base 16
Shortstop 41

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
University of Oklahoma Norman OK 1938