John Ganzel

Born: 4/7/1874 in Kalamazoo, MI, USA

Died: 1/14/1959 in Orlando, FL, USA

MLB Debut: 1898-04-21 | Final Game: 1908-09-30

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 195 lbs

Full name: John Henry Ganzel

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Biography

John Ganzel was a professional baseball player born in 1874, whose career spanned from 1898 to September 30, 1908. A versatile position player, Ganzel appeared in 747 games throughout his time in Major League Baseball. He achieved notable offensive numbers, amassing 682 hits and driving in 336 runs, while maintaining a batting average of .251. His power at the plate was reflected in his 18 home runs, and he also showcased his speed on the bases with 48 stolen bases, making him a well-rounded asset for his teams. In an era that bridged the late 19th century and the early 20th century, Ganzel played during a time of significant transition in baseball. The game was evolving with changes in rules and playing styles, moving away from the deadball era's emphasis on small ball tactics to a more dynamic approach. Ganzel's contributions as a consistent hitter and base runner made him a valuable player in the lineups of the teams he represented, including the New York Giants and the Chicago Cubs. His career remains a testament to the foundational years of professional baseball, showcasing the skills and athleticism that would pave the way for future generations of players.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
747	2715	281	682	104	50	18	336	48	136	173	0.251	0.298	0.346	0.644	-793.4

Career AVG .251 vs. league average .257 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .298 vs. league average .314 across their career seasons — 5.4% below league average.

Career SLG .346 vs. league average .333 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.644 vs. league average 0.648 across their career seasons — near 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
1898	PIT	NL	15	45	5	6	0	0	0	2	0	4	1	0.133	—	—	—	—	-329.2
1900	CHC	NL	78	284	29	78	14	4	4	32	5	10	10	0.275	.279 (-2%)	.338 (-7%)	.366 (+8%)	.705 (+1%)	-39.6
1901	NY1	NL	138	526	42	113	13	3	2	66	6	20	32	0.215	.271 (-21%)	.326 (-22%)	.359 (-27%)	.686 (-25%)	-2541.0
1903	NYY	AL	129	476	62	132	25	7	3	71	9	30	38	0.277	.261 (+6%)	.316 (+6%)	.345 (+9%)	.662 (+8%)	714.4
1904	NYY	AL	130	465	50	121	16	10	6	48	13	24	41	0.260	.246 (+5%)	.300 (+3%)	.321 (+17%)	.622 (+10%)	749.3
1907	CIN	NL	145	531	61	135	20	16	2	64	9	29	24	0.254	.245 (+4%)	.304 (-3%)	.308 (+18%)	.613 (+8%)	458.1
1908	CIN	NL	112	388	32	97	16	10	1	53	6	19	27	0.250	.240 (+4%)	.298 (-3%)	.306 (+14%)	.605 (+6%)	194.7

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1B	726	367	7430	416	102	362
2B	9	9	10	30	2	4
SS	1	0	1	3	0	0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1898	PIT	1B	12	0	102	3	4	5
1900	CHN	1B	78	0	817	34	17	40
1901	NY1	1B	138	0	1421	77	21	59
1903	NYA	1B	129	0	1385	94	18	68
1904	NYA	1B	118	118	1243	63	16	49
1904	NYA	2B	9	9	10	30	2	4
1904	NYA	SS	1	0	1	3	0	0
1907	CIN	1B	143	143	1346	84	14	89
1908	CIN	1B	108	106	1116	61	12	52