Rube Lutzke

Born: 11/17/1897 in Milwaukee, WI, USA

Died: 3/6/1938 in Granville, WI, USA

MLB Debut: 1923-04-18 | Final Game: 1927-09-13

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 175 lbs

Full name: Walter John Lutzke

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Biography

Rube Lutzke, born in 1897, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1923 to 1927. Primarily known as a position player, Lutzke played in a total of 572 games throughout his career. He recorded 468 hits, contributing to a batting average of .249. While not known for his power, Lutzke managed to hit 4 home runs and drove in 223 runs during his tenure. He also showcased his speed on the bases, accumulating 23 stolen bases, a notable feat during an era where base running was a critical aspect of the game. Lutzke's career unfolded in the Roaring Twenties, a period marked by significant changes in baseball, including the rise of the live-ball era and the increasing popularity of the sport. While he may not have been a superstar, Lutzke's consistent performance and reliability as a position player reflected the competitive spirit of the time and contributed to the teams he played for. His legacy is emblematic of the many players who shaped the game in the early 20th century, bridging the gap between the deadball era and the more explosive offensive styles that would follow.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
572	1876	216	468	87	18	4	223	23	179	196	0.249	0.319	0.321	0.641	-4731.6

Career AVG .249 vs. league average .283 across their career seasons — 12.0% below league average.

Career OBP .319 vs. league average .346 across their career seasons — 7.7% below league average.

Career SLG .321 vs. league average .394 across their career seasons — 18.4% below league average.

Career OPS 0.641 vs. league average 0.740 across their career seasons — 13.4% 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
1923	CLE	AL	143	511	71	131	20	6	3	65	9	59	57	0.256	.282 (-9%)	.344 (-2%)	.390 (-14%)	.734 (-8%)	-749.9
1924	CLE	AL	106	341	37	83	18	3	0	42	4	38	46	0.243	.283 (-14%)	.345 (-5%)	.389 (-19%)	.734 (-13%)	-768.8
1925	CLE	AL	81	238	31	52	9	0	1	16	2	26	29	0.218	.288 (-24%)	.349 (-15%)	.407 (-34%)	.756 (-25%)	-1122.8
1926	CLE	AL	142	475	42	124	28	6	0	59	6	34	35	0.261	.279 (-7%)	.345 (-9%)	.390 (-11%)	.735 (-11%)	-1105.3
1927	CLE	AL	100	311	35	78	12	3	0	41	2	22	29	0.251	.282 (-11%)	.344 (-11%)	.392 (-21%)	.736 (-17%)	-984.8

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	PO	A	E	DP
2B	13	29	30	1	6
3B	553	676	1222	110	108
SS	2	5	4	0	0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	PO	A	E	DP
1923	CLE	3B	141	181	354	35	23
1923	CLE	SS	2	5	4	0	0
1924	CLE	2B	3	7	3	0	1
1924	CLE	3B	103	154	238	22	25
1925	CLE	2B	10	22	27	1	5
1925	CLE	3B	69	61	129	13	9
1926	CLE	3B	142	160	302	19	27
1927	CLE	3B	98	120	199	21	24