Al Papai

Born: 5/7/1917 in Divernon, IL, USA

Died: 9/7/1995 in Springfield, IL, USA

MLB Debut: 1948-04-24 | Final Game: 1955-09-16

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 185 lbs

Full name: Alfred Thomas Papai

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Biography

Al Papai was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1948 to 1955. Born in 1917, Papai’s career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, marked by the integration of the sport and the emergence of new pitching styles. He made his debut on April 24, 1948, and over the span of his career, he appeared in various roles on the mound, ultimately finishing with a record of 9 wins and 14 losses. Papai recorded an earned run average (ERA) of 5.37 and struck out 70 batters, showcasing his ability to miss bats, even if he faced challenges in consistency. Additionally, he contributed to his teams with 4 saves, demonstrating his versatility as a relief pitcher. Although not a household name, Papai's contributions to his teams during an era of baseball that was evolving both on and off the field reflect the spirit of perseverance and adaptation that characterized many players of his time. He retired from professional baseball on September 16, 1955, leaving a legacy as a part of the rich tapestry of post-war baseball.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
9	14	88	18	8	0	4	239.7	281	143	17	138	70	5.37	0

Career ERA 5.37 vs. league average 4.14 across their career seasons — 29.6% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1948	STL	NL	0	1	10	0	0	0	16.0	14	9	7	8	5.06	4.10 (-23%)	-
1949	SLA	AL	4	11	42	15	6	2	142.3	175	80	81	31	5.06	4.12 (-23%)	-1527.8
1950	BOS	AL	4	2	16	3	2	2	50.7	61	38	28	19	6.75	4.36 (-55%)	-532.8
1950	STL	NL	1	0	13	0	0	0	19.0	21	11	14	7	5.21	4.36 (-20%)	-
1955	CHW	AL	0	0	7	0	0	0	11.7	10	5	8	5	3.86	4.00 (+4%)	-

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
89	62	9	6	0	0	0	1	0	9	26	0.097	0.211	0.097	0.308	0.0

Career AVG .097 vs. league average .263 across their career seasons — 63.2% below league average.

Career OBP .211 vs. league average .340 across their career seasons — 37.9% below league average.

Career SLG .097 vs. league average .389 across their career seasons — 75.1% below league average.

Career OPS 0.308 vs. league average 0.730 across their career seasons — 57.8% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS
1948	STL	NL	11	2	0	0	0	0	1	0.000	—	—	—	—
1949	SLA	AL	42	38	6	3	1	6	20	0.079	—	—	—	—
1950	BOS	AL	16	17	3	3	0	3	3	0.176	—	—	—	—
1950	STL	NL	13	3	0	0	0	0	1	0.000	—	—	—	—
1955	CHW	AL	7	2	0	0	0	0	1	0.000	—	—	—	—