Jim Piersall, baseball player, 104 home runs, 1950-1967

Jim Piersall

Born: 11/14/1929 in Waterbury, CT, USA

Died: 6/3/2017 in Wheaton, IL, USA

MLB Debut: 1950-09-07 | Final Game: 1967-05-01

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 175 lbs

Full name: James Anthony Piersall

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Biography

Jim Piersall, born in 1929, was a notable Major League Baseball player who had a career spanning from 1950 to 1967. Primarily recognized as a position player, Piersall played in a total of 1,734 games, where he amassed 1,604 hits and demonstrated his power with 104 home runs. He recorded 591 runs batted in (RBIs) and maintained a career batting average of .272, showcasing his ability to contribute significantly to his teams' offensive efforts. A dynamic athlete, Piersall also displayed speed on the bases, finishing his career with 115 stolen bases. His contributions to the game were recognized with two All-Star selections. Piersall's playing career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, characterized by the transition from the deadball era to the more offensive-oriented styles of the 1960s. Known for his intense competitive spirit and often flamboyant personality, he became a cultural icon for his outspoken nature and candid discussions about mental health, bringing attention to the psychological challenges athletes face. His legacy extends beyond just statistics, as he left an indelible mark on the game and paved the way for future players to speak openly about their struggles.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
1734 5890 811 1604 256 52 104 591 115 524 583 0.272 0.332 0.386 0.718 214.0

Career AVG .272 vs. league average .255 across their career seasons — +7.0% above league average.

Career OBP .332 vs. league average .323 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .386 vs. league average .385 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.718 vs. league average 0.708 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
1950 BOS AL 6 7 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0.286 — — — — 0.0
1952 BOS AL 56 161 28 43 8 0 1 16 3 28 26 0.267 .252 (+6%) .326 (+16%) .369 (-9%) .696 (+3%) 184.0
1953 BOS AL 151 585 76 159 21 9 3 52 11 41 52 0.272 .264 (+3%) .335 (-2%) .397 (-11%) .733 (-7%) -841.6
1954 BOS AL 133 474 77 135 24 2 8 38 5 36 42 0.285 .261 (+9%) .333 (+1%) .390 (+1%) .723 (+1%) 110.7
1955 BOS AL 149 515 68 146 25 5 13 62 6 67 52 0.283 .258 (+10%) .332 (+10%) .393 (+8%) .726 (+9%) 1027.4
1956 BOS AL 155 601 91 176 40 6 14 87 7 58 48 0.293 .258 (+13%) .331 (+6%) .397 (+13%) .728 (+10%) 1038.4
1957 BOS AL 151 609 103 159 27 5 19 63 14 62 54 0.261 .257 (+1%) .323 (+2%) .391 (+6%) .715 (+4%) 532.6
1958 BOS AL 130 417 55 99 13 5 8 48 12 42 43 0.237 .257 (-8%) .324 (-7%) .394 (-11%) .719 (-9%) -802.5
1959 CLE AL 100 317 42 78 13 2 4 30 6 25 31 0.246 .256 (-4%) .323 (-6%) .392 (-14%) .715 (-10%) -628.0
1960 CLE AL 138 486 70 137 12 4 18 66 18 24 38 0.282 .255 (+10%) .323 (-3%) .387 (+12%) .711 (+5%) 327.4
1961 CLE AL 121 484 81 156 26 7 6 40 8 43 46 0.322 .258 (+25%) .328 (+15%) .399 (+11%) .727 (+13%) 1229.2
1962 WS2 AL 135 471 38 115 20 4 4 31 12 39 53 0.244 .257 (-5%) .326 (-8%) .393 (-16%) .719 (-12%) -1156.1
1963 WS2 AL 29 94 9 23 1 0 1 5 4 6 11 0.245 .246 (-1%) .308 (-8%) .371 (-23%) .680 (-16%) -242.0
1963 NYN NL 40 124 13 24 4 1 1 10 1 10 14 0.194 .246 (-21%) .308 (-19%) .371 (-28%) .680 (-24%) -242.0
1963 LAA AL 20 52 4 16 1 0 0 4 0 5 5 0.308 .246 (+25%) .308 (+19%) .371 (-12%) .680 (+2%) -242.0
1964 LAA AL 87 255 28 80 11 0 2 13 5 16 32 0.314 .250 (+25%) .312 (+13%) .377 (+1%) .690 (+6%) 308.0
1965 LAA AL 53 112 10 30 5 2 2 12 2 5 15 0.268 .245 (+9%) .310 (-2%) .371 (+8%) .682 (+4%) 37.1
1966 LAA AL 75 123 14 26 5 0 0 14 1 13 19 0.211 .248 (-15%) .309 (-9%) .376 (-33%) .685 (-22%) -450.3
1967 LAA AL 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.000 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
3B 2 0 0 2 1 0
OF 1614 1302 3851 95 39 21
SS 30 0 41 75 9 13

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1950 BOS OF 2 0 9 0 0 0
1952 BOS 3B 1 0 0 1 1 0
1952 BOS OF 22 0 38 3 0 0
1952 BOS SS 30 0 41 75 9 13
1953 BOS OF 151 0 352 15 5 7
1954 BOS OF 126 112 249 10 4 2
1955 BOS OF 147 144 425 7 3 2
1956 BOS OF 155 155 455 10 4 1
1957 BOS OF 151 147 397 12 4 0
1958 BOS OF 125 112 314 8 5 2
1959 CLE 3B 1 0 0 1 0 0
1959 CLE OF 91 77 216 3 4 2
1960 CLE OF 134 122 355 5 3 0
1961 CLE OF 120 119 328 9 3 3
1962 WS2 OF 132 123 308 5 1 0
1963 WS2 OF 25 22 65 0 0 0
1963 NYN OF 38 34 65 3 0 0
1963 LAA OF 18 14 28 0 0 0
1964 LAA OF 72 65 115 2 0 2
1965 CAL OF 41 25 62 0 1 0
1966 CAL OF 63 31 69 3 2 0
1967 CAL OF 1 0 1 0 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Third Base 2
Shortstop 30
Left Field 114
Center Field 1212
Right Field 306

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1961 Gold Glove OF
1958 Gold Glove CF

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1961 Most Valuable Player AL 13th 10.0 280 0
1960 Most Valuable Player AL 28th 2.0 336 0
1957 Most Valuable Player AL 22th 2.0 336 0
1956 Most Valuable Player AL 14th 28.0 336 0
1953 Most Valuable Player AL 9th 56.0 336 0