Swede Risberg, baseball player, 1917-1920

Swede Risberg

Born: 10/13/1894 in San Francisco, CA, USA

Died: 10/13/1975 in Red Bluff, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1917-04-11 | Final Game: 1920-09-27

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

Full name: Charles August Risberg

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Biography

Swede Risberg was a professional baseball player who made his mark in the early 20th century, playing primarily as a position player from 1917 to 1920. Born in 1894, Risberg's career unfolded during a transitional period in Major League Baseball, which was beginning to move away from the deadball era towards a more dynamic style of play. Over his four-season career, he appeared in 476 games, accumulating 394 hits, 6 home runs, and 175 RBIs, while posting a batting average of .243. His ability to steal bases was notable, as he successfully swiped 52 bags during his time in the league, showcasing his speed and agility on the field. Risberg played for the Chicago White Sox and was part of a team that would later be embroiled in controversy due to the Black Sox Scandal of 1919. His contributions to the team, however, went beyond the scandal, as he demonstrated resilience and a competitive spirit typical of the era. Despite the challenges faced by players during this time, including the impact of World War I and the evolving nature of the game, Risberg’s performance left a lasting impression on the sport. His legacy is a reflection of the complexities of baseball during the early 1900s, a time when the game was evolving both on and off the field.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
476 1619 196 394 72 27 6 175 52 148 180 0.243 0.311 0.332 0.644 -926.9

Career AVG .243 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — 6.4% below league average.

Career OBP .311 vs. league average .322 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .332 vs. league average .341 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.644 vs. league average 0.663 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
1917 CHW AL 149 474 59 96 20 8 1 45 16 59 65 0.203 .248 (-19%) .312 (-5%) .323 (-12%) .635 (-8%) -645.5
1918 CHW AL 82 273 36 70 12 3 1 27 5 23 32 0.256 .255 (avg) .318 (+1%) .326 (+2%) .645 (+1%) 65.5
1919 CHW AL 119 414 48 106 19 6 2 38 19 35 38 0.256 .262 (-2%) .322 (-2%) .347 (-1%) .670 (-1%) -113.8
1920 CHW AL 126 458 53 122 21 10 2 65 12 31 45 0.266 .271 (-2%) .331 (-5%) .363 (+2%) .694 (-1%) -233.1

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
10 27 3 3 0 1 0 1 5 3 0.111

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1919 WS CHA 8 25 3 2 0 1 0 0 5 3 0.080
1917 WS CHA 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.500

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 29 0 283 15 4 16
2B 12 0 28 40 3 5
3B 24 0 29 42 8 4
OF 3 0 3 0 0 0
SS 397 0 763 1106 146 167

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1917 CHA SS 146 0 291 352 61 57
1918 CHA 1B 7 0 79 2 2 6
1918 CHA 2B 12 0 28 40 3 5
1918 CHA 3B 24 0 29 42 8 4
1918 CHA OF 3 0 3 0 0 0
1918 CHA SS 30 0 59 76 8 12
1919 CHA 1B 22 0 204 13 2 10
1919 CHA SS 97 0 175 278 32 39
1920 CHA SS 124 0 238 400 45 59

Career Games by Position

Position Games
First Base 29
Second Base 12
Third Base 24
Shortstop 398
Right Field 3