Merv Shea, baseball player, 1927-1944

Merv Shea

Born: 9/5/1900 in San Francisco, CA, USA

Died: 1/27/1953 in Sacramento, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1927-04-23 | Final Game: 1944-08-19

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

Full name: Mervyn John Shea

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Biography

Merv Shea was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1927 to 1944, marking a significant presence in Major League Baseball during a transformative era in the sport. Born in 1900, Shea played primarily as a position player and appeared in 439 games throughout his career. He accumulated a total of 263 hits, including 5 home runs, and drove in 115 runs, achieving a batting average of .22. His speed on the basepaths was demonstrated by his 8 stolen bases, showcasing his ability to contribute offensively in multiple ways. Shea played during a time when baseball was evolving, transitioning from the deadball era into a period characterized by increased offensive output and the integration of new talent. His contributions to the teams he played for reflected the competitive spirit of the age, as he navigated the challenges of a sport undergoing significant changes. Though his statistical achievements may not place him among the legends of the game, Shea's dedication and role in the fabric of baseball history remain noteworthy, illustrating the depth of talent that characterized the leagues of his time.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
439 1197 105 263 39 7 5 115 8 189 145 0.220 0.327 0.277 0.603 -3104.5

Career AVG .220 vs. league average .278 across their career seasons — 20.8% below league average.

Career OBP .327 vs. league average .342 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .277 vs. league average .393 across their career seasons — 29.6% below league average.

Career OPS 0.603 vs. league average 0.735 across their career seasons — 17.9% 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
1927 DET AL 34 85 5 15 6 3 0 9 0 7 15 0.176 .282 (-37%) .344 (-31%) .392 (-19%) .736 (-24%) -403.4
1928 DET AL 39 85 8 20 2 3 0 9 2 9 11 0.235 .280 (-16%) .342 (-8%) .395 (-17%) .737 (-13%) -187.2
1929 DET AL 50 162 23 47 6 0 3 24 2 19 18 0.290 .289 (avg) .353 (+3%) .415 (-8%) .769 (-3%) -38.6
1933 BOS AL 16 56 1 8 3 0 0 8 0 4 7 0.143 .270 (-47%) .329 (-39%) .377 (-48%) .707 (-44%) -401.8
1933 SLA AL 94 279 26 73 11 1 1 27 2 43 26 0.262 .270 (-3%) .329 (+9%) .377 (-15%) .707 (-4%) -401.8
1934 CHW AL 62 176 8 28 3 0 0 5 0 24 19 0.159 .278 (-43%) .340 (-24%) .392 (-55%) .733 (-41%) -1242.5
1935 CHW AL 46 122 8 28 2 0 0 13 0 30 9 0.230 .279 (-18%) .342 (+11%) .399 (-38%) .742 (-15%) -188.0
1936 CHW AL 14 24 3 3 0 0 0 2 0 6 5 0.125 — — — — 0.0
1937 CHW AL 25 71 7 15 1 0 0 5 1 15 10 0.211 .276 (-24%) .342 (+2%) .398 (-43%) .740 (-22%) -213.0
1938 BRO NL 48 120 14 22 5 0 0 12 1 28 20 0.183 .272 (-33%) .341 (-1%) .392 (-43%) .734 (-23%) -402.6
1939 DET AL 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1944 PHI NL 7 15 2 4 0 0 1 1 0 4 4 0.267 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
C 407 0 1412 254 41 33

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1927 DET C 31 0 94 17 6 1
1928 DET C 30 0 93 24 6 2
1929 DET C 46 0 157 32 7 4
1933 BOS C 16 0 48 11 0 2
1933 SLA C 85 0 328 60 2 15
1934 CHA C 60 0 240 35 8 4
1935 CHA C 43 0 161 30 2 2
1936 CHA C 14 0 32 3 0 0
1937 CHA C 25 0 91 21 4 1
1938 BRO C 47 0 149 19 4 2
1939 DET C 4 0 1 0 1 0
1944 PHI C 6 0 18 2 1 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Catcher 407