Al Unser, baseball player, 1942-1945

Al Unser

Born: 10/12/1912 in Morrisonville, IL, USA

Died: 7/7/1995 in Decatur, IL, USA

MLB Debut: 1942-09-14 | Final Game: 1945-09-05

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 175 lbs

Full name: Albert Bernard Unser

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Biography

Al Unser was a professional baseball player born in 1912, who played primarily as a position player from 1942 until his retirement in 1945. During his career, which spanned the tumultuous years of World War II, Unser appeared in 120 games and made a notable impact on the field despite the challenges of the era. He finished his career with a batting average of .251, accumulating 85 hits, four home runs, and 30 RBIs. His contribution to his teams during this period was significant, as he helped maintain the competitive spirit of baseball during a time when many players were enlisted in the military. Unser’s playing style was characterized by solid contact hitting, though he did not steal any bases throughout his career, indicating a more traditional approach to offensive play. While he may not have been a household name, his role in the game during the 1940s contributed to the foundation of post-war baseball, as the sport began to regain its prominence in American culture. Al Unser's legacy remains as a symbol of resilience and dedication, representing the era's players who kept the game alive during a period of national strife.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
120 338 41 85 15 4 4 30 0 32 43 0.251 0.322 0.355 0.677 56.6

Career AVG .251 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .322 vs. league average .326 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .355 vs. league average .352 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.677 vs. league average 0.678 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
1942 DET AL 4 8 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.375 — — — — 0.0
1943 DET AL 38 101 14 25 5 0 0 4 0 15 15 0.248 .255 (-3%) .324 (+8%) .346 (-14%) .671 (-4%) -4.1
1944 DET AL 11 25 2 3 0 1 1 5 0 3 2 0.120 — — — — 0.0
1945 CIN NL 67 204 23 54 10 3 3 21 0 14 24 0.265 .260 (+1%) .328 (-3%) .354 (+9%) .683 (+3%) 60.8

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
2B 5 0 12 7 3 2
C 103 0 361 53 14 9

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1942 DET C 4 0 11 3 0 0
1943 DET C 37 0 143 20 3 4
1944 DET 2B 5 0 12 7 3 2
1944 DET C 1 0 0 0 0 0
1945 CIN C 61 0 207 30 11 5

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Catcher 103
Second Base 5