Batting average .310 Home runs 54 | Runs batted in 345 Name Babe Phelps | |
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Died December 10, 1992, Odenton, Maryland, United States | ||
Ernest Gordon Phelps (April 19, 1908 – December 10, 1992) born in Odenton, Maryland, United States was a catcher for the Washington Senators (1931), Chicago Cubs (1933–34), Brooklyn Dodgers (1935–41) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1942). His .367 batting average in 1936 remains the highest for any catcher in the modern era (1901–present).
He began his professional career with the Hagerstown Hubs of the Blue Ridge League in 1930. He set several all-time seasonal marks for the Blue Ridge League that year: at bats (466), hits (175), extra base hits (62) and total bases (300). He appeared briefly (3 games) at the major league level for the Washington Senators in 1931, but he did not stay permanently until he began playing with the Chicago Cubs in 1933.
He played 726 major league games in 11 seasons, batting .310 with 657 hits including 19 triples and 54 home runs, 345 RBI, a .362 on-base percentage, and a .472 slugging percentage. Phelps was named to the National League All-Star Team from 1938 to 1940, and helped the Dodgers win the 1941 National League pennant. He died in his hometown at the age of 84.