Batting average .292 Role Baseball player Name Del Pratt | Runs batted in 979 Home runs 43 Education University of Alabama | |
 | ||
Died September 30, 1977, Texas City, Texas, United States | ||
Derrill Burnham "Del" Pratt (January 10, 1888 – September 30, 1977) was a star running back for the University of Alabama before becoming a professional baseball player. Pratt signed with the St. Louis Browns in 1912. He was a star second baseman in the American League for over a decade, but also saw some action at first base, shortstop, third base and the outfield.
Baseball career
In his rookie season, Pratt batted .302 for the Browns. In 1916 he led the American League with 103 RBIs.
In 1917, the Browns were struggling. Owner Phil Ball accused some of the players of intentionally playing poorly so that they could be traded. Ball said, "Every $1,000 I lose on the Browns this season will cost the ballplayers $100. Salaries will be cut next season." Pratt was offended. He and teammate Doc Lavan sued Ball for slander. The Sporting News went so far as to call Pratt the Browns' Trotsky. The suit was eventually settled in 1918, and Pratt was traded to the New York Yankees.
After the 1920 season, the Yankees traded Pratt to the Boston Red Sox for Waite Hoyt, but he decided to retire. He was hired as the University of Michigan baseball coach to replace Carl Lundgren (with a recommendation from Branch Rickey) and served as an assistant football coach and freshman basketball coach. He began preparing the 1921 team, but the Red Sox coaxed him out of retirement before the first game of the season. Upon his return to the Sox in 1921, Pratt batted over .300. He ended his career with the Detroit Tigers.
His career batting average was .292 over twelve seasons, with an on-base percentage of .345. He had a total of 968 RBIs and 856 runs scored. Pratt hit better than .300 six times.