Earle Combs
Earle Combs was the leadoff man on the most heralded team in baseball history, the 1927 New York Yankees. He got on base via hit or walk 250 times in a season seven times, routinely scoring on Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig's long blasts. The owner of a .325 career average, the center fielder played on four Yankee pennant winners, earning two titles. He later coached for the Yanks for several years, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1970. Had it not been for a relatively late start in the big leagues and two serious injuries late in his career, Combs' totals would have been even more impressive. As it was, the likable Kentuckian batted .325 in 12 seasons.
Played For
New York Yankees (1924-1935)
All-Time Rankings
Earle Combs ranks #40 among the Top 50 all-time at CF. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1927
As a table setter for Ruth and Gehrig, Combs banged out 231 hits and reached base nearly 300 times. He scored 137 runs, legged out 59 doubles and triples, and stole 15 bases. He hit a career-high .356 and finished in the league's top ten in batting, slugging, OBP, and OPS.
Born
Earle Bryan Combs was born on May 14, 1899, in Pebworth, KY.
Died
July 21, 1976, Richmond, KY
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
Primary Position: OF
Primary Team: NYA
Major League Debut
April 16, 1924
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1924
Charlie Gehringer
Al Simmons
Earle Combs
Freddy Lindstrom
Chick Hafey
Red Ruffing
Hughie Critz
Max Bishop
Glenn Wright
Nicknames
The Kentucky Colonel
Uniform Numbers
#1 (1929-1935)
Similar Players
Barney McCosky, Elmer Flick
Related Players
Whitey Witt, Ben Chapman, Jesse Haines
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1937 |
BBWAA |
4 |
2.0% |
1938 |
BBWAA |
7 |
2.7% |
1939 |
BBWAA |
3 |
1.1% |
1945 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.4% |
1948 |
BBWAA |
6 |
5.0% |
1949 |
BBWAA |
6 |
3.9% |
1950 |
BBWAA |
3 |
1.8% |
1952 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.4% |
1953 |
BBWAA |
3 |
1.1% |
1955 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.4% |
1956 |
BBWAA |
14 |
7.3% |
1958 |
BBWAA |
34 |
12.8% |
1960 |
BBWAA |
43 |
16.0% |
1962 |
BBWAA |
6 |
3.8% |
1970 |
Veterans |
|
% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1926 World Series
1927 World Series
1928 World Series
1932 World Series
Hitting Streaks
29 games (1931)
Replaced
Combs was set to replace Whitey Witt as the Yankee center fielder in 1924, but then he broke his leg at Yankee Stadium in a game against the Senators and was out for most of that season. In 1925 he replaced Witt, whose career was effectively over.
Replaced By
On July 24, 1934, in St. Louis at Sportsman's Park, Combs ran into the center field wall and fractured his skull. He was out the remainder of the season and was replaced by Ben Chapman, an infielder switched to the outfield. The next season, Combs played left field next to Chapman, but in August he ran into third baseman Red Rolfe while pursuing a short fly ball and injured his throwing arm. At the end of the season, Combs retired at the age of 36.
Best Strength as a Player
The ability to get on base.
Largest Weakness as a Player
By most accounts, Combs had a poor throwing arm.
Learn More about Earle Combs
Search Amazon.com for Books about Earle Combs ⇒
Search for Earle Combs at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
