Doc Cramer
Likable Doc Cramer was a valuable leadoff hitter for the A's, Red Sox, Senators and Tigers in the 1930s and 1940s. He was a very good defensive outfielder, with a strong arm, and he led the American League in putouts twice. Cramer batted .300 eight times and his 2,705 hits are among the most for players who are not in the Hall of Fame.
| Career Batting Stats |
| G |
AB |
H |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
SLG |
OBP |
OPS |
OPS+ |
| 2239 |
9140 |
2705 |
1357 |
37 |
842 |
62 |
.296 |
.375 |
.340 |
.715 |
97.7 |
|
Quotes From Doc Cramer
Lose a one-to-nothing game and you didn't want to get into the clubhouse with Grove and Cochrane. You'd be ducking stools and gloves and bats, and whatever else would fly.
Where does Doc Cramer rank among baseball greats?
Doc Cramer ranks #47 among the Top 50 all-time at CF. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1935
Cramer was one of the few good players Connie Mack had left on the A's. Age 29, Cramer batted .332 with 214 hits, 96 runs scored, 37 doubles, 70 RBI, and a .373 OBP. He led the AL in at-bats, one of seven times he did so. Cramer was named to the All-Star team.
Factoids
Doc Cramer was a young Ernie Harwell's favorite player.
Most Hits, 1933-1945
Doc Cramer... 2,397
Joe Medwick... 2,360
Bob Johnson... 2,051
Stan Hack... 1,994
Mel Ott... 1,976
Where He Played
Cramer was one of the premier defensive center fielders of his era.
Born
Roger Maxwell Cramer was born on July 22, 1905, in Beach Haven, NJ.
Died
September 9, 1990, Manahawkin, NJ
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
Major League Debut
9 18,
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1929
Rick Ferrell
Doc Cramer
Earl Averill
Bobo Newsom
Larry French
Chief Hogsett
Dale Alexander
Lyn Lary
Eric McNair
Nicknames
Flit
"Flit" was a popular insecticide in the 1920s and 1930s. Cramer earned the name because he was "death to flies." The nickname "Doc" (Cramer's given first name was Roger), reportedly stemmed from his knowledge of medicine and medical procedures.
Similar Players
Charlie Jamieson
Related Players
Cramer tutored young Nellie Fox while he was a coach with the White Sox, from 1951 to 1953. Fox credited Cramer with making him a major league hitter... The Washington Senators traded Gee Walker to the Red Sox for Cramer, on December 12, 1940... On August 11, 1942, Cramer broke up Cleveland pitcher Al Milnar's no-hit bid, singling with two out in the top-of-the-ninth.
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1956 |
BBWAA |
4 |
2.1% |
1958 |
BBWAA |
2 |
.8% |
1960 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.4% |
1962 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.6% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1931 World Series
1945 World Series
Post-Season Notes
Cramer was a fantastic performer in the Fall Classic, batting .387 (12-for-31) in nine games, with seven runs scored and six RBI.
Feats
Cramer set a major league record with two six-hit games. The first came on June 20, 1932 and the second was on July 13, 1935. This record has been tied, but never broken.
Batting Feats
- June 20, 1932: 6 Hits...
- June 10, 1934: Cycle...
- July 13, 1935: 6 Hits...
Hitting Streaks
22 games (1932)
20 games (1936)
All-Star Selections
1935 AL
1937 AL
1938 AL
1939 AL
1940 AL
Replaced
Mule Haas, a solid but unspectacular outfielder. Manager Connie Mack finally handed Cramer the center field job midway through the 1932 season.
Replaced By
Still a productive player at the age of 39 in 1945, Cramer lost his starting center field job during spring traning of '46 to phenom Hoot Evers. Evers got hurt during the season and Doc still got in a couple hundred at-bats, hitting nearly .300, but his career as a starter was over. Evers never lived up to his promise, however.
Best Strength as a Player
His range in center field. Cramer was a sound fundamental player ho could do everything well, except hit for power.
Largest Weakness as a Player
His home run ratio is one of the lowest in baseball history for players with more than 5,000 at-bats.
Learn More about Doc Cramer
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