Billy Herman
Billy Herman drew the unenviable task of replacing Rogers Hornsby at second base for the Cubs in 1932. He appeared in the World Series every three years from 1932 to 1941, but never won a ring. He made ten All-Star teams and teamed with Billy Jurges to form one of the finest double play duos in baseball history. Like many middle-infielders, Herman was less effective after his 30th birthday, but he still had a very good career and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1975 by the Veteran's Committee.
Played For
Chicago Cubs (1931-1941)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1941-1946)
Boston Braves (1946)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1947)
Managed
Pittsburgh Pirates (1947)
Boston Red Sox (1964-1966)
All-Time Rankings
Billy Herman ranks #16 among the Top 50 all-time at 2B. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1935
Just 25-years old, Herman played every game, hitting .341 with a .476 slugging percentage. He laced a league-leading 227 hits (one of three times he reached the 200-mark) and 57 doubles while scoring 101 runs for the pennant-winning Cubs. He finished behind teammate Gabby Hartnett and Dizzy Dean and Arky Vaughan in MVP voting.
Factoids
Billy Herman managed the National League All-Stars in the annual Old-Timers Baseball Classic in 1986 at RFK Stadium.
After Billy Herman was fired by the Pirates in the midst of the 1948 season, he took an office job with a paint company in Louisville, Kentucky.
Description
Herman was used primarily in the #2 spot in the batting order his entire career. He was considered one of the best (if not the best) hit-and-run men of his time. He was also a great bunter and rarely struck out. Defensively he led the league in assists three times, putouts seven times and in fielding average three times. He was a very solid defensive player, though his partner Billy Jurges was much better with the glove.
Born
William Jennings Bryan Herman was born on July 7, 1909, in New Albany, IN.
Died
September 5, 1992, W.Palm Beach, FL
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: 2B
Primary Team: CHN
Major League Debut
August 29, 1931
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1931
Billy Herman
Ernie Lombardi
Dixie Walker
Billy Jurges
Red Rolfe
Bucky Walters
Paul Derringer
Van Lingle Mungo
Gee Walker
Similar Players
Buddy Myer, Harvey Kuenn
Related Players
Billy Jurges played shortstop next to Herman for eaight seasons, from 1931-1938.
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1958 |
BBWAA |
7 |
2.6% |
1962 |
BBWAA |
4 |
2.5% |
1964 |
BBWAA |
26 |
12.9% |
1964 |
Run Off |
9 |
4.0% |
1966 |
BBWAA |
28 |
9.3% |
1967 |
BBWAA |
59 |
20.2% |
1967 |
Run Off |
14 |
4.6% |
1975 |
Veterans |
|
% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1932 World Series
1935 World Series
1938 World Series
1941 World Series
Post-Season Notes
Herman's teams lost 16 of the 19 World Series games they played.
Hitting Streaks
20 games (1934)
Transactions
After a slow start to the 1941 season (he was batting .194), Herman was traded by the Cubs to Brooklyn for outfielder Charlie Gilbert, infielder Johnny Hudson and $65,000. On May 7, in his first game as a Dodger, Herman belted four hits.
All-Star Selections
1934 NL
1935 NL
1936 NL
1937 NL
1938 NL
1939 NL
1940 NL
1941 NL
1942 NL
1943 NL
Learn More about Billy Herman
Search Amazon.com for Books about Billy Herman ⇒
Search for Billy Herman at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
