Willie Kamm
Willie Kamm was the best defensive third baseman in baseball in the 1920s and early 1930s. He played in the American League for 13 seasons, despite average offensive skills. He routinely led the league in assists, putouts, double plays, and fielding average. In 1969, White Sox fans selected him as the team's all-time third baseman.
Played For
Chicago White Sox (1923-1931)
Cleveland Indians (1931-1935)
All-Time Rankings
Willie Kamm ranks #48 among the Top 50 all-time at 3B. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1928
Willie played every game for the White Sox, and set a career high in hits with 170. He led American League third sackers in assists, putouts, chances, and fielding. He was 5th in MVP voting.
Where He Played
Kamm never played any other position than third base.
Born
William Edward Kamm was born on February 2, 1900, in San Francisco, CA.
Died
December 21, 1988, Belmont, CA
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: 3B
Primary Team: CHA
Major League Debut
April 18, 1923
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1923
Lou Gehrig
Heinie Manush
Bill Terry
Hack Wilson
Willie Kamm
Ted Lyons
Moe Berg
Charley Root
Earl Whitehill
Uniform Numbers
#7 (1931), #5 (1931-1935 Indians)
Similar Players
Kamm was compared to Pie Traynor, defensively. Those who saw them both play, were split as to who was better.
Related Players
Lew Fonseca... Kamm's mastery with the leather at third base helped Sox fans forget Buck Weaver, who had been banned as part of the infamous "Black Sox Scandal," in 1920... Walter Johnson was Kamm's manager in Cleveland.
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1958 |
BBWAA |
3 |
1.1% |
1960 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.4% |
|
Notes
Kamm was fifth in AL Most Valuable Player voting in 1928, despite hitting a mediocre (for that era) .308 with just one home run.
Transactions
On May 29, 1922, White Sox owner Charles Comiskey paid a record $100,000 to the San Francisco Seals for Kamm. A few minor players were also included on both sides of the deal.
On May 17, 1931, the White Sox traded Kamm to the Cleveland Indians for Lew Fonseca, in a very unpopular deal.
Replaced
Eddie Mulligan, a mediocre player who had replaced the banished Buck Weaver in 1921.
Replaced By
The Indians replaced Kamm in 1935 with their phenom - Odell Hale. Hale was a far better hitter than Kamm ever was, but he was never very good with the glove.
Best Strength as a Player
Defensive range and hands.
Largest Weakness as a Player
Power. Kamm played in two cavernous stadiums for right-handed hitters: Comiskey Park and League Park, but he still had little pop.
Learn More about Willie Kamm
Search Amazon.com for Books about Willie Kamm ⇒
Search for Willie Kamm at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
