Duffy Lewis
After growing up in the tough sections of San Francisco, Duffy Lewis played baseball up and down the coast of California, finally gaining the attention of big league scouts. He covered the outfield with strong, quick strides, and packed punch in his short right-handed swing. In 1910, he joined Tris Speaker and Harry Hooper in Boston's starting outfield, and the celebrated trio helped the Red Sox to a pair of World Series titles. In all, Lewis played for three Red Sox title teams, but after missing the entire 1918 season while he served in the U.S. Army, his career was essentially over.
| Career Batting Stats |
| G |
AB |
H |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
SLG |
OBP |
OPS |
OPS+ |
| 1459 |
5351 |
1518 |
612 |
38 |
793 |
113 |
.284 |
.384 |
.333 |
.717 |
106.1 |
|
Quotes About Duffy Lewis
"His crooked smile couldn't hide a nasty Irish temper." — author Tim Gay, in Tris Speaker: The Rough and Tumble Life of a Baseball Legend
Quotes From Duffy Lewis
"At the crack of the bat you'd turn and run up it. Then you had to pick up the ball and decide whether to jump, go right or left, or rush down again. It took plenty of practice. They made a mountin goat out of me." — Lewis on playing "Duffy's Cliff" at Fenway Park
Factoids
Duffy Lewis became so adept at playing left field in Fenway Park, that the short incline that led to the wall was dubbed "Duffy's Cliff."
Scouting Report
Of the three members of Boston's "Golden Outfield," Lewis had the weakest throwing arm. Nevertheless, he took pride in his accuracy and told the story of how he pegged Ty Cobb at home plate for years.
Born
George Edward Lewis was born on April 18, 1888, in San Francisco, CA.
Died
June 17, 1979, Salem, NH
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Major League Debut
4 16,
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1910
Max Carey
Jake Daubert
Roger Peckinpaugh
Shano Collins
Duffy Lewis
Eddie Foster
Chick Gandil
Ray Caldwell
Hank Gowdy
Similar Players
None
Related Players
Tris Speaker and Harry Hooper, his mates in the "Golden Outfield" from 1910-1915.
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1937 |
BBWAA |
3 |
1.5% |
1938 |
BBWAA |
5 |
1.9% |
1939 |
BBWAA |
6 |
2.2% |
1945 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.4% |
1951 |
BBWAA |
2 |
.9% |
1952 |
BBWAA |
11 |
4.7% |
1953 |
BBWAA |
20 |
7.6% |
1954 |
BBWAA |
20 |
7.9% |
1955 |
BBWAA |
34 |
13.5% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1912 World Series
1915 World Series
1916 World Series
Post-Season Notes
After struggling against the Giants' staff in the 1912 Series, Duffy excelled in his next two Fall Classics. He was 8-for-18 (.444) with five RBI in the five-game victory over the Phillies in 1915, and batted .353 with three extra-base hits the following year as the Sox defeated Brooklyn to repeat. He missed the 1918 Series because he was serving in the military during World War I.
Injuries and Explanation for Missed Playing Time
Lewis missed the entire 1918 season while he served in the Army.
Transactions
December 18, 1918: Traded by the Boston Red Sox with Ernie Shore to the New York Yankees for Frank Gilhooley, Slim Love, Ray Caldwell, Roxy Walters, and $15000 cash.
December 31, 1920: Traded by the New York Yankees with George Mogridge to the Washington Senators for Braggo Roth.
Trivia Question
Who was the last player to lead the Yankees in RBI, prior to their acquisition of Babe Ruth in 1920?
Trivia Answer
Left fielder Duffy Lewis paced the team with 89 RBI in 1919. Ruth led the Yankees in that category his first five sesons with the club.
Replaced
Left fielder Harry Niles, whose lack of punch (and range) led to his demise as a big league ballplayer.
Replaced By
While Lewis was away in the Army in 1918, Red Sox skipper Ed Barrow platooned George Whiteman and George "Babe" Ruth. In December, Lewis was dealt to the Yankees, and Ruth played in left one more season before he too was swapped to New York. Lewis had a fine season for the Yankees in 1919, solidifying a shaky outfield, and leading the team with 89 RBI. After playing out in left again in 1920, he was dealt to washington, where he never cracked the starting lineup.
Best Strength as a Player
Lewis was reknowned as a clutch hitter. His performance in the World Series (with the exception of 1912) supports that theory. Though he was considered a great defensive left fielder, his stats are average. It's possible that his range was hindered by the exceptional coverage Speaker provided from his center field post.
Largest Weakness as a Player
In the only four seasons in which we have caught stealing data during his career, Lewis swiped 39 bases but was thrown out stealing 47 times. That's not good, even for that era.
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