Mickey Vernon
A native of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, Mickey Vernon won two American League batting titles, in 1946 and 1953. He set a major league record for career games played at first base and was one of the finest defensive first baseman of the 1940s and 1950s. He was famous as President Dwight Eisenhower's favorite ballplayer, and he was one of the most popular players in Senators' history. In 1961, Vernon became the expansion Senators' first manager.
Played For
Washington Senators (1939-1948)
Cleveland Indians (1949-1950)
Washington Senators (1950-1955)
Boston Red Sox (1956-1957)
Cleveland Indians (1958)
Milwaukee Braves (1959)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1960)
Managed
Washington Senators (1961-1963)
All-Time Rankings
Mickey Vernon ranks #36 among the Top 50 all-time at 1B. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1953
Left-handed hitting Vernon had a very good season. He led the AL with a .337 average, had 101 runs scored, 205 hits, 43 doubles, 11 triples, 15 homers, 115 RBI, 63 walks and 315 total bases.
The 1953 American League Batting Race
Vernon battled Cleveland's Al Rosen (a former teammate) for the 1953 AL batting title. The race went down to the last game of the season. Near the end of the game, Vernon's average was at .337 when word arrived that the Indians' game was over and Rosen trailed Vernon by .0011 points. The possibility of Vernon coming up to bat again and possibly losing the title prompted his teammates to purposely make outs to end the game. It was Vernon's second batting title, having also won the crown in 1946 by 11 points over Ted Williams.
Where He Played
First base
As a Manager
He was 135-227 (.373) in two full seasons and part of 1963. After losing 100 games in each of his first two seasons, he was fired with a 14-26 mark in '63. He was replaced by former longtime teammate Eddie Yost, who managed just one game (and lost) before being replaced by Gil Hodges.
Born
James Barton Vernon was born on April 22, 1918, in Marcus Hook, PA.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Primary Position: 1B
Primary Team: WS1
Major League Debut
July 8, 1939
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1939
Ted Williams
Mickey Vernon
Bob Elliott
Bob Kennedy
Early Wynn
Hal Newhouser
Dizzy Trout
Fred Hutchinson
Johnny Hopp
Similar Players
Phil Cavarretta, Bill Buckner, Mark Grace
Related Players
On December 14, 1948, Early Wynn was traded to the Cleveland Indians in the deal that also sent Vernon to the Tribe. It was one of the best trades in Cleveland history.
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1966 |
BBWAA |
20 |
6.6% |
1967 |
BBWAA |
14 |
4.8% |
1967 |
Run Off |
2 |
.7% |
1968 |
BBWAA |
22 |
7.8% |
1969 |
BBWAA |
21 |
6.2% |
1970 |
BBWAA |
10 |
3.3% |
1971 |
BBWAA |
12 |
3.3% |
1972 |
BBWAA |
12 |
3.0% |
1973 |
BBWAA |
23 |
6.1% |
1974 |
BBWAA |
27 |
7.4% |
1975 |
BBWAA |
22 |
6.1% |
1976 |
BBWAA |
52 |
13.4% |
1977 |
BBWAA |
52 |
13.6% |
1978 |
BBWAA |
66 |
17.4% |
1979 |
BBWAA |
88 |
20.4% |
1980 |
BBWAA |
96 |
24.9% |
|
Milestones
On September 2, 1954, Vernon collected his 2,000 hit, against Detroit in Washington's Griffith Stadium.
Batting Feats
Notes
Third in 1953 AL Most Valuable Player voting, fifth in 1946, and ninth in 1954.
Hitting Streaks
22 games (1946)
20 games (1953)
All-Star Selections
1946 AL
1948 AL
1953 AL
1954 AL
1955 AL
1956 AL
1958 AL
Best Strength as a Player
Vernon holds the American League record for double plays by a first baseman, and also for putouts at first base. On at least one occassion, he recorded two unassisted double plays in the same game.
Learn More about Mickey Vernon
Search Amazon.com for Books about Mickey Vernon ⇒
Search for Mickey Vernon at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
