Zack Wheat

Left Fielder

Class of 1959

Zack Wheat

Left Fielder

Class of 1959
A graceful outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Zack Wheat recorded 2,884 hits and a .317 career batting average.

Games

Birth year

About Zack Wheat

"One of the grandest guys ever to wear a baseball uniform, one of the greatest batting teachers I have ever seen, one of the truest pals a man ever had and one of the kindliest men God ever created," Casey Stengel said of Wheat.

Born in Hamilton, Mo., on May 23, 1888, Wheat made his big league debut in 1909. He played 19 season in the major leagues, 18 of which came with Brooklyn before finishing his career in 1927 with the Philadelphia Athletics.

At 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, Wheat batted left-handed and threw right-handed. The outfielder topped the .300 mark in 13 full seasons, led the National League in batting in 1918 and finished with a .317 career batting average. He was also an outstanding fly chaser with a strong arm, leading National League left fielders in putouts seven times and fielding percentage twice.

Wheat's Brooklyn teams reached .500 in only five of his seasons, but he did help his teams claim NL pennants in 1916 and 1920.

Wheat spent the first part of his career in the Dead Ball Era and his best season during those years came in 1914 when he hit .319 with 26 doubles, nine triples, nine home runs and 89 RBI.

When the livelier ball was introduced in the 1920s, Wheat made the necessary adjustments and averaged .347 at the plate from 1920-25, recording three 200-hit seasons in his mid 30s.

Wheat finished his career with 2,884 hits, 476 doubles, 1,289 runs scored and 1,248 RBI.

Wheat was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1959. He passed away on March 11, 1972.

The Basics

Year inducted
1959
Birth Place
Hamilton, Missouri
Birth Year
1888
Died
1972, Sedalia Missouri

Career at a Glance

Primary Team
Brooklyn Dodgers
Primary Position
Left Fielder
Played For
Brooklyn Dodgers, 1909-1926
Philadelphia Athletics, 1927

Career MLB Stats

Games
2,410
At bats
9,106
Hits
2,884
Walks
650
Runs
1,289
Doubles
476
Triples
172
Home Runs
132
RBI
1,248
Stolen Bases
205
Batting Average
.317
Ops
.817
On Base %
.367
Slugging %
.450

Zack Wheat Stories

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Zack Wheat is elected to the Hall of Fame