Joe Kuhel: Difference between revisions

Joe Kuhel
Joe Kuhel
	First baseman / Manager
	Born: June 25, 1906; Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
	Died: February 26, 1984 (aged 77); Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
	Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
	July 31, 1930, for the Washington Senators
Last MLB appearance
	May 11, 1947, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average	.277
Hits	2,212
Home runs	131
Runs batted in	1,049
Managerial record	106–201
Winning %	.345
Teams
	As player Washington Senators (1930–1937); Chicago White Sox (1938–1943); Washington Senators (1944–1946); Chicago White Sox (1946–1947); As manager Washington Senators (1948–1949);

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Joseph Anthony Kuhel (June 25, 1906 – February 26, 1984) was an American professional baseball player and manager. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he was a first baseman who played in the Major Leagues from 1930 to 1947, primarily for the Washington Senators, where he played 11 of his 18 seasons. He also played for the Chicago White Sox for seven seasons (1938–1943, 1946–1947). He batted and threw left-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg). Following his playing career, Kuhel managed the Senators (1948–49). In an 18-season career, Kuhel was a .277 hitter with 131 home runs and 1,049 RBI in 2,104 games played. Defensively, he posted a career .992 fielding percentage.

Kuhel was the best defensive first baseman in the American League during the 1930s, but also was an inconsistent player who struggled with injuries most of his career. Hampered by playing in Griffith Stadium most of his career, his power numbers were never as good as they may have been in a more favorable park for long-ball hitters.

Career

Kuhel started his major league career with the Washington in 1930 and replaced Joe Judge on a regular basis a year later. He appeared in 139 games, batting .269 with eight home runs and 85 RBI. In the Senators' pennant year of 1933, Kuhel hit 11 home runs with 107 RBIs and posted career-highs in batting average (.322) and hits (194). He also led AL first basemen with 1,498 putouts. He batted just .150 in the 1933 World Series in his only postseason appearance.

Kuhel seemed headed to another solid season in 1934, hitting .289 with three homers in 63 games, but he suffered a broken ankle in July and was out for the remainder of the season. He was healthy in 1935, hitting .261 with 74 RBIs in 151 games. His most productive season came in 1936, when he hit .321 with 16 home runs and set career-highs in doubles (42), RBIs (118) and slugging percentage (.502), while stealing 15 bases and struck out just 30 times. He finished sixth in the American League MVP Award voting tied with Vern Kennedy, behind Lou Gehrig, Luke Appling, Earl Averill, Charlie Gehringer and Bill Dickey, and over Joe DiMaggio, Tommy Bridges, Hal Trosky and Jimmie Foxx.

After his stellar season, Kuhel slumped in 1937, batting .283 but with low numbers in home runs, RBIs and slugging (6, 61, .400). Before the 1938 season he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for slugger Zeke Bonura in a swap of first basemen. In the more forgiving Comiskey Park, Kuhel hit for more power, averaging 18 home runs from 1939 to 1941, and tying Bonura's franchise record with 27 homers in 1940. But after struggling to .249, four homers, 52 RBIs in 1942, and .213, 5, 46 in 1943, Kuhel was let go by Chicago.

Before the 1944 season Kuhel returned to Washington. He hit .282 in his first two seasons back in a Senators' uniform, but when Mickey Vernon returned from World War II in 1946, Kuhel was expendable and was sold back to the White Sox in the midseason. After three pinch-hit appearances in 1947 he retired as a player to manage a White Sox farm team, the Class C Hot Springs Bathers.

Then, in 1948 Kuhel was brought back to Washington to manage the Senators. In two seasons, he had a 106–201 (.345) record that produced seventh- and eighth-place finishes. After being fired,^[1] he managed the Kansas City Blues in the American Association.

Kuhel died in Kansas City, Kansas, at the age of 77.

References

^ Joe Kuehl is fired; Solons seeks pilot

External links

Joe Kuhel - Baseball Biography and Highlights
The Baseball Page
Baseball Reference
Joe Kuhel at Find a Grave

[1] Joe Kuehl is fired; Solons seeks pilot

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|American baseball player and manager (1906-1984)}}
-{{Infobox MLB player
+{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
-|image=JoeKuhelGoudeycard.jpg
+{{Infobox baseball biography
 |name=Joe Kuhel
+|image=JoeKuhelGoudeycard.jpg
-|position=[[Outfielder]]
+|position=[[First baseman]] / [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]]
+|birth_date={{Birth date|1906|6|25}}
+|birth_place=[[Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S.
+|death_date={{death date and age|1984|2|26|1906|6|25}}
+|death_place=[[Kansas City, Kansas]], U.S.
 |bats=Left
 |throws=Left
+|debutleague = MLB
-|birth_date={{Birth date|1906|6|25|mf=y}}
-|birth_place=[[Cleveland, Ohio]]
-|death_date={{death date and age|1984|2|26|1906|6|25}}
-|death_place=[[Kansas City, Kansas]]
 |debutdate=July 31
 |debutyear=1930
-|debutteam=[[Minnesota Twins|Washington Senators]]
+|debutteam=Washington Senators
+|finalleague = MLB
 |finaldate=May 11
 |finalyear=1947
-|finalteam=[[Chicago White Sox]]
+|finalteam=Chicago White Sox
+|statleague = MLB
-|stat1label=[[Batting average]]
+|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
 |stat1value=.277
-|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
+|stat2label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hit]]s
-|stat2value=131
+|stat2value=2,212
-|stat3label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hit]]s
+|stat3label=[[Home run]]s
-|stat3value=2,212
+|stat3value=131
 |stat4label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
 |stat4value=1,049
-|stat5label=[[Stolen base]]s
+|stat5label=Managerial record
-|stat5value=178
+|stat5value=106–201
+|stat6label=Winning %
+|stat6value={{winning percentage|106|201}}
 |teams=
+'''As player'''
-*[[Minnesota Twins|Washington Senators]] ({{Baseball year|1930}}-{{Baseball year|1937}}; {{Baseball year|1944}}-{{Baseball year|1946}})
-*[[Chicago White Sox]] ({{Baseball year|1938}}-{{Baseball year|1943}}; {{Baseball year|1946}}-{{Baseball year|1947}})
+* [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]] ({{Baseball year|1930}}–{{Baseball year|1937}})
+* [[Chicago White Sox]] ({{Baseball year|1938}}–{{Baseball year|1943}})
-|highlights=
+* [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]] ({{Baseball year|1944}}–{{Baseball year|1946}})
-*2,212 career hits
+* [[Chicago White Sox]] ({{Baseball year|1946}}–{{Baseball year|1947}})
+'''As manager'''
+* [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]] ({{Baseball year|1948}}–{{Baseball year|1949}})
 }}
-'''Joseph Anthony Kuhel''' (June 25, 1906 – February 26, 1984) was an [[Americans|American]] [[professional baseball]] [[baseball player|player]] and [[manager (baseball)|manager]]. Born in [[Cleveland, Ohio]], he was a [[first baseman]] who played in the [[Major League Baseball|Major Leagues]] from 1930–46 for the [[Minnesota Twins|Washington Senators]] (1930–37; 1944–46) and [[Chicago White Sox]] (1938–43; 1946–47). He batted and threw [[left-handed]], stood {{convert|6|ft}} tall and weighed {{convert|180|lb}}. Following his playing career, Kuhel managed the Senators (1948–49).
+'''Joseph Anthony Kuhel''' (June 25, 1906 – February 26, 1984) was an [[Americans|American]] [[professional baseball]] [[baseball player|player]] and [[manager (baseball)|manager]]. Born in [[Cleveland, Ohio]], he was a [[first baseman]] who played in the [[Major League Baseball|Major Leagues]] from 1930 to 1947, primarily for the [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]], where he played 11 of his 18 seasons. He also played for the [[Chicago White Sox]] for seven seasons (1938–1943, 1946–1947). He batted and threw left-handed, stood {{convert|6|ft}} tall and weighed {{convert|180|lb}}. Following his playing career, Kuhel managed the Senators (1948–49). In an 18-season career, Kuhel was a .277 [[batting average (baseball)|hitter]] with 131 [[home run]]s and 1,049 [[run batted in|RBI]] in 2,104 [[games played]]. Defensively, he posted a career .992 [[fielding percentage]].
-In an 18-season career, Kuhel was a .277 [[batting average|hitter]] with 131 [[home run]]s and 1,049 [[run batted in|RBI]] in 2,104 [[games played]].
 Kuhel was the best defensive first baseman in the [[American League]] during the 1930s, but also was an inconsistent player who struggled with injuries most of his career. Hampered by playing in [[Griffith Stadium]] most of his career, his power numbers were never as good as they may have been in a more favorable  park for long-ball hitters.
+==Career==
-Kuhel started his major league career with the Washington in 1930 and replaced [[Joe Judge]] on a regular basis a year later. He appeared in 139 games, batting .269 with eight home runs and 85 RBI. In the Senators' pennant year of {{by|1933}}, Kuhel hit 11 home runs with 107 RBIs and posted career-highs in batting average (.322) and [[hit (baseball)|hits]] (194). He also led AL first basemen with 1,498 [[putout]]s.
+Kuhel started his major league career with the Washington in 1930 and replaced [[Joe Judge (baseball)|Joe Judge]] on a regular basis a year later. He appeared in 139 games, batting .269 with eight home runs and 85 RBI. In the Senators' pennant year of {{baseball year|1933}}, Kuhel hit 11 home runs with 107 RBIs and posted career-highs in batting average (.322) and [[hit (baseball)|hits]] (194). He also led AL first basemen with 1,498 [[putout]]s. He batted just .150 in the [[1933 World Series]] in his only postseason appearance.
-Kuhel seemed headed to another solid season in 1934, hitting .289 with three homers in 63 games, but he suffered a broken ankle in July and was out for the remainder of the season. He was healthy in 1935, hitting .261 with 74 RBIs in 151 games. His most productive season came in 1936, when he hit .321 with 16 home runs and set career-highs in [[Double (baseball)|doubles]] (42), RBIs (118) and [[slugging percentage]] (.502), while [[stolen base|swiped]] 15 bases and [[strikeout|struck out]] just 30 times. He finished sixth in the [[MLB Most Valuable Player Award|American League MVP Award]] voting tied with [[Vern Kennedy]], behind [[Lou Gehrig]], [[Luke Appling]], [[Earl Averill]], [[Charlie Gehringer]] and [[Bill Dickey]], and over [[Joe DiMaggio]], [[Tommy Bridges]], [[Hal Trosky]] and [[Jimmie Foxx]].
+Kuhel seemed headed to another solid season in 1934, hitting .289 with three homers in 63 games, but he suffered a broken ankle in July and was out for the remainder of the season. He was healthy in 1935, hitting .261 with 74 RBIs in 151 games. His most productive season came in 1936, when he hit .321 with 16 home runs and set career-highs in [[Double (baseball)|doubles]] (42), RBIs (118) and [[slugging percentage]] (.502), while [[stolen base|stealing]] 15 bases and [[strikeout|struck out]] just 30 times. He finished sixth in the [[MLB Most Valuable Player Award|American League MVP Award]] voting tied with [[Vern Kennedy]], behind [[Lou Gehrig]], [[Luke Appling]], [[Earl Averill]], [[Charlie Gehringer]] and [[Bill Dickey]], and over [[Joe DiMaggio]], [[Tommy Bridges]], [[Hal Trosky]] and [[Jimmie Foxx]].
 After his stellar season, Kuhel slumped in 1937, batting .283 but with low numbers in home runs, RBIs and slugging (6, 61, .400). Before the 1938 season he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for [[slugging percentage|slugger]] [[Zeke Bonura]] in a swap of first basemen. In the more forgiving [[Comiskey Park]], Kuhel hit for more power, averaging 18 home runs from 1939 to 1941, and tying Bonura's franchise record with 27 homers in 1940. But after struggling to .249, four homers, 52 RBIs in 1942, and .213, 5, 46 in 1943, Kuhel was let go by Chicago.
-Before the 1944 season Kuhel returned to Washington. He hit .282 in his first two seasons back in a Senators' uniform, but when [[Mickey Vernon]] returned from [[World War II]] in 1946, Kuhel was expendable and was sold back to the White Sox in the midseason. After three [[pinch-hitter|pinch-hit]] appearances in 1947 he retired as a player to manage a White Sox [[farm system|farm team]], the Class C [[Hot Springs Bathers]].
+Before the 1944 season Kuhel returned to Washington. He hit .282 in his first two seasons back in a Senators' uniform, but when [[Mickey Vernon]] returned from World War II in 1946, Kuhel was expendable and was sold back to the White Sox in the midseason. After three [[pinch-hitter|pinch-hit]] appearances in 1947 he retired as a player to manage a White Sox [[farm team]], the Class C [[Hot Springs Bathers]].
-Then, in 1948 Kuhel was brought back to Washington to manage the Senators. In two seasons, he had a 106–201 (.345) record that produced seventh- and eighth-place finishes. After being fired, he managed the [[Kansas City Blues (American Association)|Kansas City Blues]] in the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]].
+Then, in 1948 Kuhel was brought back to Washington to manage the Senators. In two seasons, he had a 106–201 (.345) record that produced seventh- and eighth-place finishes. After being fired,<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1338&dat=19491004&id=utZYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tfUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4874,961928&hl=en Joe Kuehl is fired; Solons seeks pilot]</ref> he managed the [[Kansas City Blues (American Association)|Kansas City Blues]] in the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]].
-Kuhel died in [[Kansas City, Kansas]], at age of 77.
+Kuhel died in [[Kansas City, Kansas]], at the age of 77.
-==Highlights==
-*In a game against the [[Detroit Tigers|Tigers]] had the only hit off [[Tommy Bridges]], a home run. It was the first time in the American League that a [[pitcher]] allowed a home run in a one-hitter game (May 24, 1933)
-*Led American League first basemen in putouts (1933)
-*Tied an AL record with three [[triple (baseball)|triples]] in a game (August 22, 1936)
-*Finished sixth in the American League MVP Award voting (1936)
-*In a doubleheader against the [[Oakland Athletics|Philadelphia Athletics]] recorded 40 putouts –17 in the first game, and 23 in the second–, eclipsing a 35-year-old record for putouts by a first baseman in a doubleheader held by [[Hal Chase]] (July 20, 1941)
-*Hit an [[inside-the-park home run]] at Griffith Stadium, for the only HR hit by a Washington player at home in a season (September 7, 1945)
-*In his career collected 2,212 hits and a 1.60 [[walk-to-strikeout ratio]] (980-to-612)
 ==See also==
-*[[List of major league players with 2,000 hits]]
+*[[List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders]]
-* [[List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles]]
+* [[List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders]]
-* [[List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples]]
+* [[List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders]]
-* [[List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs]]
+* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders]]
-* [[List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI]]
+* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders]]
-* [[List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases]]
+* [[List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders]]
+==References==
+{{reflist}}
-==Sources==
+==External links==
+*[https://baseballbiography.com/joe-kuhel Joe Kuhel] - Baseball Biography and Highlights
-*[http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/K/Kuhel_Joe.stm Baseball Library]
 *[http://www.thebaseballpage.com/past/pp/kuheljoe/ The Baseball Page]
-*[http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kuheljo01.shtml Baseball Reference]
+*[https://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kuheljo01.shtml Baseball Reference]
+*{{Find a Grave}}
 {{TwinsManagers}}
+{{authority control}}
-{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
-| NAME              =Kuhel, Joe
-| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
-| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American baseball player
-| DATE OF BIRTH     =June 25, 1906
-| PLACE OF BIRTH    =Cleveland, Ohio
-| DATE OF DEATH     =February 26, 1984
-| PLACE OF DEATH    =Kansas City, Kansas
-}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Kuhel, Joe}}
 [[Category:1906 births]]
 [[Category:1984 deaths]]
-[[Category:American people of Slovene descent]]
+[[Category:American people of Slovenian descent]]
-[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
+[[Category:Baltimore Orioles (International League) players]]
-[[Category:Baltimore Orioles (IL) players]]
+[[Category:Baseball players from Cleveland]]
-[[Category:Baseball players from Ohio]]
 [[Category:Chicago White Sox players]]
 [[Category:Hot Springs Bathers players]]
@@ Line 96: / Line 92: @@
 [[Category:Major League Baseball first basemen]]
 [[Category:Minor league baseball managers]]
-[[Category:Sportspeople from Cleveland, Ohio]]
 [[Category:Springfield Senators players]]
-[[Category:Washington Senators (1901–60) managers]]
+[[Category:Washington Senators (1901–1960) managers]]
-[[Category:Washington Senators (1901–60) players]]
+[[Category:Washington Senators (1901–1960) players]]