George Davis: Forgotten in Shuffle for Hall
This article was written by Dennis Bingham
This article was published in Baseball in Chicago (SABR 16, 1986)
*Almost 450 doubles (more than Roberto Clemente, Eddie Collins or Luke Appling)
*Over 160 triples (more than Nap Lajoie, George Sisler or Max Carey)
*Over 250 stolen bases (and this isn’t counting the first eight years of his career when stolen bases were scored differently than today. If you do count them he had more than 600, more than Luis Aparicio or Willie Mays. If you don’t count them, he still had more than Jackie Robinson or Roger Bresnahan)
*.297 lifetime batting average (hitting over .300 nine times including bettering the mark of .345 three times) And Davis is one of the best switch-hitters who ever lived. A look at career totals for switch-hitters finds the name George Davis among the leaders Mickey Mantle, Pete Rose and Frankie Frisch. He still holds the all-time switch-hit record for both triples in a season (27) and career. And, despite the assaults of Mantle and Eddie Murray, Davis holds the all-time record for RBIs in a season by a switch-hitter with 134.
But how about his fielding? Glad you asked. In his rookie season as a center fielder he led all outfielders with 35 assists. Moving to third base the next year, he led the league in double-plays recorded. After they finally realized his full potential was at the most important defensive position, at shortstop, over the next several years he would lead his league in assists once, putouts twice, fielding average and total chances four times, and double plays five times.
So the question is: Why is George Davis basically forgotten today? Is it because he never had one mindboggling year but rather several solid seasons? Is it because he only played in one World Series? Maybe because he wasn’t flamboyant like many of his 19th century rivals and teammates? He also didn’t have a flashy nickname.
Every player mentioned above is in the Hall of Fame or soon will be once they retire — all except for Davis, that is. It certainly isn’t being said that Davis was a better ballplayer than most of those named, but it says something to have his name included in their company without looking ridiculous. There are ballplayers not in the Hall who are greater than Davis, as well as there are several enshrined who couldn’t begin to pick up either George’s bat or glove. But when there’s discussion of players who should be considered for Cooperstown from the days when baseball was still a toddler, it would be justice to remember George Stacey Davis.