Del Pratt
Encyclopedia
Derrill Burnham "Del" Pratt (January 10, 1888 in Walhalla
, South Carolina
September 30, 1977 in Texas City, Texas
) was a star running back for the University of Alabama
before becoming a professional baseball player. Pratt signed with the St. Louis Browns
in . He was a utility player, playing second base, shortstop, third base and the outfield.
In , the Browns were struggling. Owner Phil Ball
accused some of the players of intentionally playing poorly so that they could be traded. Ball said, "Every $1000 I lose on the Browns this season will cost the ballplayers $100. Salaries will be cut next season."
Pratt was offended. He and teammate Doc Lavan
sued Ball for slander. The Sporting News
went so far as to call Pratt the Browns' Trotsky. The suit was eventually settled in 1918, and Pratt was traded to the New York Yankees
.
After the 1920 season, the Yankees traded Pratt to the Boston Red Sox
for Waite Hoyt
, but he decided to retire. He was hired as the University of Michigan
baseball coach to replace Carl Lundgren
(with a recommendation from Branch Rickey
) and served as an assistant football coach and freshman basketball coach. He began preparing the 1921 team, but the Red Sox coaxed him out of retirement before the first game of the season. Upon his return to the Sox in 1921, Pratt batted over .300. He ended his career with the Detroit Tigers
.
His career batting average was .292 over twelve seasons, with an on-base percentage of .345. He had a total of 968 RBIs and 856 runs scored.
Walhalla, South Carolina
Walhalla is a mountain city in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. It is located from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina and is also located in the Appalachian Mountains of South Carolina. The population was 3,801 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Oconee County...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
September 30, 1977 in Texas City, Texas
Texas City, Texas
Texas City is a city in Chambers and Galveston counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 41,521 at the 2000 census. It is a part of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
) was a star running back for the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
before becoming a professional baseball player. Pratt signed with the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in . He was a utility player, playing second base, shortstop, third base and the outfield.
Baseball career
In his rookie season, Pratt batted .302 for the Browns. In he led the American League with 103 RBIs.In , the Browns were struggling. Owner Phil Ball
Phil Ball (baseball)
Philip DeCatesby Ball was the owner of the St. Louis Terriers of the Federal League from through and the St. Louis Browns of the American League from through . Ball's estate owned the Browns after his death until , when the team was sold to Donald Lee Barnes.- References :...
accused some of the players of intentionally playing poorly so that they could be traded. Ball said, "Every $1000 I lose on the Browns this season will cost the ballplayers $100. Salaries will be cut next season."
Pratt was offended. He and teammate Doc Lavan
Doc Lavan
John Leonard "Doc" Lavan was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played 12 seasons with the St. Louis Browns , Philadelphia Athletics , Washington Senators , and St. Louis Cardinals...
sued Ball for slander. The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
went so far as to call Pratt the Browns' Trotsky. The suit was eventually settled in 1918, and Pratt was traded to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
After the 1920 season, the Yankees traded Pratt to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for Waite Hoyt
Waite Hoyt
Waite Charles Hoyt was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, one of the dominant pitchers of the 1920s, and the winningest pitcher for the New York Yankees during that decade...
, but he decided to retire. He was hired as the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
baseball coach to replace Carl Lundgren
Carl Lundgren
Carl Leonard "Lundy" Lundgren was an American baseball and football player and coach.Lundgren played football and baseball for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and played eight seasons of Major League Baseball as a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. In eight years with the Cubs, he compiled...
(with a recommendation from Branch Rickey
Branch Rickey
Wesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967...
) and served as an assistant football coach and freshman basketball coach. He began preparing the 1921 team, but the Red Sox coaxed him out of retirement before the first game of the season. Upon his return to the Sox in 1921, Pratt batted over .300. He ended his career with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
His career batting average was .292 over twelve seasons, with an on-base percentage of .345. He had a total of 968 RBIs and 856 runs scored.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
External links
- Career statistics & analysis- http://www.historicbaseball.com/players/p/pratt_del.html
- http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=a&bid=1124&pid=11446