Ira Flagstead
Encyclopedia
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He played thirteen seasons in the American
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
and National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
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...
(1917–1923), 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"...
(1923–1929), Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1929), and Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1929–1930).
In 1218 career games, Flagstead batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.290 with a .407 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
, 1202 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 644 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 262 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 50 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 40 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 467 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, and 71 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s.
Detroit Tigers
Born in Montague, MichiganMontague, Michigan
Montague is a city in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,407. The city is located within Montague Township, but is politically independent....
, Flagstead started as a catcher with the Montague Independents. He was signed by the Tigers in 1917 at age 23 but had only four at bats with the team that year. He also played in 1917 with Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
of the Northwest League. In 1919 (his first full season in the major leagues), Flagstead played in 97 games (83 in right field) and was an immediate success, ranking among the league leaders with: a .331 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(5th in the AL behind teammates Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
and Bobby Veach
Bobby Veach
Robert Hayes "Bobby" Veach was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played fourteen seasons for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees and Washington Senators ....
who finished #1 and #2); a .415 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
(5th in the AL); and a .481 slugging percentage (6th in the AL).
In 1920, the bottom fell out as Flagstead's batting average dropped almost 100 points from .331 to .235. Flagstead played in 110 games, including 75 in right field.
In 1921, the Tigers were loaded with outfielders, including 1921 batting champion Harry Heilmann
Harry Heilmann
Harry Edwin Heilmann , nicknamed “Slug,” was a Major League Baseball player who played 17 seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952.Heilmann was a line drive hitter who won four American League batting crowns: in 1921, 1923, 1925 and...
, Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
, and Bobby Veach
Bobby Veach
Robert Hayes "Bobby" Veach was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played fourteen seasons for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees and Washington Senators ....
. Detroit's new manager Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
decided to move Flagstead from right field to the infield, playing him in 55 games at shortstop and 8 games at second base. Flagstead improved his batting average to .305, as the 1921 Tigers
1921 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers finished in sixth place in the American League, 27 games behind the Yankees, with a record of 71-82. Despite their sixth place finish, the 1921 Tigers amassed 1,724 hits and a team batting average of .316—the highest team hit total and batting average in American League history...
set American League records with 1724 hits and a .316 team batting average.
In 1922, the Tigers added shortstop Topper Rigney
Topper Rigney
Emory Elmo "Topper" Rigney was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , and Washington Senators . Rigney had speed and a good sense of the strike zone...
and outfielder Bob Fothergill
Bob Fothergill
Robert Roy Fothergill , nicknamed "Fats" or "Fatty," was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played twelve seasons with the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , and Boston Red Sox ....
, resulting in a loss of playing time for Flagstead. Despite batting .308 with a .411 on base percentage and .527 slugging percentage, Flagstead played in only 44 games and had only 91 at bats in 1922.
Boston Red Sox
With the Detroit lineup crowded with big hitting outfielder, the Tigers sold Flagstead to the Boston Red SoxBoston 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"...
on April 20, 1923. Flagstead thrived in Boston, playing in right field in 1923 and as the starting center fielder for five straight years from 1924–1928.
Flagstead proved to be an excellent center fielder, with speed, a strong arm, and a reliable glove. In 1925, his range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
of 3.15 was 0.88 points higher than the league average. He also led all American League outfielders in assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
in 1923 with 31 and in 1925 with 24. In 1927, he led all American League outfielders with a .986 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
in 1927.
On April 19, 1926, Flagstead also set the American League record, and tied the major league record by starting three double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s as an outfielder in a game. Two of the double plays were fly balls that Flagstead caught and then threw out runners trying to score from third base. The third was scored 8-5-4-2. (Although records are conflicting, there is some evidence that he also accomplished the feat on August 25, 1925.)
Though he never matched the batting numbers of his rookie season, Flagstead was a solid hitter for the Red Sox. In 1923, he hit .312 for the Red Sox, and in 1924, he hit .307 with a .401 on base percentage, collected career highs in runs (106), hits (172), and walks (77). And in 1928, he was among the league leaders with 41 doubles.
Flagstead scored five runs in a game twice in his career. He accomplished the feat on May 8, 1925, in a 15-7 victory over the Tigers, and again on August 29, 1927, in a 10-2 victory over the Indians.
Flagstead was the most reliable player on the Red Sox teams from 1924–1928, and he was voted among the Top 25 in the AL MVP voting in each of those years: #15 in 1924; #7 in 1925; #23 in 1926; #18 in 1927; and #14 in 1928.
In 1928, Boston fans held an "Ira Flagstead Day" and presented him with $1,000 in gold, a new automobile and other gifts.
Flagstead was selected as one of the "Top 100 Red Sox" of all time, placing at #97.
Later years
Flagstead was claimed off waivers by the Washington SenatorsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in May 1929 but was released after playing in only 18 games. He was picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in July 1929. He played his last major league game for the Pirates on July 29, 1930.
After being released by the Pirates, Flagstead played in 1931 for the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
and Seattle Indians in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
.
After his professional career ended, Flagstead returned to his home in Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, where he put the local team in the Timber League championship playoffs for three consecutive years.
Flagstead has been inducted into the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame and the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame.
Flagstead died at his home in Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
at age 46 in 1940.