Maurice Archdeacon
Encyclopedia
Maurice John Archdeacon was a Major League Baseball
center fielder
who played for the Chicago White Sox
from 1923 to 1925. He stood 5'8" and weighed 153 lb.
Archdeacon had two nicknames, "Flash" and "Comet". While a player for Rochester of the International League
in 1921, he set a speed record by circling the bases in 13.4 seconds during a pre-game exhibition (the record was broken by Evar Swanson
in 1932). He was purchased for $50,000 by the White Sox from Rochester on September 13, 1923 after having stolen 225 bases in his last five minor league
seasons.
He made his major league debut four days later against the Boston Red Sox
at Fenway Park
. Archdeacon went on to hit .402 in 22 games for Chicago that year by getting 35 hits
in 87 at bats. He drove in four runs
and scored 23.
Archdeacon played in 95 games for the last-place White Sox in 1924, batting .319 with 25 RBI, 59 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases. In 1925 he played in only 10 big league games, the last being on May 29. He was 1-for-9 with two runs scored.
His career totals include 127 games played
, 128 hits, zero home runs, 29 RBI, 84 runs, and a lifetime batting average
of .333. He drew 48 walks and was hit by pitch
es four times, giving him an on base percentage
of .413. He stole 13 bases and was caught 10 times.
Archdeacon was a longtime scout for the St. Louis Browns
until they moved to Baltimore and became the Orioles in October, 1953.
He died in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri
at the age of 55.
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...
center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
who played for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
from 1923 to 1925. He stood 5'8" and weighed 153 lb.
Archdeacon had two nicknames, "Flash" and "Comet". While a player for Rochester of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
in 1921, he set a speed record by circling the bases in 13.4 seconds during a pre-game exhibition (the record was broken by Evar Swanson
Evar Swanson
Ernest Evar Swanson , was a professional baseball and football player. He played outfielder in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox...
in 1932). He was purchased for $50,000 by the White Sox from Rochester on September 13, 1923 after having stolen 225 bases in his last five minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
seasons.
He made his major league debut four days later against 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"...
at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. Archdeacon went on to hit .402 in 22 games for Chicago that year by getting 35 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....
in 87 at bats. He drove in four runs
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...
and scored 23.
Archdeacon played in 95 games for the last-place White Sox in 1924, batting .319 with 25 RBI, 59 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases. In 1925 he played in only 10 big league games, the last being on May 29. He was 1-for-9 with two runs scored.
His career totals include 127 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, 128 hits, zero home runs, 29 RBI, 84 runs, and a lifetime 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 :...
of .333. He drew 48 walks and was hit by pitch
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
es four times, giving him an 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...
of .413. He stole 13 bases and was caught 10 times.
Archdeacon was a longtime scout for 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...
until they moved to Baltimore and became the Orioles in October, 1953.
He died in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
at the age of 55.