Pat Mullin
Encyclopedia
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Mullin (November 1, 1917 - August 14, 1999), was a Major League Baseball outfielder
for the Detroit Tigers
from 1940-1941 and 1946-1953. Born in Trotter, Pennsylvania, Mullin was signed by the Tigers before the 1937 season
as a 19-year old amateur free agent. A left-handed hitter who threw right-handed, Mullin was 6'2" and 190 pounds.
Mullin reached the major leagues at age 22 in the final week of the 1940 season, going hitless in four at bats. The Tigers won the American League
pennant
in 1940, but Mullin did not play in the World Series
. He started the 1941 season
in the minor leagues at Buffalo
, but was brought back up midseason and made a big impression, batting .345 with a .400 on base percentage and a .509 slugging percentage. In just 54 games, Mullin had 76 hits, scored 42 runs, and 21 extra base hits.
Based on his performance in 1941, Mullin appeared to be a rising star. However, World War II intervened and Mullin served for four years in the U.S. armed forces. As a result, Mullin missed four full seasons during the prime of his athletic life from ages 25-28.
Mullin returned to the Tigers after the war in 1946 and became a solid performer. His best seasons were 1947 and 1948, the only seasons he played in more than 110 games. In 1947, Mullin was among the American League leaders with 28 doubles and 49 extra base hits. He was elected to the American League All Star Team and finished the 1947 season with a .459 on base percengage, a .470 slugging percentage and an OPS (on base plus slugging) rating of .829.
In 1948, Mullin was again chosen for the All Star Team. He finished the 1948 campaign with a .385 on base percentage (driven by 143 hits and 77 bases on balls) and a .504 slugging percentage -- 8th best in the AL. His OPS rating in 1948 was .889 OPS -- 7th best in the AL behind the likes of Hall of Famers Ted Williams
, Joe DiMaggio
, and Lou Boudreau
. Mullin was also among the 1948 league leaders in triples (22), home runs (23), and at bats per home run (21.6).
After the 1948 season, Mullin played largely as a reserve outfielder and left-handed hitting pinch hitter. On June 26, 1949, Mullin hit three home runs in a single game. Mullin had 57 pinch hitting appearances in 1953. Mullin retired at the end of the 1953 season, a month shy of his 36th birthday. In ten major league seasons, Mullin played in 834 games for the Tigers, 637 as an outfielder and the rest as a pinch hitter. He finished with a career .271 batting average, 676 hits, and 385 RBIs, a .358 on base percentage, .453 slugging percentage, and .811 OPS rating.
Mullin remained in baseball after his playing days ended as a scout, minor league
manager
and first-base coach
for the Tigers, and a coach for the Cleveland Indians
, Washington Senators
and Montréal Expos
. He died at age 81 in Brownsville, Pennsylvania
and is buried at Lafayette Memorial Park, in Brownsville, Pennsylvania
.
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...
for 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...
from 1940-1941 and 1946-1953. Born in Trotter, Pennsylvania, Mullin was signed by the Tigers before the 1937 season
1937 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over New York Giants *All-Star Game, July 7 at Griffith Stadium: American League, 8-3-Awards and honors:*MLB Most Valuable Player Award**American League: Charlie Gehringer, Detroit Tigers, 2B...
as a 19-year old amateur free agent. A left-handed hitter who threw right-handed, Mullin was 6'2" and 190 pounds.
Mullin reached the major leagues at age 22 in the final week of the 1940 season, going hitless in four at bats. The Tigers won the American League
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...
pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
in 1940, but Mullin did not play in the World Series
1940 World Series
The 1940 World Series matched the Cincinnati Reds against the Detroit Tigers, with the Reds winning the Series in seven games for their second championship, their first since the scandal-tainted victory in...
. He started the 1941 season
1941 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Joe Dimaggio hits in 56 consecutive games. After being hitless in the 57th game, he hit safely in 16 more consecutive games for a streak of 72 of 73 games.*Ted Williams ended the season with a .406 batting average...
in the minor leagues at Buffalo
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
, but was brought back up midseason and made a big impression, batting .345 with a .400 on base percentage and a .509 slugging percentage. In just 54 games, Mullin had 76 hits, scored 42 runs, and 21 extra base hits.
Based on his performance in 1941, Mullin appeared to be a rising star. However, World War II intervened and Mullin served for four years in the U.S. armed forces. As a result, Mullin missed four full seasons during the prime of his athletic life from ages 25-28.
Mullin returned to the Tigers after the war in 1946 and became a solid performer. His best seasons were 1947 and 1948, the only seasons he played in more than 110 games. In 1947, Mullin was among the American League leaders with 28 doubles and 49 extra base hits. He was elected to the American League All Star Team and finished the 1947 season with a .459 on base percengage, a .470 slugging percentage and an OPS (on base plus slugging) rating of .829.
In 1948, Mullin was again chosen for the All Star Team. He finished the 1948 campaign with a .385 on base percentage (driven by 143 hits and 77 bases on balls) and a .504 slugging percentage -- 8th best in the AL. His OPS rating in 1948 was .889 OPS -- 7th best in the AL behind the likes of Hall of Famers Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
, Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
, and Lou Boudreau
Lou Boudreau
Louis "Lou" Boudreau was an American Major League Baseball player and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970...
. Mullin was also among the 1948 league leaders in triples (22), home runs (23), and at bats per home run (21.6).
After the 1948 season, Mullin played largely as a reserve outfielder and left-handed hitting pinch hitter. On June 26, 1949, Mullin hit three home runs in a single game. Mullin had 57 pinch hitting appearances in 1953. Mullin retired at the end of the 1953 season, a month shy of his 36th birthday. In ten major league seasons, Mullin played in 834 games for the Tigers, 637 as an outfielder and the rest as a pinch hitter. He finished with a career .271 batting average, 676 hits, and 385 RBIs, a .358 on base percentage, .453 slugging percentage, and .811 OPS rating.
Mullin remained in baseball after his playing days ended as a scout, minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and first-base coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the Tigers, and a coach for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
and Montréal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. He died at age 81 in Brownsville, Pennsylvania
Brownsville, Pennsylvania
Brownsville is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States, officially founded in 1785 located 35 miles south of Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River...
and is buried at Lafayette Memorial Park, in Brownsville, Pennsylvania
Brownsville, Pennsylvania
Brownsville is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States, officially founded in 1785 located 35 miles south of Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River...
.