Ralph Young
Encyclopedia
Ralph Stuart "Pep" Young (born September 19, 1888 – January 24, 1965) was an American Major League Baseball
second baseman
. During his nine major league seasons, he played with the New York Yankees
(1913), Detroit Tigers
(1915–1921), and Philadelphia Athletics (1922).
. He began his Major League career in April 1913 as a shortstop
for the New York Yankees
, but only lasted seven games. In those seven games, Young struggled with an .067 batting average
in 15 at bat
s and also committed five errors.
gave him a second chance in 1915, and he became their starting second baseman for the next seven years (1915–1921). In 1915, his first season for Detroit, Young had a .243 batting average, but a much more respectable .339 on base percentage. This was a pattern that followed Young through much of his career. In nine seasons, Young had a batting average of .247 and an on base percentage of .339.
Young's offensive contributions were fueled by his ability to collect walks and avoid striking out. At 5'5", Young was one of the shortest players ever to wear the Tigers uniform. His small stature, and correspondingly small strike zone
, undoubtedly assisted him in both collecting walks and avoiding strikeout
s. In nine seasons, Young collected 495 bases on balls and struck out only 254 times (in 3,643 at bats). He was among the American League
leaders in walks in 1918 (54), 1919 (85) and 1920 (69).
Aside from talent for collecting walks and avoiding strikeouts, Young's abilities as a contact hitter
are also borne out by the fact that he still holds the Detroit Tigers
' season record for singles by a switch hitter with 146 in 1920.
Whether due to the tutelage of player-manager Ty Cobb
or the arrival of the lively ball, Young's offensive numbers jumped dramatically in 1920. That year, he had a batting average of .291 (up from .211 the prior year) and an on base percentage of .406. He had a career-highs with 173 hits and 85 walks, with only 30 strikeouts in 594 at bats.
Young saw his offensive numbers climb further in 1921, as he hit for a career high .299 batting average and a .406 on base percentage. The 1921 season saw remarkable hitting throughout the Detroit lineup. The 1921 Tigers still hold the American League record for highest single season team batting average at .316. Of the starting position players, only Young and shortstop Donie Bush
, who was traded to the Washington Senators
in August, failed to break the .300 mark, and Young only missed by one point. Perhaps as proof of the saying that "good pitching beats good hitting," the 1921 Tigers finished in 6th place 27 games behind
the Yankees, despite averaging 5.7 runs per game.
s, and he was selected by Connie Mack
. This gave Young the opportunity to play for his home town Philadelphia Athletics, and he played 120 games at second base for the A's that year. Young's arrival required A's second baseman, Jimmy Dykes
, to move to third base
for the 1922 season.
Despite his abilities as a contact hitter, Young's greatest contribution came in his fielding. In eight seasons as a second baseman (1915–1922), Young proved to be a talented gloveman. In 1919, Young's range factor
rating of 5.70 was 51 points higher than the league average for 2nd basemen. He collected season highs of 405 putouts (1920), 449 assists (1917), and 55 double play
s (1916). His 449 assists was tops among AL second basemen in 1917, though he also led AL second basemen in errors in 1915 and 1918. For his career, he collected 2,411 putouts, 3,009 assists, and 359 double plays.
Young was also involved in three triple play
s as a second baseman, including one of the most unusual double plays in history. On May 18, 1921, in a game against the Boston Red Sox
at home in Detroit, Young started a 4-4-6 double play (i.e., 2nd basemen makes 2 outs and 3rd basemen makes the final out) -- one of only three such plays in MLB history.
After leaving baseball, Young coached at Temple University
and Saint Joseph's University
in his native Philadelphia after his professional playing career. In 1965, he died in Philadelphia at age 76.
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...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
. During his nine major league seasons, he played with 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...
(1913), 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...
(1915–1921), and Philadelphia Athletics (1922).
Background
Young was a right-handed second baseman and switch hitterSwitch hitter
In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
. He began his Major League career in April 1913 as a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for 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...
, but only lasted seven games. In those seven games, Young struggled with an .067 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 :...
in 15 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s and also committed five errors.
Detroit Tigers
Despite his inauspicious start, the Detroit TigersDetroit 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...
gave him a second chance in 1915, and he became their starting second baseman for the next seven years (1915–1921). In 1915, his first season for Detroit, Young had a .243 batting average, but a much more respectable .339 on base percentage. This was a pattern that followed Young through much of his career. In nine seasons, Young had a batting average of .247 and an on base percentage of .339.
Young's offensive contributions were fueled by his ability to collect walks and avoid striking out. At 5'5", Young was one of the shortest players ever to wear the Tigers uniform. His small stature, and correspondingly small strike zone
Strike zone
In baseball, the strike zone is a conceptual right pentagonal prism over home plate which defines the boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when the batter does not swing.-Definition:...
, undoubtedly assisted him in both collecting walks and avoiding strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s. In nine seasons, Young collected 495 bases on balls and struck out only 254 times (in 3,643 at bats). He was among 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...
leaders in walks in 1918 (54), 1919 (85) and 1920 (69).
Aside from talent for collecting walks and avoiding strikeouts, Young's abilities as a contact hitter
Contact hitter
In baseball, the term contact hitter is used to describe a hitter who does not strike out often. Thus, they are usually able to use their bats to make contact with the ball and put it in play...
are also borne out by the fact that he still holds 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...
' season record for singles by a switch hitter with 146 in 1920.
Whether due to the tutelage of player-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...
or the arrival of the lively ball, Young's offensive numbers jumped dramatically in 1920. That year, he had a batting average of .291 (up from .211 the prior year) and an on base percentage of .406. He had a career-highs with 173 hits and 85 walks, with only 30 strikeouts in 594 at bats.
Young saw his offensive numbers climb further in 1921, as he hit for a career high .299 batting average and a .406 on base percentage. The 1921 season saw remarkable hitting throughout the Detroit lineup. The 1921 Tigers still hold the American League record for highest single season team batting average at .316. Of the starting position players, only Young and shortstop Donie Bush
Donie Bush
Owen Joseph "Donie" Bush , was a Major League Baseball shortstop in the American League for the Detroit Tigers and the Washington Senators...
, who was traded to the 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...
in August, failed to break the .300 mark, and Young only missed by one point. Perhaps as proof of the saying that "good pitching beats good hitting," the 1921 Tigers finished in 6th place 27 games behind
Games behind
In sports, the phrase games behind or games back , is a common way to reflect the gap between a leading team and another team in a sports league, conference, or division...
the Yankees, despite averaging 5.7 runs per game.
The A's
In April 1922, the Tigers placed Young on waiverWaiver
A waiver is the voluntary relinquishment or surrender of some known right or privilege.While a waiver is often in writing, sometimes a person's actions can act as a waiver. An example of a written waiver is a disclaimer, which becomes a waiver when accepted...
s, and he was selected by Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
. This gave Young the opportunity to play for his home town Philadelphia Athletics, and he played 120 games at second base for the A's that year. Young's arrival required A's second baseman, Jimmy Dykes
Jimmy Dykes
James Joseph Dykes was an American third and second baseman, manager and coach in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox from 1918 to 1939...
, to move to third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
for the 1922 season.
Despite his abilities as a contact hitter, Young's greatest contribution came in his fielding. In eight seasons as a second baseman (1915–1922), Young proved to be a talented gloveman. In 1919, Young's 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...
rating of 5.70 was 51 points higher than the league average for 2nd basemen. He collected season highs of 405 putouts (1920), 449 assists (1917), and 55 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 (1916). His 449 assists was tops among AL second basemen in 1917, though he also led AL second basemen in errors in 1915 and 1918. For his career, he collected 2,411 putouts, 3,009 assists, and 359 double plays.
Young was also involved in three triple play
Triple Play
A triple play is a baseball play in which three outs are made as a result of continuous action without any intervening errors between outs.Triple play may also refer to:...
s as a second baseman, including one of the most unusual double plays in history. On May 18, 1921, in a game 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 home in Detroit, Young started a 4-4-6 double play (i.e., 2nd basemen makes 2 outs and 3rd basemen makes the final out) -- one of only three such plays in MLB history.
After leaving baseball, Young coached at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
and Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic Jesuit university located partially in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia and partially in Lower Merion Township and located in the Pennsylvania Main Line, Pennsylvania, United States.The school was founded in 1851 as Saint...
in his native Philadelphia after his professional playing career. In 1965, he died in Philadelphia at age 76.