Rance Pless
Encyclopedia
Rance Pless is a retired American
professional baseball
player. A third baseman
, first baseman
and outfielder
over the course of a 14-year professional career, he played part of one season
of Major League Baseball
with the 1956 Kansas City Athletics
. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 195 pounds (88.5 kg).
Pless' career began in the New York Giants'
minor league
organization as an outfielder in 1947. In nine seasons in the Giants' farm system, he won two batting
championships, in the 1952 Double-A Southern Association
(.364) and the 1955 Triple-A American Association
(.337). After the latter season, he was acquired by the Kansas City A's, who played him in 48 games
as a third baseman, first baseman and pinch hitter
during 1956. Pless collected 23 hits
in 85 at bats, including three doubles
and one triple
. He also played part of that season for the Triple-A Richmond Virginians
.
Pless retired from baseball after the 1960 season with a career minor league batting average of .303 in 1,755 games.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. A third baseman
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...
, first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and outfielder
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...
over the course of a 14-year professional career, he played part of one season
1956 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers ; Don Larsen, MVP*All-Star Game, July 10 at Griffith Stadium: National League, 7-3-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cienfuegos *College World Series: Minnesota...
of 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...
with the 1956 Kansas City Athletics
1956 Kansas City Athletics season
The Kansas City Athletics season involved the A's finishing 8th in the American League with a record of 52 wins and 102 losses.- Offseason :* March 2, 1956: Tommy Lasorda was purchased by the Athletics from the Brooklyn Dodgers.- Notable transactions :...
. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 195 pounds (88.5 kg).
Pless' career began in the New York Giants'
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
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...
organization as an outfielder in 1947. In nine seasons in the Giants' farm system, he won two batting
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 :...
championships, in the 1952 Double-A Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
(.364) and the 1955 Triple-A American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
(.337). After the latter season, he was acquired by the Kansas City A's, who played him in 48 games
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,...
as a third baseman, first baseman and pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
during 1956. Pless collected 23 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 85 at bats, including three 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....
and one triple
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....
. He also played part of that season for the Triple-A Richmond Virginians
Richmond Virginians
The Richmond Virginians was the name of a minor league baseball Class AAA International League franchise that played in Richmond, Virginia, from 1954 through 1964....
.
Pless retired from baseball after the 1960 season with a career minor league batting average of .303 in 1,755 games.