Gavvy Cravath
From BR Bullpen
Clifford Carlton Cravath (Cactus Gavvy)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5'11", Weight 186 lb.
- Debut April 18, 1908
- Final Game October 2, 1920
- Born March 23, 1881 in Escondido, CA USA
- Died May 23, 1963 in Laguna Beach, CA USA
Outfielder Gavvy Cravath spent a significant portion of his career in top level minor leagues, primarily with the Pacific Coast League's Los Angeles Angels (with whom he was PCL MVP in 1907) and the American Association's Minneapolis Millers. He reached the majors with the Boston Red Sox in 1908 and had cups of coffee with the Chicago White Sox and Washington Senators in 1909 before returning to the minors for several years. In 1910 and 1911, he won batting titles in the American Association and also led the circuit in homers. No one tracked RBIs in the AA, or else he may have been the first Triple Crown winner in loop history.
Cravath returned to the majors as a 31 year old with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1912 and immediately showed power in the Deadball Era, hitting 11 home runs in his first season there. Between 1913 and 1919, he led the National League in homers five times and tied for the league one other time. In 1915, Cravath hit 24 home runs, the most since 1900 and just short of the then-record 27 by Ned Williamson. He was was player-manager of the Phillies in 1919 and 1920, but the club finished in last place both seasons. He then returned to the minors, where he ended his playing days.
His 119 career home runs was nearly enough to reach the all-time record of 138 by Roger Connor. However, the record wouldn't have lasted long since Babe Ruth passed Connor in 1921 and eventually hit 714.
Cravath later returned to the Phillies staff as a coach in 1923. After his baseball days, he moved to Southern California and became involved in the real estate market. He became a judge in Laguna Beach in 1927 and died of a heart ailment there at age 83.
Contents |
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 6-time NL Home Runs Leader (1913-1915 & 1917-1919)
- 3-time NL OPS Leader (1913-1915)
- 2-time NL On-Base Percentage Leader (1915-1916)
- 2-time NL Slugging Percentage Leader (1913 & 1915)
- 2-time NL Total Bases Leader (1913 & 1915)
- 2-time NL RBI Leader (1913 & 1915)
- NL Hits Leader (1913)
- NL Runs Leader (1915)
- NL Base on Balls Leader (1915)
- 20 Home Runs Seasons: 1 (1915)
- 100 RBI Seasons: 3 (1913-1915)
[edit] Minor League statistics
| Year | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBA | SLG | TB | SH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | PCL | 209 | 804 | 108 | 220 | 51 | 13 | 7 | -- | 34 | -- | -- | -- | .274 | -- | .396 | 318 | -- |
| 1904 | PCL | 211 | 771 | 107 | 207 | 39 | 4 | 13 | -- | 45 | -- | -- | -- | .268 | -- | .380 | 293 | 22 |
| 1905 | PCL | 204 | 703 | 81 | 182 | 32 | 9 | 9 | -- | 45 | -- | -- | -- | .259 | -- | .368 | 259 | 20 |
| 1906 | PCL | 177 | 633 | 102 | 171 | 39 | 9 | 6 | -- | 34 | -- | -- | -- | .270 | -- | .389 | 246 | -- |
| 1907 | PCL | 182 | 614 | 106 | 186 | 45 | 5 | 10 | -- | 50 | -- | -- | -- | .303 | -- | .441 | 271 | 27 |
| 1909 | AA | 125 | 413 | 60 | 120 | 23 | 7 | 4 | -- | 21 | -- | -- | -- | .291 | -- | .409 | 169 | 16 |
| 1910 | AA | 164 | 612 | 106 | 200 | 41 | 13 | 14 | -- | 25 | -- | -- | -- | .327 | -- | .505 | 309 | 41 |
| 1911 | AA | 167 | 608 | 147 | 221 | 53 | 13 | 29 | -- | 33 | -- | -- | -- | .363 | -- | .637 | 387 | 29 |
| 1921 | PCL | 112 | 341 | 62 | 111 | 22 | 0 | 18 | -- | 3 | -- | -- | -- | .326 | -- | .548 | 187 | 7 |
| 1922 | AA | 52 | 90 | 14 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 14 | .278 | .363 | .444 | 40 | 2 |
| Preceded by Jack Coombs | Philadelphia Phillies Manager 1919-1920 | Succeeded by Bill Donovan |
[edit] Records Held
- Bases Loaded Doubles, game, 2, 8/8/15 (tied)
