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Gavvy Cravath

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Clifford Carlton Cravath (Cactus Gavvy)

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 5' 10½", Weight 186 lb.

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Contents

[edit] Biographical Information

GavvyCravath.jpg
"In right field is the greatest offensive player on Pat Moran's roster. 'Cactus' Cravath is a slugger pure and simple - the greatest in the game today. . . Though no speed marvel, Cravath is one of the brainiest base runners in the country. . . Though 'Cactus' cannot cover ground like Whitted or Paskert, he is sure death on fly balls, and he gets more assists than any other right fielder in the league. The big fellow has an ideal temperament. . . A good-humored, helpful chap . . . Do you see any weakness here?" - an article called 'The Phillies' Underrated Outfield' in Sporting Life, May 20, 1916

Outfielder Gavvy Cravath played 11 seasons in the majors, leading the league in quite a few offensive categories during that time. Perhaps most notably, he led the league six times in home runs. He also managed a couple seasons in the bigs.

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 was the quickest player in MLB history to reach 100 home runs (1,016 GP) until he was surpassed by Babe Ruth (528 GP).

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.

[edit] Notable Achievements

  • 2-time NL On-Base Percentage Leader (1915 & 1916)
  • 2-time NL Slugging Percentage Leader (1913 & 1915)
  • 3-time NL OPS Leader (1913-1915)
  • NL Runs Scored Leader (1915)
  • NL Hits Leader (1913)
  • 2-time NL Total Bases Leader (1913 & 1915)
  • 6-time NL Home Runs Leader (1913-1915 & 1917-1919)
  • 2-time NL RBI Leader (1913 & 1915)
  • NL Base on Balls Leader (1915)
  • 20 Home Runs Seasons: 1 (1915)
  • 100 RBI Seasons: 3 (1913-1915)


Preceded by
Jack Coombs
Philadelphia Phillies Manager
1919-1920
Succeeded by
Bill Donovan

[edit] Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs Notes
1919 Philadelphia Phillies National League 29-46 8th Philadelphia Phillies replaced Jack Coombs (18-44) on July 9
1920 Philadelphia Phillies National League 62-91 8th Philadelphia Phillies
1921 Salt Lake City Bees Pacific Coast League 73-110 7th none

[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

[edit] Records Held

  • Bases Loaded Doubles, game, 2, 8/8/15 (tied)

[edit] Related Sites

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