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Rube Melton

Reuben Franklin Melton

Position: Pitcher
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 5", Weight: 205 lb.

Born: February 27, 1917 in Cramerton, NC
High School: Gastonia HS (Gastonia, NC)
School: Campbell University (Buies Creek, NC) (All Transactions)
Debut: April 17, 1941 (Age 24)
Teams (by GP): Dodgers/Phillies 1941-1947

Final Game: June 3, 1947 (Age 30)
Died: September 11, 1971 in Greer, SC
Buried: Woodlawn Memorial Park, Greenville, SC
Relatives: Cousin of Cliff Melton
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
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Standard Pitching

More Stats

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	HBP	BK	WP	BF	ERA+	WHIP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB	Awards
1936	19	STL-min	D,B	13	4	.765	2.06	23						153.0	125	48	35		55							1.176	7.4		3.2			GBG,AVL · PASA,PIED
1937	20	STL-min	D,B	9	13	.409	3.62	35						184.0	187	113	74		102							1.571	9.1		5.0			ABY,AVL · GAFL,PIED
1940	23	STL-min	AA	10	10	.500	3.48	43	28					207.0	195	105	80		139							1.614	8.5		6.0			CLB · AA
1941	24	PHI	NL	1	5	.167	4.73	25	5	15	2	0	0	83.2	81	48	44	7	47	57	0	0	5	369	78	1.530	8.7	0.8	5.1	6.1	1.21
1942	25	PHI	NL	9	20	.310	3.70	42	29	10	10	1	4	209.1	180	95	86	7	114	107	3	0	8	903	89	1.404	7.7	0.3	4.9	4.6	0.94
1943	26	STP	AA	2	6	.250	3.30	9	8	1	6	0		60.0	54	32	22		34	40	4	0	2			1.467	8.1		5.1	6.0	1.18	STP · AA
1943	26	BRO	NL	5	8	.385	3.92	30	17	6	4	2	0	119.1	106	62	52	3	79	63	5	0	2	528	85	1.550	8.0	0.2	6.0	4.8	0.80
1944	27	BRO	NL	9	13	.409	3.46	37	23	8	6	1	0	187.1	178	92	72	1	96	91	2	1	6	822	103	1.463	8.6	*0.0*	4.6	4.4	0.95

1946	29	BRO	NL	6	3	.667	1.99	24	12	8	3	2	1	99.2	72	27	22	3	52	44	3	0	1	412	171	1.244	6.5	0.3	4.7	4.0	0.85
1947	30	LAD-min	AAA	2	3	.400	4.68	8						25.0	26		13		17	7						1.720	9.4		6.1	2.5	0.41	MTL · IL
1947	30	BRO	NL	0	1	.000	13.50	4	1	0	0	0	0	4.2	7	7	7	1	7	1	0	0	0	27	33	3.000	13.5	1.9	13.5	1.9	0.14
1948	31	LAD-min	AA	2	1	.667		4						20.0	28				14							2.100	12.6		6.3			MOB · SOUA
1949	32	LAD-min	A	9	4	.692	3.36	26						99.0	101	49	37		44							1.465	9.2		4.0			GRV · SALL
1950	33	GST	D	5	6	.455	4.16	17						93.0	109	59	43		44							1.645	10.5		4.3			GST · WCAR
1951	34	GRV	B	1	5	.167	6.72	18						71.0	85	60	53	9	50							1.901	10.8	1.1	6.3			GRV · TRIS
6 Yrs				30	50	.375	3.62	162	87	47	25	6	5	704.0	624	331	283	22	395	363	13	1	22	3061	95	1.447	8.0	0.3	5.0	4.6	0.92
162 Game Avg.				8	14	.375	3.62	44	24	13	7	2	1	192	170	90	77	6	108	99	4	0	6	836	95	1.447	8.0	0.3	5.0	4.6	0.92

BRO (4 yrs)				20	25	.444	3.35	95	53	22	13	5	1	411.0	363	188	153	8	234	199	10	1	9	1789	103	1.453	7.9	0.2	5.1	4.4	0.85
PHI (2 yrs)				10	25	.286	3.99	67	34	25	12	1	4	293.0	261	143	130	14	161	164	3	0	13	1272	85	1.440	8.0	0.4	4.9	5.0	1.02

Player Value--Pitchers

WAR Explained (v2.1): 8+ MVP, 5+ A-S, 2+ Starter, 0-2 Sub, < 0 Repl

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	IP	G	GS	R	RA9	RA9opp	RA9def	RA9role	PPFp	RA9avg	RAA	WAA	gmLI	WAAadj	WAR	RAR	waaWL%	162WL%
1941	24	PHI	NL	83.2	25	5	48	5.16	4.45	-0.28	0.00	101.6	4.81	-3	-0.3	1.0	-0.0	0.4	6	.487	.498
1942	25	PHI	NL	209.1	42	29	95	4.08	4.06	-0.15	0.00	98.3	4.14	3	0.3	1.0	-0.1	2.0	19	.508	.502
1943	26	BRO	NL	119.1	30	17	62	4.68	3.91	-0.17	0.00	99.4	4.05	-8	-0.9	1.0	-0.1	0.0	2	.470	.494
1944	27	BRO	NL	187.1	37	23	92	4.42	4.22	-0.52	0.00	99.0	4.69	6	0.6	1.0	-0.1	2.1	23	.517	.504

1946	29	BRO	NL	99.2	24	12	27	2.44	3.89	0.07	0.00	98.7	3.78	15	1.8	1.0	-0.1	2.7	25	.574	.511
1947	30	BRO	NL	4.2	4	1	7	13.50	4.51	0.29	0.00	103.3	4.35	-5	-0.4	1.0	-0.0	-0.4	-4	.390	.497
6 Seasons				704.0	162	87	331	4.23	4.10	-0.23	0.00	99.2	4.30	8	1.1	1.0	-0.4	6.8	72	.507	.501

BRO (4 yrs)				411.0	95	53	188	4.12	4.05	-0.27	0.00	99.1	4.28	8	1.1	1.0	-0.3	4.4	46	.511	.502
PHI (2 yrs)				293.0	67	34	143	4.39	4.17	-0.19	0.00	99.2	4.33	-0	0.0	1.0	-0.2	2.4	25	.500	.500

Standard Batting

More Stats

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	Pos	Awards
1936	19	STL-min	D,B	24	54	54		11	2	0	0					.204	.204	.241	.444		13					GBG,AVL · PASA,PIED
1937	20	STL-min	D,B	8	64	64		18			1					.281	.281									ABY,AVL · GAFL,PIED
1940	23	STL-min	AA	43	66	66		11	3	0	1					.167	.167	.258	.424		17					CLB · AA
1941	24	PHI	NL	25	21	19	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	11	.105	.105	.105	.211	-39	2	0	0	2	1
1942	25	PHI	NL	42	66	65	3	8	3	0	1	7	0	2	26	.123	.149	.215	.365	9	14	0	0	0	1
1943	26	STP	AA	9	18	18		3								.167	.167									STP · AA
1943	26	BRO	NL	30	44	38	4	4	0	0	0	3	0	1	13	.105	.128	.105	.233	-33	4	0	0	5	1
1944	27	BRO	NL	37	66	57	2	7	3	0	0	3	0	0	21	.123	.123	.175	.298	-16	10	0	0	9	1

1946	29	BRO	NL	24	31	28	2	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	9	.107	.107	.143	.250	-30	4	0	0	3	1
1947	30	LAD-min	AAA	8																						MTL · IL
1947	30	BRO	NL	4	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.000	1.000	1.000	2.000	425	1	0	0	0	/1
1948	31	LAD-min	AA	4	7	7		2								.286	.286									MOB · SOUA
1949	32	LAD-min	A	26	28	28		3	1	0	0					.107	.107	.143	.250		4					GRV · SALL
1950	33	GST	D	17	31	31		6	0	0	1					.194	.194	.290	.484		9					GST · WCAR
1951	34	GRV	B	18	29	29		6	1	0	0					.207	.207	.241	.448		7					GRV · TRIS
6 Yrs				162	229	208	11	25	7	0	1	14	0	3	80	.120	.133	.168	.301	-13	35	0	0	19
162 Game Avg.				162	229	208	11	25	7	0	1	14	0	3	80	.120	.133	.168	.301	-13	35	0	0	19

BRO (4 yrs)				95	142	124	8	15	4	0	0	6	0	1	43	.121	.128	.153	.281	-20	19	0	0	17
PHI (2 yrs)				67	87	84	3	10	3	0	1	8	0	2	37	.119	.140	.190	.330	-2	16	0	0	2

Player Value--Batters

WAR Explained (v2.1): 8+ MVP, 5+ A-S, 2+ Starter, 0-2 Sub, < 0 Repl

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	Rbat	Rbaser	Rdp	Rfield	Rpos	RAA	WAA	Rrep	RAR	WAR	waaWL%	162WL%	oWAR	dWAR	oRAR	Pos
1941	24	PHI	NL	25	21	-4	0	0	0	2	-2	-0.2	1	-1	-0.2	.493	.499	-0.2	-0.0	-1	1
1942	25	PHI	NL	42	66	-7	0	0	0	6	-1	-0.1	2	1	-0.1	.498	.500	-0.1	-0.0	1	1
1943	26	BRO	NL	30	44	-7	0	0	0	4	-3	-0.4	1	-2	-0.4	.487	.498	-0.4	0.0	-2	1
1944	27	BRO	NL	37	66	-10	0	0	0	6	-4	-0.5	2	-2	-0.5	.488	.497	-0.4	0.0	-2	1

1946	29	BRO	NL	24	31	-5	0	0	0	3	-2	-0.2	1	-1	-0.2	.491	.499	-0.2	0.0	-1	1
1947	30	BRO	NL	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.1	0	1	0.1	.515	.500	0.1	0.0	1	/1
6 Seasons				162	229	-33	0	0	0	22	-11	-1.3	7	-4	-1.3	.492	.499	-1.2	-0.0	-4

BRO (4 yrs)				95	142	-22	0	0	0	13	-9	-1.0	4	-4	-1.0	.489	.498	-0.9	0.0	-4
PHI (2 yrs)				67	87	-11	0	0	0	9	-2	-0.2	3	0	-0.3	.496	.499	-0.3	-0.0	0

Standard Fielding

More Stats

Year	Tm	Lg	Age	Pos	G	GS	CG	Inn	Ch	PO	A	E	DP	Fld%	RF/9	RF/G	lgFld%	lgRF9	lgRFG	SB	CS	CS%	PO
1941	PHI	NL	24	P	25	5	2	83.2	13	0	11	2	0	.846	1.18	0.44	.965	2.23	2.21
1942	PHI	NL	25	P	42	29	10	209.1	42	8	33	1	2	.976	1.76	0.98	.968	2.35	2.35
1943	BRO	NL	26	P	30	17	4	119.1	24	1	20	3	1	.875	1.58	0.70	.961	2.25	2.25
1944	BRO	NL	27	P	37	23	6	187.1	44	8	34	2	2	.955	2.02	1.14	.961	2.14	2.13
1946	BRO	NL	29	P	24	12	3	99.2	22	1	20	1	0	.955	1.90	0.88	.960	2.24	2.22	3	8	73%	2
1947	BRO	NL	30	P	4	1	0	4.2	0	0	0	0	0		0.00	0.00		2.12	2.08	2	0	0%	0
	6 Seasons			P	162	87	25	704.0	145	18	118	9	5	.938	1.74	0.84	.963	2.24	2.23	5	8	62%	2
	6 Seasons			TOT	162	87	25	704.0	145	18	118	9	5	.938	1.74	0.84	.963	2.24	2.23	5	8	62%	2

Note: Fielding stats are a combination of official records and RetroSheet records. Both are likely to have substantial errors and will not match perfectly.

View Complete Notes on Fielding Data

Leagues historically made no effort to balance team, league, and player fielding stats. Since 1990 or so, computers have made this feasible, but prior to that there are hundreds or thousands of discrepancies each year in games played (even whether a player played a position), putouts, assists, double plays and errors.

Pre-1945 SB & CS data for catchers is estimated from catcher assists, games started and opposition stolen bases.
From 1945 on SB, CS, Pickoff, & WP data for catchers and pitchers is taken from play-by-play accounts in the retrosheet files. There are several hundred games without pbp from 1945 to 1973 and for those we may not have any data.
CG & GS come from the retrosheet data and should be complete and pretty accurate from 1916 on.
Innings played (like SB and CS) come from the retrosheet play-by-play data and should be considered mostly complete from 1945 to 1973 and complete from then on.
Stats (PO,A,G, etc) for LF-CF-RF positions (since 1916) is taken from play-by-play or box score data as available.
Stats (PO,A,G,etc) for C,P,1B,2B,3B,SS,OF positions is taken from the official reported totals and may have been corrected at various times since their publication.
For detailed information on which games retrosheet is missing play-by-play from 1945 to 1973, please see their most wanted games list
For detailed information on the availability of data on this site by year, see our data coverage page

Appearances on Leader Boards, Awards, and Honors

Stats are Year-Value-Rank · Glossary

Hits per 9 IP s c a p y 1942 NL 7.739 (8th)	Strikeouts per 9 IP s c a p y 1942 NL 4.600 (5th) 1944 NL 4.372 (5th)	Games Played s c a p y 1942 NL 42 (5th)	Saves s c a p y 1942 NL 4 (6th)
Strikeouts s c a p y 1942 NL 107 (5th) 1944 NL 91 (8th)	Bases on Balls s c a p y 1942 NL 114 (1st) 1943 NL 79 (7th) 1944 NL 96 (7th)	Home Runs per 9 IP s c a p y 1944 NL 0.048 (1st)	Losses s c a p y 1942 NL 20 (2nd)
Earned Runs s c a p y 1942 NL 86 (6th)	Wild Pitches s c a p y 1941 NL 5 (9th) 1942 NL 8 (1st) 1944 NL 6 (5th)	Hit By Pitch s c a p y 1943 NL 5 (3rd)	Adj. Pitching Runs s c a p y 1946 NL 15 (8th)
Adj. Pitching Wins s c a p y 1946 NL 1.7 (8th)	Base-Out Runs Saved (RE24)† s c a p y 1946 NL 14.03 (6th)	Base-Out Wins Saved (REW)† s c a p y 1946 NL 1.6 (6th)	Def. Games as P s c a p y 1942 NL 42 (5th)

† Statistics like WPA, REW and RE24 are computed from play-by-play data which is only complete from 1974 to the present. From 1945-1973, the data is incomplete, though for most seasons only less than 20 games per season total are missing. Please see our page on data coverage for a full view of the data used to create these leaderboards.

Hall Of Fame Statistics

Player rank in (·)

Gray Ink	Pitching - 14 (1287), Average HOFer ≈ 185
Hall of Fame Standards	Pitching - 7 (1131), Average HOFer ≈ 50
JAWS	Starting Pitcher (1090th), 5.5 career WAR/5.5 7yr-peak WAR/5.5 JAWS Average HOF P (out of 57) = 68.1 career WAR/47.7 7yr-peak WAR/57.9 JAWS

Similarity Scores

Explanation of Similarity Scores

Similar Pitchers

Compare Stats to Similars

Most Similar by Ages

Hold mouse over #'s to see names

Pinky Woods (974) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
Rick Langford (981) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
Jim Beattie (968) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
Eric Erickson (974) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
Ken Johnson (969) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C

Transactions

October 1, 1940: Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies from the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1940 rule 5 draft.
December 12, 1942: Traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Brooklyn Dodgers for Johnny Allen and $30,000.

The transaction information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. We attempt to update transactions throughout the season.

Other Resources & Links

Error? Compare Search SABR's Baseball Index Other Links@google.com Baseball Library Baseball-Almanac.com DeadBallEra Obituary Retrosheet The Baseball Cube WahooSam.com WhatIfSports: Rube Melton

Viewed 4,796 times through February 12, 2013.
Name and misspellings: Reuben Franklin Rube Melton

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