| Joe Kuhel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First baseman / Manager | |
| Born: June 25, 1906 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: February 26, 1984 (aged 77) Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 31, 1930, for the Washington Senators | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 11, 1947, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .277 |
| Hits | 2,212 |
| Home runs | 131 |
| Runs batted in | 1,049 |
| Managerial record | 106–201 |
| Winning % | .345 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
As player
As manager | |
Joseph Anthony Kuhel (June 25, 1906 – February 26, 1984) was an American professional baseball player and manager. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he was a first baseman who played in the Major Leagues from 1930 to 1947, primarily for the Washington Senators, where he played 11 of his 18 seasons. He also played for the Chicago White Sox for seven seasons (1938–1943, 1946–1947). He batted and threw left-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg). Following his playing career, Kuhel managed the Senators (1948–49). In an 18-season career, Kuhel was a .277 hitter with 131 home runs and 1,049 RBI in 2,104 games played. Defensively, he posted a career .992 fielding percentage.
Kuhel was the best defensive first baseman in the American League during the 1930s, but also was an inconsistent player who struggled with injuries most of his career. Hampered by playing in Griffith Stadium most of his career, his power numbers were never as good as they may have been in a more favorable park for long-ball hitters.