Zack Wheat | |
---|---|
Left fielder | |
Born: Hamilton, Missouri, U.S. | May 23, 1888|
Died: March 11, 1972 Sedalia, Missouri, U.S. | (aged 83)|
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 11, 1909, for the Brooklyn Superbas | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 21, 1927, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .317 |
Hits | 2,884 |
Home runs | 132 |
Runs batted in | 1,248 |
Stats at Baseball Reference | |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Member of the National | |
Baseball Hall of Fame | |
Induction | 1959 |
Election method | Veterans Committee |
Zachariah Davis Wheat (May 23, 1888 – March 11, 1972), nicknamed "Buck",[1] was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a left fielder from 1909 to 1927, most notably as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers who were known as the Robins at that time. After 18 seasons in Brooklyn, he played his final season with the Philadelphia Athletics.
Although Wheat spent the first part of his career playing in the Dead ball era, he hit over .300 in 13 seasons and won the National League batting championship in 1918.[2] He ended his career with a .317 career batting average and remains the Dodgers all-time franchise leader in hits, doubles, triples, RBI, and total bases.[3] Wheat was also known as a stylish and graceful outfielder, leading National League left fielders in putouts seven times and fielding percentage twice.[2]
Wheat was unanimously elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1959.[2] His brother McKinley "Mack" Wheat also played in the major leagues, and the two were teammates in Brooklyn for five seasons.[4]