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| Chuck Klein |
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POSITION
OF |
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BATS-THROWS
L-R |
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HEIGHT
6-0 |
WEIGHT
185 |
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BORN
October 7, 1904
Indianapolis, IN |
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DIED
March 28, 1958 |
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CAREER
Left-handed hitting outfielder who played 17 seasons in the majors, including 1928-33, 1936-39 and 1940-44 with the Phillies . . . Also played with the Chicago Cubs (1934-36) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1939) before retiring after playing in four games in 1944.
HOW OBTAINED
Purchased from Ft. Wayne for $5,000 in mid-July of 1928.
OFFENSE
During first five full seasons (1929-33), Klein batted .359 and averaged 131.6 runs, 46.4 doubles, 36 homers and 138.6 RBI per season . . . NL home run leader four times; led NL in runs and slugging percentage, three times; hits, doubles and RBI, twice and won 1933 batting title . . . 43 homers in 1929 remained a Phillies record until Mike Schmidt hit 48 in 1980 . . . Had two 26-game hitting streaks in 1930; shares ML record for most games, one or more hits, season, 135 . . . Became first modern NL player to hit four home runs in a game, July 10, 1936, against the Pirates in Pittsburgh . . . Holds the Phillies single-season records for runs, longest hitting streak, doubles, extra-base hits, total bases and RBI . . . 170 RBI and 445 total bases in 1930 are still NL records for a LH hitter . . . .543 slugging percentage ranks 22nd all-time . . . Phils stats: .326, 243 homers, 983 RBI.
DEFENSE
Holds ML record for most assists, season, with 44 in 1930 (156 games).
HONORS
Won MVP in 1932, the first Phillie to win the award . . . Lone Phillies player to win a Triple Crown, 1933: .368, 28 HR, 120 RBI . . . Started in first All-Star game that same season . . . During his Phillies career, Chuck wore six different numbers, 1, 3, 8, 26, 29, 36. The Phillies selected the old-English "P" worn by the team during Klein's first six seasons . . . Jersey retired April 6, 2001 . . . Elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1980.
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History
