Arky Vaughan
| Birthdate | 3/9/1912 |
| Death Date | 8/30/1952 |
| Debut Year | 1932 |
| Year of Induction | 1985 |
| Teams | Dodgers, Pirates |
| Position | Shortstop |
In 1935 Arky Vaughan set still-standing Pirates single-season records for average (.385), on-base percentage (.491), and OPS (1.098).
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Arky Vaughan was the best shortstops of his era and one of the best ever
Arky Vaughan was the best shortstops of his era and one of the best ever
Arky Vaughan broke in with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a 20-year old in 1932. He immediately established himself as a big leaguer by hitting .318 in 555 plate appearances.
An All Star in 9 straight seasons from 1934-1942, Vaughan often led the league in major offensive categories. He paced the Senior Circuit in hits, walks, runs, and on-base percentage three times each.
Vaughan’s finest season came in 1935 when he set still-standing Pirates single-season records. His .385 average that year remains the highest by a NL shortstop since 1900. He also led league in on-base and slugging percentages as well as OPS+.
Noted SABRmetrician Bill James rated Vaughan as the second-best shortstop in MLB history behind fellow Pirate and mentor Honus Wagner.
In the collection is a page showing the lineup from a game played on October 31, 1935 at LA’s Wrigley Field. Click here for the box score. The contest was between Dizzy Dean’s All Stars and the Philadelphia Royal Giants, a squad of Negro League Stars.
Along with that of the Hall of Fame shortstop are the signatures of Negro League great Satchel Paige, 1941 NL MVP Dolph Camilli, 1935 home run champ Wally Berger, and Tuck Stainback.
The lineup of the Royal Giants here includes Hall of Famers Turkey Stearnes, Mule Suttles, and Biz Mackey.
Paige got the start and pitched four innings before being relieved by Chet Brewer who took the loss in the 5-4 contest.
Playing for Dizzy Dean’s team Vaughan hit third in the lineup, directly in front of Berger and Camilli. PCL legend Jigger Statz hit leadoff and played centerfield. Dean started on the hill and pitched 7 innings in his team’s 5-4 victory.
Vaughan went 0-for-4 on the day.
Just four years after retiring from baseball Arky Vaughan died at age 40
Just four years after retiring from baseball Arky Vaughan died at age 40
Born in Clifty, Arkansas, Joseph Floyd Vaughan moved to California as an infant. He learned to speak by mimicking his parents’ Arkansas accent. Classmates started calling him “Arky” and the moniker stuck for the rest of his days.
One of 7 members of the Hall of Fame born in the Land of Opportunity, Vaughan went on to become one of baseball’s greatest shortstops.
By the time Vaughan completed his 14-year career in 1948, he totaled 2,103 hits, 1,173 runs scored, a .318 lifetime average and a .406 lifetime on-base percentage.
In an obvious oversight the baseball writers failed to elect Vaughan to Cooperstown. In fact, the shortstop did not gain his plaque until the Veterans Committee selected him in 1985.
On August 30, 1952, Vaughan and a friend were out on a boat, fishing on a lake near his home. A storm caught them by surprise and capsized their boat. Vaughan tried to save his friend who could not swim. Instead, both men drowned. Vaughan was just 40 years old.
Going in for a closer look on the previous image, we see the flowing signature of Arky Vaughan along with that of Dodger slugger and 1941 NL MVP Dolph Camilli.
In 1935 Arky Vaughan led the league in batting average, on-base, and slugging percentage
In 1935 Arky Vaughan led the league in batting average, on-base, and slugging percentage
Arky Vaughan is one of the few no-doubt Hall of Fame players the baseball writers missed out on. In his first dozen seasons from 1932-1943 he averaged 6.3 WAR per year. His finest campaign came in 1935 when he topped all National League hitters in batting average, on-base and slugging percentage. That year Vaughan finished in the NL’s top ten in runs, hits, doubles, triples, homers, and runs batted in.
In the 1935 All Star Game – the the second of his nine consecutive selections – he scored the NL’s only run. The game was played in Cleveland before 69,812 fans. In the top of the 4th, Vaughn led off with a double to right off of eventual winner Lefty Gomez. Two batters later the Giants Bill Terry singled to drive Vaughan in for the Senior Circuit’s only tally.
Shown here is an invitation to play in the 1935 All Star Game sent to Senators third baseman Ossie Bluege. Authored and signed by Hall of Fame AL president William Harridge, the correspondence is dated June 29, 1935, thirteen days before the game.
Vaughan received a similar invite from the NL chief Ford Frick.
Arky Vaughan was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 28, 1985
Arky Vaughan was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 28, 1985
Baseball’s ultimate honor is induction into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. After a 14-year big league career that included 9 selections in baseball’s first 10 All Star Games, Arky Vaughan earned the distinction.
The Veterans Committee elected Vaughan along with four-time World Series champion Enos Slaughter. They joined two writers’ selections. Stolen base king Lou Brock who tallied 3,023 hits was a first-ballot selection while reliever extraordinaire Hoyt Wilhelm got in after 8 years on the ballot.
The quartet was inducted on hot Sunday afternoon on July 28, 1985. Shown here is an invitation to the festivities. The signature of knuckleballer Wilhelm appears at the bottom.
