Gavy Cravath
| Birthdate | 3/23/1881 |
| Death Date | 5/23/1963 |
| Debut Year | 1908 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Phillies, Red Sox, Senators, White Sox |
| Position | Right Field |
Gavy Cravath hit 24 home runs in 1915 – as many as 12 of the other 15 MLB teams; the total established a 20th-century record for homers in a single season.
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From 1912-1919 Gavy Cravath led the league in homers six times and finished third twice
From 1912-1919 Gavy Cravath led the league in homers six times and finished third twice
Gavy Cravath’s first full big league season came at age 31 in 1912. Once he was in The Show he quickly made up for lost time. From 1912 through 1919, Cravath was simply dominant.
During the 8-year run he led all the majors in home runs and runs batted in. In addition to homers and RBI, Cravath also topped all NL hitters in total bases, slugging percentage, and OPS.
Cravath’s finest season came in 1915. His 24 homers were more than all but three MLB teams. Cravath’s 115 runs batted in were 28 more than any other Senior Circuit player and his .510 slugging percentage was 53 points higher than any other big league hitter. The right fielder led the league in runs, homers, RBI, walks, on base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+, and total bases.
Over the course of his career, Cravath led the league in outfield assists three times, extra base hits four times, OPS three times, and total bases and RBI twice each. More than a century after he retired, Cravath’s career OPS+ of 151 remains tied for 30th all time with Honus Wagner.
Much of Cravath’s success came because of the park he played in. For the final 9 seasons of his career, Cravath played in Philadelphia’s Baker Bowl. The right-field fence was a mere 272 feet from home plate. Seventy-eight percent of Cravath’s homers came at the Baker Bowl.
Upon retirement as a player, Cravath managed the Salt Lake City Bees of the PCL and scouted for the Minneapolis Millers.
The Deadball Era’s Babe Ruth, Cravath died in 1963 at the age of 82.
In the collection is Gavy Cravath’s business card as judge in the Laguna Beach/San Clemente judicial district. Cravath has added his signature on the back of the card.
The Deadball Era's home run king, Gavy Cravath enjoyed a 2nd career as a judge in Laguna Beach
The Deadball Era's home run king, Gavy Cravath enjoyed a 2nd career as a judge in Laguna Beach
When Gavy Cravath left the game for good, he returned to Laguna Beach. In 1927 he was elected judge. Though he lacked a law degree, Cravath said he based his legal decisions on the principles of sportsmanship he’d learned during his time in baseball.
The mention of Babe Ruth in his courtroom always drew Cravath’s ire. Gavy’s 20th-century record of 119 career homers was broken by the Bambino who Cravath considered a hotdog.
The Deadball Era’s home run king, Cravath spent 36 years on the court’s bench. According to SABR, the widely respected Judge Cravath was reversed only twice during his 36-year tenure as a jurist.
An underrated slugger who belongs in the Hall of Fame!