George Sisler

1st Baseman

Class of 1939

George Sisler

1st Baseman

Class of 1939
George Sisler was a five-tool player before the term came into vogue.

Games

Birth year

About George Sisler

A five-tool player before the term came into vogue, George Sisler began his career as a pitcher before becoming one of the game's greatest hitters.

After graduating with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Michigan in 1915, Sisler moved right onto the roster of the St. Louis Browns. Starting his career as a pitcher, he eventually became a first baseman in order to get his powerful left-handed bat in the lineup every day.

Peerless defensively at first, Sisler also excelled with his 42-ounce bat in hand. In a big league career that lasted 15 seasons, Sisler batted better than .300 13 times, including league-leading averages of .407 in 1920 and .420 in 1922. His 257 hits during the 1920 campaign remained a modern major league record until Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki broke it in 2004. A skilled base runner as well, Sisler led the league in stolen bases four times.

Ty Cobb, an American League rival for many years, once called Sisler “the nearest thing to a perfect ballplayer” he had ever seen.

Sisler claimed that the fact he was once a pitcher helped make him a better hitter. “I used to stand on the mound myself, study the batter and wonder how I could fool him,” he said. “Now when I am at the plate, I can the more easily place myself in the pitcher’s position and figure what is passing through his mind.”

At the height of his success as a player, Sisler missed the entire 1923 season due to a sinus infection that produced double vision. He would come back to play another seven seasons, hitting .320 during that span, but he would acknowledge that he was never quite the same hitter.

Ending his career with 2,812 hits and a .340 batting average, Sisler was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.

Sisler passed away on March 26, 1973.

The Basics

Year inducted
1939
Birth Place
Manchester, Ohio
Birth Year
1893
Died
1973, Richmond Heights Missouri

Career at a Glance

Primary Team
St. Louis Browns
Primary Position
1st Baseman
Played For
St. Louis Browns, 1915-1922
Washington Senators, 1928
Boston Braves, 1928-1930

Career MLB Stats

Games
2,055
At bats
8,267
Hits
2,812
Walks
472
Runs
1,284
Doubles
425
Triples
164
Home Runs
102
RBI
1,178
Stolen Bases
375
Batting Average
.340
Ops
.847
On Base %
.379
Slugging %
.468

George Sisler Stories

Explore the archives and go deep into the lives, careers, and stories of the Hall of Fame's honorees.

Sisler ties record with six-hit day for Browns

Sisler bests Johnson in epic pitchers' duel

Collins, Keeler and Sisler comprise fourth BBWAA Hall of Fame class