Mahlon Jesse Higbee (August 16, 1901 – April 7, 1968) was an American professional baseball player. He played three games in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder for the 1922 New York Giants during the final week of the season.
| Mahlon Higbee | |
|---|---|
| Outfielder | |
| Born: August 16, 1901 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| Died: April 7, 1968 (aged 66) Depauw, Indiana, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 27, 1922, for the New York Giants | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 1, 1922, for the New York Giants | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .400 |
| Home runs | 1 |
| Runs batted in | 5 |
| Teams | |
Biography
editHigbee was born in 1901 in Louisville, Kentucky.[1] His professional baseball career spanned 1922 to 1927, primarily in Minor League Baseball, where he played over 300 games (records of the era are incomplete).[2] He began the 1922 season with the Hopkinsville Hoppers of the KITTY League,[2] and dominated the Class D circuit, leading the league with a .385 batting average, 161 hits and 101 runs scored.[citation needed] The New York Giants purchased his contract in July for $2,500 ($45,507 in 2023), with plans for him to join the team after the minor-league season.[3] The Giants went on to clinched the National League pennant on September 25,[4] and brought "Hy" Higbee to New York City.[5]
With the Giants, Higbee did not disappoint, batting 4-for-10, with five runs batted in (RBIs) and two runs scored.[2] All three of Higbee's games were played at the Polo Grounds as the second game of doubleheaders, and all were Giant victories.[6][7] His five RBIs are the most for any major-league player who appeared in three games or fewer.[citation needed] Higbee hit the first, and only, home run of his major-league career in his final major-league at bat.[8] In the field, he played left field and right field for a total of 25 innings, recording two putouts and no errors.[2] Higbee did not play in the 1922 World Series,[9] a victory in four games for the Giants over the New York Yankees, and was returned to the minor leagues.
Higbee played for the Denver Bears of the Class A Western League in 1923, then spent two seasons with the Portsmouth Truckers of the Class B Virginia League, batting .273 in 153 games.[2] After not playing in 1926, Higbee returned in 1927 with the Evansville Hubs of the Three-I League, retiring after hitting just .188 in 16 games.[2]
Higbee died in 1968 at the age of 66 in Depauw, Indiana.[9] He was survived by his wife and two children.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Draft Registration Card". fold3.com. Selective Service System. February 1942. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Mahlon Higbee Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ "Mahlon Higbee Sold to Giants". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. July 23, 1922. p. 13. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Giants Clinch Pennant". Arkansas Democrat. Little Rock, Arkansas. September 26, 1922. p. 9. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Giants Divide Twin Bill in Closing of National League Play". Olean Times Herald. Olean, New York. October 2, 1922. p. 9. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "The 1922 NY N Regular Season Batting Log for Mahlon Higbee". Retrosheet. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ "The 1922 New York Giants Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ "Home Run in Last At-Bat". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ a b "Mahlon Higbee". Retrosheet. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ "Higbee, Mahlon J." Courier Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. April 8, 1968. p. B7. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
External links
edit- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet