Born in Lufkin, Texas, the 6 ft (1.8 m), 170 lb (77 kg) Runnels batted left-handed and threw right-handed. A master at handling the bat, he was a notorious singles hitter who had one of the best eyes in the game, compiling an outstanding 1.35 walk-to-strikeout ratio (844-to-627). Altogether, he batted over .300 six times, once with the Senators, five with the Red Sox. Despite winning the batting title in 1960, he drove in just 35 runs, a record low for a batting title winner.
Solid and versatile with the glove, Runnels started as a shortstop with the Senators, but ultimately played 644 games at first base, 642 at second, 463 at shortstop, and 49 at third. Twice he led the American League in fielding percentage, at second base in 1960 (.986), and at first base in 1961 (.995). He was not a good base stealer: in 1952 he set the record for most attempted steals with no successes, at 10. In his career he stole 37 bases and was caught 51 times.
In five seasons with Boston, Runnels never hit less than .314 (1959), winning two batting crowns in 1960 (.320) and 1962 (.326), and just missed the 1958 American League Batting Crown by six points to his teammate Ted Williams on the final day of the 1958 season (.328 to .322). On August 30, 1960, in a double-header against the Tigers, Runnels hit 6-for-7 in the first game (including a game-winning RBI–double in the 15th inning) and 3-for-4 in the second, tying a Major League record for hits in a double-header (9). In 1962, Runnels played in his third All-Star Game for the American League and hit a home run off the Philadelphia Phillies' Art Mahaffey.[2] He went on to win the American League batting title that year. But after the season, Runnels was traded to the Houston Colt .45s (forerunners of the Astros) in exchange for outfielder Román Mejías.[3] Runnels was released by Houston early in the 1964 season.
Runnels was a career .291 hitter (1854-for-6373) with 49 home runs, 630 RBI, 876 runs, 282 doubles, 64 triples, 37 stolen bases, and a .375 on-base percentage in 1799 games. He was selected an All-Star in 1959, 1960 and 1962. He also coached for the Red Sox in 1965–1966, serving as an interim manager for the last 16 games of the 1966 season. Under Runnels, the Sox played .500 baseball and escaped last place by one-half game. However, he was replaced by Dick Williams for the 1967 season.
After leaving Major League Baseball, Runnels returned to his native state and opened a sporting goods store in Pasadena, Texas He helped found and operate a co-ed camp, Camp Champions in Marble Falls, Texas, which is still in existence.[4]
After suffering a stroke while golfing on May 17, 1991, Pete Runnels died three days later at Bayshore Hospital in Pasadena, Texas. He was buried at Forest Park East Cemetery in Houston.[5]
Honorsedit
Runnels was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.[6] He was also inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in November 2004.[1]
pete, runnels, james, edward, pete, runnels, january, 1928, 1991, american, professional, baseball, player, coach, manager, played, major, league, baseball, infielder, washington, senators, 1951, boston, 1958, houston, colt, 1963, runnels, five, time, star, pl. James Edward Pete Runnels January 28 1928 May 20 1991 was an American professional baseball player coach and manager He played in Major League Baseball as an infielder for the Washington Senators 1951 57 Boston Red Sox 1958 62 and Houston Colt 45s 1963 64 Runnels was a five time All Star player during his tenure with the Red Sox and is notable for being a two time American League batting champion He was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2004 1 Pete RunnelsRunnels c 1953Infielder ManagerBorn 1928 01 28 January 28 1928Lufkin Texas U S Died May 20 1991 1991 05 20 aged 63 Pasadena Texas U S Batted LeftThrew RightMLB debutJuly 1 1951 for the Washington SenatorsLast MLB appearanceMay 14 1964 for the Houston Colt 45sMLB statisticsBatting average 291Home runs49Runs batted in630TeamsAs player Washington Senators 1951 1957 Boston Red Sox 1958 1962 Houston Colt 45 s 1963 1964 As manager Boston Red Sox 1966 Career highlights and awards5 All Star 1959 1960 1962 2 AL batting champion 1960 1962 Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame Contents 1 Major League playing and coaching career 1 1 Managerial record 2 Post baseball life 3 Honors 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksMajor League playing and coaching career editBorn in Lufkin Texas the 6 ft 1 8 m 170 lb 77 kg Runnels batted left handed and threw right handed A master at handling the bat he was a notorious singles hitter who had one of the best eyes in the game compiling an outstanding 1 35 walk to strikeout ratio 844 to 627 Altogether he batted over 300 six times once with the Senators five with the Red Sox Despite winning the batting title in 1960 he drove in just 35 runs a record low for a batting title winner Solid and versatile with the glove Runnels started as a shortstop with the Senators but ultimately played 644 games at first base 642 at second 463 at shortstop and 49 at third Twice he led the American League in fielding percentage at second base in 1960 986 and at first base in 1961 995 He was not a good base stealer in 1952 he set the record for most attempted steals with no successes at 10 In his career he stole 37 bases and was caught 51 times In five seasons with Boston Runnels never hit less than 314 1959 winning two batting crowns in 1960 320 and 1962 326 and just missed the 1958 American League Batting Crown by six points to his teammate Ted Williams on the final day of the 1958 season 328 to 322 On August 30 1960 in a double header against the Tigers Runnels hit 6 for 7 in the first game including a game winning RBI double in the 15th inning and 3 for 4 in the second tying a Major League record for hits in a double header 9 In 1962 Runnels played in his third All Star Game for the American League and hit a home run off the Philadelphia Phillies Art Mahaffey 2 He went on to win the American League batting title that year But after the season Runnels was traded to the Houston Colt 45s forerunners of the Astros in exchange for outfielder Roman Mejias 3 Runnels was released by Houston early in the 1964 season Runnels was a career 291 hitter 1854 for 6373 with 49 home runs 630 RBI 876 runs 282 doubles 64 triples 37 stolen bases and a 375 on base percentage in 1799 games He was selected an All Star in 1959 1960 and 1962 He also coached for the Red Sox in 1965 1966 serving as an interim manager for the last 16 games of the 1966 season Under Runnels the Sox played 500 baseball and escaped last place by one half game However he was replaced by Dick Williams for the 1967 season Managerial record edit Team Year Regular season Postseason Games Won Lost Win Finish Won Lost Win Result BOS 1966 16 8 8 500 9th in AL Total 16 8 8 500 0 0 Post baseball life editAfter leaving Major League Baseball Runnels returned to his native state and opened a sporting goods store in Pasadena Texas He helped found and operate a co ed camp Camp Champions in Marble Falls Texas which is still in existence 4 After suffering a stroke while golfing on May 17 1991 Pete Runnels died three days later at Bayshore Hospital in Pasadena Texas He was buried at Forest Park East Cemetery in Houston 5 Honors editRunnels was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1982 6 He was also inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in November 2004 1 See also editList of Major League Baseball batting champions List of Major League Baseball single game hits leadersReferences edit a b Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame mlb com Retrieved 1 February 2020 The Baseball Page com Pete Runnels http www thebaseballpage com players runnepe01 bio Retrieved September 2 2013 Baseball Reference com Pete Runnels https www baseball reference com players r runnepe01 shtml Retrieved September 2 2013 The Baseball Page com ibid Baseball Page com ibid Associated Press Pete Runnels obituary The New York Times May 21 1991 Texas Sports Hall of Fame Inductees Pete Runnels http tshof org inductees staff id 245 Retrieved September 2 2013 External links editCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors Pete Runnels managerial career statistics at Baseball Reference com Pete Runnels at Baseball Biography Baseball Page Camp Champions Sporting positions Preceded byHarry Malmberg Boston Red Sox first base coach1965 1966 Succeeded byBobby Doerr Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pete Runnels amp oldid 1217730392, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
