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{{short description|American baseball player (1912–1952)}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Arky Vaughan
|name=Arky Vaughan
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|throws=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date|1912|3|9}}
|birth_date={{birth date|1912|3|9}}
|birth_place=[[Clifty, Arkansas]]
|birth_place=[[Clifty, Arkansas]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1952|8|30|1912|3|9}}
|death_date={{death date and age|1952|8|30|1912|3|9}}
|death_place=[[Eagleville, Modoc County, California|Eagleville, California]]
|death_place=[[Eagleville, Modoc County, California|Eagleville, California]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 17
|debutdate=April 17
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* [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|NL batting champion]] (1935)
* [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|NL batting champion]] (1935)
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders|NL stolen base leader]] (1943)
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders|NL stolen base leader]] (1943)
*[[Pittsburgh Pirates#Pirates Hall of Fame|Pirates Hall of Fame]]
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hoftype = National
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|hofmethod=Veterans Committee
|hofmethod=Veterans Committee
}}
}}

'''Joseph Floyd "Arky" Vaughan''' (March 9, 1912 – August 30, 1952) was an American [[professional baseball]] player. He played 14 seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] between 1932 and 1948 for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] and [[Brooklyn Dodgers]], primarily as a [[shortstop]]. He was elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1985.
'''Joseph Floyd''' "'''Arky'''" '''Vaughan''' (March 9, 1912 – August 30, 1952) was an American [[professional baseball]] player. He played 14 seasons in [[Major League Baseball]], between 1932 and 1948, for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] and [[Brooklyn Dodgers]], primarily as a [[shortstop]]. He was elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1985.


== Minor leagues ==
== Minor leagues ==
Born in [[Clifty, Arkansas]], Vaughan, who got his nickname early in life, despite leaving Arkansas before his first birthday,<ref>{{cite web|title=Arky Vaughan at the Hall of Fame|url=http://baseballhall.org/hof/vaughan-arky|publisher=National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|accessdate=2013-01-22}}</ref> made his professional debut in 1931 at age 19 for the [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] [[Wichita Aviators (baseball)|Wichita Aviators]] of the [[Western League (1900–1958)|Western League]], where he hit .338 with 21 [[home run]]s.<ref name=brm>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=vaugha001jos Arky Vaughan at Baseball-Reference Minors]</ref> When the Aviators became affiliated with the [[Chicago Cubs]] after the season, Vaughan was acquired by the [[Tulsa Oilers (baseball)|Tulsa Oilers]], who were affiliated with the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]]. On April 7, 1932, Vaughan was acquired from the Oilers by the Pirates.<ref name=br>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vaughar01.shtml Arky Vaughan at Baseball-Reference]</ref>
Born in [[Clifty, Arkansas]], Vaughan got his nickname early in life, despite leaving Arkansas before his first birthday. He grew up in [[Fullerton, California]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Arky Vaughan at the Hall of Fame|url=http://baseballhall.org/hof/vaughan-arky|publisher=National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|access-date=2013-01-22}}</ref>


Vaughan made his professional debut in 1931 at age 19 for the [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] [[Wichita Aviators (baseball)|Wichita Aviators]] of the [[Western League (1900–1958)|Western League]], where he hit .338 with 21 [[home run]]s.<ref name=brm>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=vaugha001jos Arky Vaughan at Baseball-Reference Minors]</ref> When the Aviators became affiliated with the [[Chicago Cubs]] after the season, Vaughan was acquired by the [[Tulsa Oilers (baseball)|Tulsa Oilers]], who were affiliated with the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]]. On April 7, 1932, Vaughan was acquired from the Oilers by the Pirates.<ref name=br>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vaughar01.shtml Arky Vaughan at Baseball-Reference]</ref>
⚫
== Major league career ==


⚫
== Major league career ==
=== Pittsburgh Pirates ===
=== Pittsburgh Pirates ===

==== Rookie year ====
==== Rookie year ====
Vaughan began the 1932 season as the backup to the Pirates' starting shortstop, [[Tommy Thevenow]]. Through the first thirteen games of the season, Vaughan appeared only twice, once as a late-game replacement for Thevenow and once as a pinch-hitter.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=vaughar01&t=b&year=1932 Arky Vaughan 1932 game log]</ref> However, Thevenow was still suffering the effects of a season-ending ankle injury he had suffered in 1931, which opened up the door for Vaughan to take over the job.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Pittsburgh Pirates Encyclopedia|year=2003|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|author=David Finoli, Bill Rainer|page=70}}</ref> When Thevenow returned at the end of May after missing a month, he found himself in a reserve role.
Vaughan began the 1932 season as the backup to the Pirates' starting shortstop, [[Tommy Thevenow]]. Through the first 13 games of the season, Vaughan appeared only twice, once as a late-game replacement for Thevenow and once as a pinch-hitter.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=vaughar01&t=b&year=1932 Arky Vaughan 1932 game log]</ref> However, Thevenow was still suffering the effects of a season-ending ankle injury he had suffered in 1931, which opened up the door for Vaughan to take over the job.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Pittsburgh Pirates Encyclopedia|year=2003|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|author=David Finoli, Bill Rainer|page=70}}</ref> When Thevenow returned at the end of May after missing a month, he found himself in a reserve role.


Vaughan, who was the youngest player in the [[National League]] in 1932,<ref name=br/> wound up playing 129 games overall that year, all but one at shortstop. He finished with a .318 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] and 61 [[runs batted in|RBI]] in his rookie season. His defense was a bit shaky, though, as he led the league in [[error (baseball)|error]]s with 46. His year was impressive enough to garner a modicum of support for Most Valuable Player, finishing 23rd in the voting.<ref name=br/>
Vaughan, who was the youngest player in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] in 1932,<ref name=br/> wound up playing 129 games overall that year, all but one at shortstop. He finished with a .318 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] and 61 [[runs batted in]] (RBIs) in his rookie season. His defense was a bit shaky, though, as he led the league in [[error (baseball)|error]]s with 46. His year was impressive enough to garner a modicum of support for Most Valuable Player, finishing 23rd in the voting.<ref name=br/>


==== Establishing himself ====
==== Establishing himself ====
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In 1935, Vaughan had what is universally recognized as his best season. Vaughan not only posted career bests in the three [[Major League Baseball Triple Crown|Triple Crown]] categories, he led all of baseball with a .385 average, a .491 on-base percentage, and a 1.098 [[on-base plus slugging|OPS]]. His 190 [[Adjusted OPS]] as of 2011 still ranks as one of the top 100 single-season scores of all time.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/onbase_plus_slugging_plus_season.shtml Single-Season Leaders & Records for Adjusted OPS+]</ref> His .607 slugging percentage led the NL, as did his 97 walks. His 19 home runs were eighth in the league, his only time in the top ten, and his 99 RBI were sixth. He also earned the first of his six starts in the All-Star Game. Defensively, he finished in the top half of the league in fielding percentage for the first time while finishing second in both [[putout]]s and [[assist (baseball)|assist]]s.
In 1935, Vaughan had what is universally recognized as his best season. Vaughan not only posted career bests in the three [[Major League Baseball Triple Crown|Triple Crown]] categories, he led all of baseball with a .385 average, a .491 on-base percentage, and a 1.098 [[on-base plus slugging|OPS]]. His 190 [[Adjusted OPS]] as of 2011 still ranks as one of the top 100 single-season scores of all time.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/onbase_plus_slugging_plus_season.shtml Single-Season Leaders & Records for Adjusted OPS+]</ref> His .607 slugging percentage led the NL, as did his 97 walks. His 19 home runs were eighth in the league, his only time in the top ten, and his 99 RBI were sixth. He also earned the first of his six starts in the All-Star Game. Defensively, he finished in the top half of the league in fielding percentage for the first time while finishing second in both [[putout]]s and [[assist (baseball)|assist]]s.


Although he was third in [[National League]] MVP voting behind [[Gabby Hartnett]] and [[Dizzy Dean]], he was named Player of the Year by [[The Sporting News]]. The season has been called the best ever by a shortstop other than [[Honus Wagner]].<ref name=nbjhba>James, Bill. ''The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract'', 2001.</ref>
Although he was third in [[National League (baseball)|National League]] MVP voting behind [[Gabby Hartnett]] and [[Dizzy Dean]], he was named Player of the Year by [[The Sporting News]]. The season has been called the best ever by a shortstop other than [[Honus Wagner]].<ref name=nbjhba>James, Bill. ''The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract'', 2001.</ref>


==== Remaining Pirates career ====
==== Remaining Pirates career ====
Over the next six seasons, Vaughan continued to be one of the best-hitting shortstops in the game, batting over .300 in every season, and regularly being at or near the top of the league in most offensive categories. He also continued to improve defensively, as he led the league in [[total chances]] in 1938–39 while finishing in the top three in fielding percentage four times. He again finished third in the MVP voting in 1938, when the Pirates finished second and had their best record during his tenure with the team.
Over the next six seasons, Vaughan continued to be one of the best-hitting shortstops in the game, batting over .300 in every season, and regularly being at or near the top of the league in most offensive categories. He also continued to improve defensively, as he led the league in [[total chances]] in 1938–39 while finishing in the top three in fielding percentage four times. He again finished third in the MVP voting in 1938, when the Pirates finished second and had their best record during his tenure with the team.


In 1940, Vaughan was appointed team captain by new [[manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Frankie Frisch]]. Although he led the league in runs scored and triples again, he slumped to a career-low .300 batting average. This prompted Frisch to replace Vaughan as starting shortstop with [[Alf Anderson]] to start the 1941 season. However, Anderson didn't hit, and Vaughan was quickly back in the starting lineup. In the [[1941 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1941 All-Star Game]], Vaughan hit two home runs, but was upstaged by a ninth-inning, three-run homer by [[American League]]r [[Ted Williams]].<ref name=pitpress>{{cite news|last=Riederman|first=Lester|title=Dodgers Give Hamlin, Coscarart, Phelps And Wasdell for Star Shortstop|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19411213&id=Dk4bAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dUwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4548,1910280|accessdate=11 November 2011|newspaper=Pittsburgh Press|date=December 13, 1941}}</ref> Vaughan finished the year batting .316 in 106 games. That would be his last year with the Pirates who wouldn't see a star as bright as Vaughan for almost two decades. The fans were outraged at his trade to Brooklyn and his mysterious death years later helped coin the phrase "The Ghost of Arky" when times got tough.
In 1940, Vaughan was appointed team captain by new [[manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Frankie Frisch]]. Although he led the league in runs scored and triples again, he slumped to a career-low .300 batting average. This prompted Frisch to replace Vaughan as starting shortstop with [[Alf Anderson]] to start the 1941 season. However, Anderson didn't hit, and Vaughan was quickly back in the starting lineup. In the [[1941 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1941 All-Star Game]], Vaughan hit two home runs, but was upstaged by a ninth-inning, three-run homer by [[American League]]r [[Ted Williams]].<ref name=pitpress>{{cite news|last=Riederman|first=Lester|title=Dodgers Give Hamlin, Coscarart, Phelps And Wasdell for Star Shortstop|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19411213&id=Dk4bAAAAIBAJ&pg=4548,1910280|access-date=11 November 2011|newspaper=Pittsburgh Press|date=December 13, 1941}}</ref> Vaughan finished the year batting .316 in 106 games. That would be his last year with the Pirates who wouldn't see a star as bright as Vaughan for almost two decades. The fans were outraged at his trade to Brooklyn and his mysterious death years later helped coin the phrase "The Ghost of Arky" when times got tough.


=== Brooklyn Dodgers ===
=== Brooklyn Dodgers ===


==== A new position ====
==== A new position ====
On December 12, 1941, after a decade as the Pirates' starting shortstop, Vaughan was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers for four players.<ref name=br/><ref name=pitpress/> It is believed that this trade was in part prompted due to bad feelings between Vaughan and Frisch.<ref>The Pittsburgh Pirates Encyclopedia, p. 94</ref> Since [[Pee Wee Reese]] was already at shortstop for the Dodgers, the plan was to move Vaughan to [[third baseman|third base]].
On December 12, 1941, after a decade as the Pirates' starting shortstop, Vaughan was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers for [[Pete Coscarart]], [[Luke Hamlin]], [[Babe Phelps]], and [[Jimmy Wasdell]].<ref name=br/><ref name=pitpress/> It is believed that this trade was in part prompted due to bad feelings between Vaughan and Frisch.<ref>The Pittsburgh Pirates Encyclopedia, p. 94</ref> Since [[Pee Wee Reese]] was already at shortstop for the Dodgers, the plan was to move Vaughan to [[third baseman|third base]].


Vaughan's tenure with the Dodgers got off to a rough start, as he failed to hit .300 for the first time in his career, finishing at .277 with just two home runs. He also established new lows in several other categories, including a career-worst .348 OBP.<ref name=br/> He still managed to make the All-Star team as the starter at third base, and actually finished third in the league in fielding percentage, but the season was a disappointment overall.
Vaughan's tenure with the Dodgers got off to a rough start, as he failed to hit .300 for the first time in his career, finishing at .277 with just two home runs. He also established new lows in several other categories, including a career-worst .348 OBP.<ref name=br/> He still managed to make the All-Star team as the starter at third base, and actually finished third in the league in fielding percentage, but the season was a disappointment overall.
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With Reese drafted into World War II, Vaughan was moved back to shortstop in 1943. He rebounded on offense, raising his average over .300 once again at .305 and leading the league in runs scored and, for the first and only time, stolen bases with 20.
With Reese drafted into World War II, Vaughan was moved back to shortstop in 1943. He rebounded on offense, raising his average over .300 once again at .305 and leading the league in runs scored and, for the first and only time, stolen bases with 20.


However, the season was marred by an incident that would nearly lead to the end of Vaughan's career. During the season, temperamental manager [[Leo Durocher]] got into a confrontation with pitcher [[Bobo Newsom]] after Newsom complained about [[catcher]] [[Bobby Bragan]] [[Uncaught third strike|dropping a third strike]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Vass|first=George|title=Baseball's in-house fights: teammate antagonisms create turmoil: clubhouse scraps have long been a part of the game's history|journal=Baseball Digest|date=September 2007}}</ref> On July 10, after Newsom had been suspended for three games,<ref>[http://www.baseballlibrary.com/chronology/byyear.php?year=1943 Chronology: 1943] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214004930/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/chronology/byyear.php?year=1943 |date=December 14, 2011 }} ''Baseball Library''</ref> Vaughan threatened to leave the team, handing his uniform to Durocher for disposal. After Vaughan's display, only two players were willing to play for Durocher that day, but upper management intervened. After the season, he left the team, retiring to his ranch.<ref name=latimes>{{cite news|last=McCurdie|first=Jim|title=ARKY : Life of Vaughan Recalled on 33rd Anniversary of Death of Baseball Hall of Famer|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-31/sports/sp-24340_1_arky-vaughan|accessdate=11 November 2011|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=August 31, 1985}}</ref> He went on to sit out the next three years.
However, the season was marred by an incident that would nearly lead to the end of Vaughan's career. On July 10, temperamental manager [[Leo Durocher]] suspended pitcher [[Bobo Newsom]] for insubordination after Newsom complained about [[catcher]] [[Bobby Bragan]] [[Uncaught third strike|dropping a third strike]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Vass|first=George|title=Baseball's in-house fights: teammate antagonisms create turmoil: clubhouse scraps have long been a part of the game's history|journal=Baseball Digest|date=September 2007}}</ref> According to teammate [[Billy Herman]], after reading Durocher's comments about Newsom in the press, Vaughan went into the manager's office, took off his uniform, and "threw it in Durocher's face".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/arky-vaughan/ | title=Arky Vaughan – Society for American Baseball Research }}</ref> After the season, Vaughan left the team, retiring to his ranch.<ref name=latimes>{{cite news|last=McCurdie|first=Jim|title=ARKY : Life of Vaughan Recalled on 33rd Anniversary of Death of Baseball Hall of Famer|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-31/sports/sp-24340_1_arky-vaughan|access-date=11 November 2011|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=August 31, 1985}}</ref> He went on to sit out the next three years.


==== Comeback ====
==== Comeback ====
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=== Legacy ===
=== Legacy ===
Vaughan retired with 1,173 runs scored, 96 home runs, 926 RBI, 118 steals, a .318 batting average and a .406 on-base percentage. As of 2019, his .385 batting average, .491 OBP, and 1.098 OPS in 1935 are all Pittsburgh team records,<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/leaders_bat.shtml Pittsburgh Pirates Top 10 Batting Leaders]</ref> and the batting average is a 20th-century record for National League shortstops.<ref>[http://baseballhall.org/hof/vaughan-arky Arky Vaughan Hall of Fame page]</ref> Vaughan is the 26th greatest non-pitcher in major league history, according to [[win shares]]. He hit for the cycle twice in his career as a member of the Pirates. In 14 seasons, he hit .300 or better 12 times, only missing the mark in 1942 and 1948.
Vaughan retired with 1,173 runs scored, 96 home runs, 926 RBI, 118 steals, a .318 batting average,.406 on-base percentage and .453 slugging percentage. As of 2019, his .385 batting average, .491 OBP, and 1.098 OPS in 1935 are all Pittsburgh team records,<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/leaders_bat.shtml Pittsburgh Pirates Top 10 Batting Leaders]</ref> and the batting average is a 20th-century record for National League shortstops.<ref>[http://baseballhall.org/hof/vaughan-arky Arky Vaughan Hall of Fame page]</ref> Vaughan is the 26th greatest non-pitcher in major league history, according to [[win shares]]. He hit for the cycle twice in his career as a member of the Pirates. In 14 seasons, he hit .300 or better 12 times, only missing the mark in 1942 and 1948.


Vaughan was inducted into the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1985, following which Vaughan's daughter Patricia received this brief, handwritten congratulatory letter:
Vaughan was inducted into the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1985, following which Vaughan's daughter Patricia received this brief, handwritten congratulatory letter:


⚫
{{blockquote|I was a substitute tackle on the [[Fullerton Union High School|Fullerton High School]] championship 130-pound team and remember Arky as our star halfback--fast, hard-nosed and even then a real professional.<br><br>Sincerely,<br>[[Richard Nixon]]<ref name=latimes/>}}
{{quote|
⚫
I was a substitute tackle on the [[Fullerton Union High School|Fullerton High School]] championship 130-pound team and remember Arky as our star halfback--fast, hard-nosed and even then a real professional. <br><br>Sincerely,<br> Richard Nixon <ref name=latimes/>
}}


As early as July 1972, then President Nixon had named Vaughan the starting shortstop on his "All-Time" National League All-Star Team's pre-war component (i.e. 1925 through 1945), citing as his "sentimental reason" their high school connection while stating his belief that "most experts would include Arky on a team if he were rated on hitting ability alone".<ref>Nixon, Richard; Seppy, Tom (July 2, 1972). "Nixon, with an assist, picks his 'All-Time baseball team". ''Boston Globe''. Retrieved March 16, 2019, via Proquest.</ref> In 1981, [[Lawrence Ritter]] and [[Donald Honig]] included Vaughan in their book ''The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time''. In his ''[[The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract|New Historical Baseball Abstract]]'', published in 2001, [[Bill James]] rated Vaughan as the second-best shortstop in major league history, behind fellow Pirate and mentor [[Honus Wagner]].<ref name=nbjhba/> The connection to Wagner makes Vaughan a below the radar name in memorabilia circles.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}}
As early as July 1972, Nixon, then the [[President of the United States]], had named Vaughan the starting shortstop on his "All-Time" National League All-Star Team's pre-war (1925–1945) component, citing as his "sentimental reason" their high school connection while stating his belief that "most experts would include Arky on a team if he were rated on hitting ability alone".<ref>Nixon, Richard; Seppy, Tom (July 2, 1972). "Nixon, with an assist, picks his 'All-Time baseball team". ''Boston Globe''. Retrieved March 16, 2019, via Proquest.</ref> In 1981, [[Lawrence Ritter]] and [[Donald Honig]] included Vaughan in their book ''The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time''. In his ''[[The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract|New Historical Baseball Abstract]]'', published in 2001, [[Bill James]] rated Vaughan as the second-best shortstop in major league history, behind fellow Pirate and mentor [[Honus Wagner]].<ref name=nbjhba/> The connection to Wagner makes Vaughan a below-the-radar name in memorabilia circles.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}} In his 2021 book, ''The Baseball 100'', Joe Posnanski places Vaughan at number 61 on a list of the 100 all-time best baseball players of all time.<ref>''The Baseball 100'', Joe Posnanski, Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster 2021. {{ISBN|978-1982180584}}</ref>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{bbhof|vaughan-arky}}
*{{Baseball Hall of Fame profile|vaughan-arky}}
{{baseballstats|mlb=|espn=|br=v/vaughar01|fangraphs=1013377|brm=vaugha001jos|retro=V/Pvauga101}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=|espn=|br=v/vaughar01|fangraphs=1013377|brm=vaugha001jos|retro=V/Pvauga101}}
*{{SABR Baseball Biography Project|4e00be9b}}
*[https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/4e00be9b Arky Vaughan] at SABR (Baseball BioProject)
*{{findagrave|5860646}}
<br>


{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
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{{Succession box| before = [[Chuck Klein]]<br>[[Charlie Gehringer]] | title = [[Hitting for the cycle]]| years = June 24, 1933<br>July 19, 1939 | after = [[Mickey Cochrane]]<br>[[Harry Craft]]}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Chuck Klein]]<br>[[Charlie Gehringer]] | title = [[Hitting for the cycle]]| years = June 24, 1933<br>July 19, 1939 | after = [[Mickey Cochrane]]<br>[[Harry Craft]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
{{Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame}}

{{NL batting title}}
{{NL batting title}}
{{NL stolen base champions}}
{{NL stolen base champions}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaughan, Arky}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaughan, Arky}}
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[[Category:1912 births]]

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[[Category:1952 deaths]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball shortstops]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball shortstops]]
[[Category:National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
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[[Category:Baseball players from Arkansas]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Arkansas]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in California]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in California]]
[[Category:Deaths by drowning]]
[[Category:Deaths by drowning in California]]
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[[Category:1912 births]]
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[[Category:1952 deaths]]

Latest revision as of 00:32, 8 March 2024

Arky Vaughan
Shortstop
Born: (1912-03-09)March 9, 1912
Clifty, Arkansas, U.S.
Died: August 30, 1952(1952-08-30) (aged 40)
Eagleville, California, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 17, 1932, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last MLB appearance
September 22, 1948, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
MLB statistics
Batting average.318
Hits2,103
Home runs96
Runs batted in926
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction1985
Election methodVeterans Committee

Joseph Floyd "Arky" Vaughan (March 9, 1912 – August 30, 1952) was an American professional baseball player. He played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball, between 1932 and 1948, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Brooklyn Dodgers, primarily as a shortstop. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.

Minor leagues[edit]

Born in Clifty, Arkansas, Vaughan got his nickname early in life, despite leaving Arkansas before his first birthday. He grew up in Fullerton, California.[1]

Vaughan made his professional debut in 1931 at age 19 for the minor league Wichita Aviators of the Western League, where he hit .338 with 21 home runs.[2] When the Aviators became affiliated with the Chicago Cubs after the season, Vaughan was acquired by the Tulsa Oilers, who were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates. On April 7, 1932, Vaughan was acquired from the Oilers by the Pirates.[3]

Major league career[edit]

Pittsburgh Pirates[edit]

Rookie year[edit]

Vaughan began the 1932 season as the backup to the Pirates' starting shortstop, Tommy Thevenow. Through the first 13 games of the season, Vaughan appeared only twice, once as a late-game replacement for Thevenow and once as a pinch-hitter.[4] However, Thevenow was still suffering the effects of a season-ending ankle injury he had suffered in 1931, which opened up the door for Vaughan to take over the job.[5] When Thevenow returned at the end of May after missing a month, he found himself in a reserve role.

Vaughan, who was the youngest player in the National League in 1932,[3] wound up playing 129 games overall that year, all but one at shortstop. He finished with a .318 batting average and 61 runs batted in (RBIs) in his rookie season. His defense was a bit shaky, though, as he led the league in errors with 46. His year was impressive enough to garner a modicum of support for Most Valuable Player, finishing 23rd in the voting.[3]

Establishing himself[edit]

Vaughan solidified his position as the Pirates' starting shortstop in 1933. Improving on almost all of his offensive statistics, Vaughan played in 152 games, batting .314 with 97 RBI, seventh- and fifth-best in the NL respectively. He also led the league with 19 triples. He finished in the league top five in on-base percentage (.388, 3rd), slugging percentage (.478, 5th) and walks (64, 4th). Although he led the league in errors again with an identical 46 to the previous year, due to his increased playing time his fielding percentage improved a bit from .934 to .945. For the second straight year, he finished 23rd in the MVP voting.[3]

Vaughan took his game up another notch in 1934. While finishing fourth in the race for the batting title at .333, he led the league in OBP at .431, helped by his league-leading walk total of 94. Although he dropped from fifth to sixth in slugging, the raw number improved to .511. His performance earned him a spot on the NL All-Star team, the first of what would be nine straight selections. His defense continued to improve as well, as his error total dropped to 41, no longer the most in the league, and his fielding percentage rose again to .951. For the third straight year, he finished 23rd in the MVP voting.[3]

1935[edit]

In 1935, Vaughan had what is universally recognized as his best season. Vaughan not only posted career bests in the three Triple Crown categories, he led all of baseball with a .385 average, a .491 on-base percentage, and a 1.098 OPS. His 190 Adjusted OPS as of 2011 still ranks as one of the top 100 single-season scores of all time.[6] His .607 slugging percentage led the NL, as did his 97 walks. His 19 home runs were eighth in the league, his only time in the top ten, and his 99 RBI were sixth. He also earned the first of his six starts in the All-Star Game. Defensively, he finished in the top half of the league in fielding percentage for the first time while finishing second in both putouts and assists.

Although he was third in National League MVP voting behind Gabby Hartnett and Dizzy Dean, he was named Player of the Year by The Sporting News. The season has been called the best ever by a shortstop other than Honus Wagner.[7]

Remaining Pirates career[edit]

Over the next six seasons, Vaughan continued to be one of the best-hitting shortstops in the game, batting over .300 in every season, and regularly being at or near the top of the league in most offensive categories. He also continued to improve defensively, as he led the league in total chances in 1938–39 while finishing in the top three in fielding percentage four times. He again finished third in the MVP voting in 1938, when the Pirates finished second and had their best record during his tenure with the team.

In 1940, Vaughan was appointed team captain by new manager Frankie Frisch. Although he led the league in runs scored and triples again, he slumped to a career-low .300 batting average. This prompted Frisch to replace Vaughan as starting shortstop with Alf Anderson to start the 1941 season. However, Anderson didn't hit, and Vaughan was quickly back in the starting lineup. In the 1941 All-Star Game, Vaughan hit two home runs, but was upstaged by a ninth-inning, three-run homer by American Leaguer Ted Williams.[8] Vaughan finished the year batting .316 in 106 games. That would be his last year with the Pirates who wouldn't see a star as bright as Vaughan for almost two decades. The fans were outraged at his trade to Brooklyn and his mysterious death years later helped coin the phrase "The Ghost of Arky" when times got tough.

Brooklyn Dodgers[edit]

A new position[edit]

On December 12, 1941, after a decade as the Pirates' starting shortstop, Vaughan was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers for Pete Coscarart, Luke Hamlin, Babe Phelps, and Jimmy Wasdell.[3][8] It is believed that this trade was in part prompted due to bad feelings between Vaughan and Frisch.[9] Since Pee Wee Reese was already at shortstop for the Dodgers, the plan was to move Vaughan to third base.

Vaughan's tenure with the Dodgers got off to a rough start, as he failed to hit .300 for the first time in his career, finishing at .277 with just two home runs. He also established new lows in several other categories, including a career-worst .348 OBP.[3] He still managed to make the All-Star team as the starter at third base, and actually finished third in the league in fielding percentage, but the season was a disappointment overall.

Clash of personalities[edit]

With Reese drafted into World War II, Vaughan was moved back to shortstop in 1943. He rebounded on offense, raising his average over .300 once again at .305 and leading the league in runs scored and, for the first and only time, stolen bases with 20.

However, the season was marred by an incident that would nearly lead to the end of Vaughan's career. On July 10, temperamental manager Leo Durocher suspended pitcher Bobo Newsom for insubordination after Newsom complained about catcher Bobby Bragan dropping a third strike.[10] According to teammate Billy Herman, after reading Durocher's comments about Newsom in the press, Vaughan went into the manager's office, took off his uniform, and "threw it in Durocher's face".[11] After the season, Vaughan left the team, retiring to his ranch.[12] He went on to sit out the next three years.

Comeback[edit]

After Durocher was suspended before the 1947 season, Vaughan decided to try a comeback. Serving as something of a utility player, Vaughan played in 64 games and batted .325. He played in his only World Series that season, which the Dodgers lost to the New York Yankees. Vaughan appeared in three games in the 1947 World Series, all as a pinch hitter, reaching base twice on a walk and a double.

Even with Durocher's suspension over, Vaughan returned to the Dodgers in a similar capacity in 1948. However, after batting a career-low .244 in 65 games, he was released at the end of the season.[3] He played the 1949 season with Pacific Coast League's San Francisco Seals before retiring for good.[2]

Legacy[edit]

Vaughan retired with 1,173 runs scored, 96 home runs, 926 RBI, 118 steals, a .318 batting average,.406 on-base percentage and .453 slugging percentage. As of 2019, his .385 batting average, .491 OBP, and 1.098 OPS in 1935 are all Pittsburgh team records,[13] and the batting average is a 20th-century record for National League shortstops.[14] Vaughan is the 26th greatest non-pitcher in major league history, according to win shares. He hit for the cycle twice in his career as a member of the Pirates. In 14 seasons, he hit .300 or better 12 times, only missing the mark in 1942 and 1948.

Vaughan was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985, following which Vaughan's daughter Patricia received this brief, handwritten congratulatory letter:

I was a substitute tackle on the Fullerton High School championship 130-pound team and remember Arky as our star halfback--fast, hard-nosed and even then a real professional.

Sincerely,
Richard Nixon[12]

As early as July 1972, Nixon, then the President of the United States, had named Vaughan the starting shortstop on his "All-Time" National League All-Star Team's pre-war (1925–1945) component, citing as his "sentimental reason" their high school connection while stating his belief that "most experts would include Arky on a team if he were rated on hitting ability alone".[15] In 1981, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included Vaughan in their book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time. In his New Historical Baseball Abstract, published in 2001, Bill James rated Vaughan as the second-best shortstop in major league history, behind fellow Pirate and mentor Honus Wagner.[7] The connection to Wagner makes Vaughan a below-the-radar name in memorabilia circles.[citation needed] In his 2021 book, The Baseball 100, Joe Posnanski places Vaughan at number 61 on a list of the 100 all-time best baseball players of all time.[16]

Personal life[edit]

Vaughan married his wife, Margaret, in 1931, and they had four children.[17]

After leaving the Seals, Vaughan bought a ranch in Eagleville, California, where he retired to fish, hunt and tend cattle. On August 30, 1952, Vaughan was fishing in nearby Lost Lake, with his friend Bill Wimer. According to a witness, Wimer stood up in the boat, causing it to capsize, and both men drowned. Their bodies were recovered the next day. Vaughan was 40.[12]

Vaughan's nephew Glenn Vaughan had a brief major league career with the Houston Colt .45s in 1963.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Arky Vaughan at the Hall of Fame". National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  2. ^ a b Arky Vaughan at Baseball-Reference Minors
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Arky Vaughan at Baseball-Reference
  4. ^ Arky Vaughan 1932 game log
  5. ^ David Finoli, Bill Rainer (2003). The Pittsburgh Pirates Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 70.
  6. ^ Single-Season Leaders & Records for Adjusted OPS+
  7. ^ a b James, Bill. The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, 2001.
  8. ^ a b Riederman, Lester (December 13, 1941). "Dodgers Give Hamlin, Coscarart, Phelps And Wasdell for Star Shortstop". Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  9. ^ The Pittsburgh Pirates Encyclopedia, p. 94
  10. ^ Vass, George (September 2007). "Baseball's in-house fights: teammate antagonisms create turmoil: clubhouse scraps have long been a part of the game's history". Baseball Digest.
  11. ^ "Arky Vaughan – Society for American Baseball Research".
  12. ^ a b c McCurdie, Jim (August 31, 1985). "ARKY : Life of Vaughan Recalled on 33rd Anniversary of Death of Baseball Hall of Famer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  13. ^ Pittsburgh Pirates Top 10 Batting Leaders
  14. ^ Arky Vaughan Hall of Fame page
  15. ^ Nixon, Richard; Seppy, Tom (July 2, 1972). "Nixon, with an assist, picks his 'All-Time baseball team". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 16, 2019, via Proquest.
  16. ^ The Baseball 100, Joe Posnanski, Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster 2021. ISBN 978-1982180584
  17. ^ Moses, Ralph. "Arky Vaughan". sabr.org. Retrieved August 27, 2015.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Achievements
Preceded by Hitting for the cycle
June 24, 1933
July 19, 1939 		Succeeded by
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