Hal Rhyne
Encyclopedia
Harold J. Rhyne was an infielder
in Major League Baseball
, playing mainly at shortstop
from through for the Pittsburgh Pirates
(1926–1927), Boston Red Sox
(1929–1932) and Chicago White Sox
(1933). He batted and threw right-handed.
In a seven-season career, Rhyne was a .250 hitter (508-for-2031) with two home run
s and 192 RBI
in 655 games, including 252 runs
, 98 doubles
, 22 triple
, and 13 stolen base
s. His best season statistically was , when he posted career numbers in average (.273), runs (75), RBI (51), hits
(154) and on-base percentage (.341), and also was considered in the American League MVP
vote.
Rhyne's minor league career spanned twenty seasons, between and . After starting his career with the Des Moines Boosters
, he joined the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League
. With the exception of the seasons he spent in the majors, he played for the Seals until , when he joined the Tacoma Tigers of the Western International League
partway through the season. He played for the Tigers through the end of his professional playing career.
Rhyne is one of only two major leaguers to have been born in Paso Robles, CA. The other is Jason Botts
. He died at the age of 71 in Orangevale, California
.
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, playing mainly at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
from through for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1926–1927), Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1929–1932) and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1933). He batted and threw right-handed.
In a seven-season career, Rhyne was a .250 hitter (508-for-2031) with two home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 192 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 655 games, including 252 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 98 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 22 triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and 13 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s. His best season statistically was , when he posted career numbers in average (.273), runs (75), RBI (51), hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(154) and on-base percentage (.341), and also was considered in the American League MVP
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
vote.
Rhyne's minor league career spanned twenty seasons, between and . After starting his career with the Des Moines Boosters
Des Moines Boosters
The Des Moines Boosters were a Western League minor league baseball team based in Des Moines, Iowa, USA that existed from 1908 to 1924. They won two league championships - their first in 1915 under manager Frank Isbell and their second in 1917 under Jack Coffey....
, he joined the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. With the exception of the seasons he spent in the majors, he played for the Seals until , when he joined the Tacoma Tigers of the Western International League
Western International League
The Western International League was a mid- to higher-level circuit in American and Canadian minor league baseball. It operated in 1923, 1937-42, and 1946-54. In 1955, it changed its name to the Northwest League, and still operates today as a Short Season A loop under that name.The WIL consisted of...
partway through the season. He played for the Tigers through the end of his professional playing career.
Rhyne is one of only two major leaguers to have been born in Paso Robles, CA. The other is Jason Botts
Jason Botts
Jason Carl Botts is a Major League Baseball infielder currently in the New York Mets organization...
. He died at the age of 71 in Orangevale, California
Orangevale, California
Orangevale is a census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 33,960 at the 2010 census, up from 26,705 at the 2000 census. It is located approximately ...
.