Pete Runnels

Infobox MLB retired
name=Pete Runnels
bats=Left
throws=Right
position=Infielder / Manager
birthdate=birth date|1928|1|28
Lufkin, Texas
deathdate=death date and age|1991|5|20|1928|1|28
Pasadena, Texas
debutdate=July 1
debutyear=by|1951
debutteam=Washington Senators
finaldate=May 14
finalyear=by|1964
finalteam=Houston Colt .45's
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.291
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=1,854
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=630
teams=As Player
* Washington Senators (by|1951-by|1957)
* Boston Red Sox (by|1958-by|1962)
* Houston Colt .45's (by|1963-by|1964)As Manager
* Boston Red Sox (by|1966)
highlights=
* 3x All-Star selection (1959, 1960, 1962)
* Led AL in batting average in 1960 and 1962

James Edward "Pete" Runnels (January 28, 1928 - May 20, 1991) was a Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Washington Senators (1951-57), Boston Red Sox (1958-62) and Houston Colt .45s (1963-64). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.

Runnels was born in Lufkin, Texas. 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. Dispite winning the batting title in 1960, he just drove in 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).

In five seasons with Boston, Runnels never hit less than .314 (by|1959), winning two batting crowns in by|1960 (.320) and by|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 by|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). After winning his batting title in 1962, Runnels was traded to the Houston Colt .45s (forerunners of the Astros). He was released early in the by|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, and he also coached for the Red Sox in 1965-66, serving as an interim manager for the last 16 games of the by|1966 season. Under Runnels, the Sox played .500 baseball and escaped last place by one-half game.

Pete Runnels died in Pasadena, Texas. He was inducted to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in November 2004.

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball batting champions

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/runnepe01.shtml Baseball-Reference.com] - career playing statistics and managing record
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/R/Runnels_Pete.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://www.thebaseballpage.com/past/pp/runnelspete/ Baseball Page]