Topper Rigney

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#003279
bgcolor2=#bd1021
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Topper Rigney


width = 250px
position=Shortstop
bats=Both
throws=Right
debutdate=April 12
debutyear=by|1922
debutteam=Detroit Tigers
finaldate=August 26
finalyear=by|1927
finalteam=Washington Senators
stat1label=Batting Average
stat1value=.288
stat2label=On base percentage
stat2value=.388
stat3label=RBIs
stat3value=315
teams=
*Detroit Tigers (1922-1925)
*Boston Red Sox (1926-1927)
*Washington Senators (1927)
highlights=
* Finished 21st in 1926 MVP voting
* Second in American League in walks in 1924 -- behind Babe Ruth; among leaders 3 times
* Among American League leaders in Sacrifice Hits 4 times
* Led American League shortstops in fielding average 2 times and assists 1 time

Emory Elmo "Topper" Rigney (January 7, 1897 - June 6, 1972) was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1922-1925), Boston Red Sox (1926-1927), and Washington Senators (1927). Rigney had speed and a good sense of the strike zone. He was four times among the American League leaders in sacrifice hits, three times among the league leaders in walks, twice among the league leaders in triples and once among the league leaders in stolen bases. He had an on base percentage of .388 in 6 major league seasons.

Born Born January 7, 1897 in Groveton, Texas, Rigney attended Texas A&M University and played for the Aggies from 1915-1918. [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/texas_am_university_baseball_players.shtml] After graduating from Texas A&M, Rigney played for the 1921 Fort Worth Panthers team that is considered one of the greatest minor league teams of all time. The team finished the 1921 season 107-51, and Rigney hit .292, drew 63 walks, scored 91 runs, hit 81 RBIs, 12 triples, and 10 home runs. In his only season with the Panthers, Rigney also led all Texas League shortstops with a .946 fielding percentage and 547 assists. [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=46]

Rigney's performance with the Panthers in 1921 got him a shot at the big leagues. In 1922, Rigney joined the Detroit Tigers at age 25, hitting .300 with a .380 on base percentage while playing alongside Harry Heilmann and Ty Cobb. Rigney and his former Texas A&M Aggie teammate Rip Collins both played together for the Tigers from 1923-1925.

In 1922, Rigney increased his batting average to .315, but his best major league season was 1924, when he had a .410 on base percentage with 144 hits, 102 walks, and a slugging percentage of .407. His .410 on base percentage in 1924 is the highest by a shortstop in Detroit Tigers history. His 102 walks were 2nd best in the American League in 1924 -- second only to Babe Ruth.

In April 1926, Rigney was sold to the Boston Red Sox, reportedly after an argument with Tigers player-manager Ty Cobb. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rigneto01.shtml] In 1926, playing for the Red Sox, Rigney finished 21st in American League Most Valuable Player voting. That year, he collected 108 walks (3rd most in the American League) and 142 hits for a .395 on base percentage.

In May 1927, Rigney was traded to the Washington Senators for Buddy Myer. Rigney finished his major league career with the Senators at age 30.

Rigney was also a good defensive shortstop. He led American League shortstops in fielding percentage in 1924 (.967) and in assists (492) and fielding percentage (.969) in 1926. In 1926, he set an American League record by handling 24 chances without an error in a double-header. His Range factor of 5.33 in 1926 was 0.69 points above the American League average for shortstops that year, and his .969 fielding average was .025 points above the league average .944.

Playing for the "small ball" oriented Detroit player-manager Ty Cobb, Rigney was among the American League leaders in sacrifice hits four times in 1922 (37), 1923 (33), 1924 (31), and 1926 (26). Six Tigers from the Cobb era (Donie Bush, Ty Cobb, Harry Heilmann, Bobby Veach, Sam Crawford, and Ossie Vitt) rank in the Top 50 all time for sacrifice hits. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SH_career.shtml]

Rigney died in San Antonio, Texas at age 75.

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