- Jackie Tavener
Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#000769
bgcolor2=#000769
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Jackie Tavener ("Rabbit")
position=Shortstop
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=December 27 ,1897
deathdate=death date and age|1969|9|14|1897|12|27
debutdate=September 24
debutyear=1921
debutteam=Detroit Tigers
finaldate=October 6
finalyear=1929
finalteam=Cleveland Indians
stat1label=AVG
stat1value=.255
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=543
stat3label=RBI
stat3value=243
teams=
*Detroit Tigers (1921/1925-1928)
*Cleveland Indians (1929)
highlights=
* Finished No. 13 in the American League MVP voting in 1927
* Played in all 156 games at shortstop in 1926
* Among league leaders in triples in 1925 (10th), 1926 (5th) and 1928 (4th)
* No. 8 in the AL in stolen bases in 1927 with 19
* One of three players in MLB history to steal second, third and home in the same game on multiple occasionsJohn Adam "Jackie" Tavener (
December 27 ,1897 –September 14 ,1969 ), nicknamed "Rabbit," [http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/tavenja01.shtml] was a baseball player who played shortstop for six seasons with theDetroit Tigers (1921, 1925-1928) andCleveland Indians (1929).Born in
Celina, Ohio , Tavener reached the major leagues at the end of the 1921 season and played two games with the Detroit Tigers. After those two games, Tavener did not play again in the major leagues until four years later in 1925. During the interim, Tavener played for theFort Worth Panthers . [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=33]Between 1925 and 1928, Tavener was the Tigers' starting shortstop. In 1926, Tavener played all 156 games at shortstop for Detroit. A good fielding, weak hitting shortstop, Tavener had a .255 batting average for his career. However, he had speed, range and good hands at shortstop. In 1928, he had a
Range factor of 5.40 at shortstop, 0.66 points higher than the average shortstop that year. In his six major league seasons, Tavener had 1,238 career putouts (including 302 in 1928), 1,908 assists (including 470 in 1926), 384 double plays (including 92 in 1925), and 163 errors.Largely due to his defensive skills and speed, Tavener finished 13th in the American League MVP voting in 1927. That year, he stole 19 bases (8th best in the AL) and had a range factor of 5.28 -- 0.42 points higher than the average shortstop. He also scored his best offensive year in 1927, with a .333 on base percentage, 36 extra base hits, and a.406 slugging percentage in 116 games.
When Tavener did make contact, his speed made him an extra base threat. He was among the American League leaders in triples in 1925 (11 triples; 10th best in AL), 1926 (14 triples; 5th best in AL) and 1928 (15 triples; 4th best in AL).
Tavener was also the third major league player to steal second, third and home in the same game on multiple occasions. Tavener accomplished the feat on July 10, 1927, and July 10, 1928. The only other two who have accomplished the feat more than once are
Honus Wagner andTy Cobb . No player has accomplished the feat more than once since Tavener did it in 1927-1928. [http://www.thebaseballpage.com/lists/SB_cycle.php]On December 11, 1928, the Tigers traded Tavener with
Ken Holloway to theCleveland Indians for pitcherGeorge Uhle . Tavener played one season with the Indians to end his major league career.Uhle was quoted as saying that Cleveland traded for Tavener because he hit so well against them. After Uhle was traded to Detroit,
Harry Heilmann told Uhle, "Just pitch high fastballs to Jackie. That's all you have to do." Uhle reported that stopped his hitting cold. His interment was located at Greenwood Memorial Park inFort Worth, Texas along with Tom Baker andPete Donohue . [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/excerpts/cobb_would_have_caught_it9.stm]External links
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