Joe Yeager

Infobox MLB retired
name=Joe Yeager
position=Third Baseman/Pitcher


bgcolor1=black
bgcolor2=black
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=August 28, 1875
deathdate=death date and age|1937|7|2|1875|8|28
debutdate= April 22
debutyear= 1898
debutteam= Brooklyn Bridegrooms
finaldate=September 29
finalyear=1908
finalteam=St. Louis Browns
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.252
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=4
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=201
teams=
* Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Superbas (1898-1900)
* Detroit Tigers (1901-1903)
* New York Highlanders (1905-1906)
* St. Louis Browns (1907-1908)

highlights=
*1899&1900 National League Championships

Joseph Francis Yeager (August 28, 1875 - July 2, 1937), nicknamed "Little Joe," was a Major League Baseball player who played 10 seasons with the Brooklyn Superbas (1898-1900), Detroit Tigers (1901-03), New York Highlanders (1905-06), and St. Louis Browns (1907-08). Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Little Joe Yeager played in 574 major league games, including 295 as a third baseman, 94 as a pitcher, 83 as a shortstop, 48 as a second baseman, and 18 as an outfielder.

In his rookie season, Yeager was a pitcher for the Brooklyn Superbas. He had 32 complete games and a respectable earned run average but lost 22 games for a Superbas team that finished in 10th place.

Yeager played for the Detroit Tigers as a right-handed starting pitcher during their first major league season in 1901. He pitched 199-2/3 innings in 1901, with 22 complete games, 2 shutouts, and a 12-11 record. His 2.61 earned run average was 3rd best in the American League behind Cy Young. And his adjusted ERA+ of 147 was 2nd best in the league behind Cy Young. Yeager also played 12 games at shortstop for the 1901 Tigers and had a batting average of .296 with a .343 on base percentage and .416 slugging percentage.

After a 6-12 season as a pitcher in 1902, Yeager made the switch from pitcher to third baseman. He was the Tigers' starting third baseman in 1903 and went on to play third base for the New York Highlanders and St. Louis Browns.

Yeager is credited by some with originating the squeeze play. [ [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Joe_Yeager_1873 The Ballplayers - Joe Yeager | BaseballLibrary.com ] at www.baseballlibrary.com]

Yeager died in Detroit, Michigan at age 39 in 1937.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/y/yeagejo01.shtml Baseball-Reference.com]