Hughie Critz

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=black
bgcolor2=#c6011f
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Hughie Critz


position=Second Baseman
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=September 17 1900
deathdate=death date and age|1980|1|10|1900|9|17
debutdate=May 31
debutyear=1924
debutteam=Cincinnati Reds
finaldate=September 27
finalyear=1935
finalteam=New York Giants
stat1label=AVG
stat1value=.268
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=1591
stat3label=RBI
stat3value=531
teams=
*Cincinnati Reds (by|1924-by|1930)
*New York Giants (by|1930-by|1935)
highlights=
*Led NL in at-bats in 1932 with 659

Hugh Melville Critz (September 17 1900 - January 10 1980) was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1920s and the New York Giants in the 1930s.

Career overview

Critz was born in Starkville, Mississippi and attended school in his home state, at Mississippi State University. His father, Professor Colonel Critz, was a respected instructor at the school.

In his first game, Hughie Critz had two hits off of Grover Alexander and hit .322 in 102 games on the rookie season, with 19 stolen bases.

Through the 1920s, Critz was an extremely solid, speedy, good-hitting second basemen for many decent Reds teams, although the team began to go down hill in the late '20s, finishing 7th in the 8-team National League in by|1929 and by|1930. In the year in which the Reds did the best with Critz on the team, by|1926, they finished 2nd in the league, 2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals. Besides the Reds' success, Critz also had, what can easily be considered, his best season. On the year, he batted .270 with 3 homers and 79 RBIs. He tied a career-high with 14 triples and shattered his next-best career-high with his 79 RBIs. That year, he finished 2nd in MVP voting, behind only Bob O'Farrell.

Although his speed numbers only decreased from his rookie season, when he stole 19 bases, he still averaged 11 SB's per season, in his career.

In 1930, his career took a sudden turn when he was traded to the Giants for pitcher Larry Benton. With them, he won a World Series in 1933, had more quality years and retired on September 27, by|1935.

In a 12-season career, he batted .268 with 38 home runs and 531 RBIs in 1478 games. He had 97 career stolen bases, 832 runs scored, 195 doubles, and 95 triples. Critz accumulated 1591 hits in 5930 at bats.

Critz made the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in by|1962. He died in Greenwood, Mississippi at age 79.

External links

*baseball-reference|id=c/critzhu01