Buzz Arlett????

[Fred]

From Wikipedia:

On January 26, 1931, the Philadelphia Phillies bought Arlett's contract from Oakland. Arlett played the entire 1931 season for Philadelphia and it would be his only year in the major leagues. Already 32 years old, Arlett had an impressive season as a hitter but was regarded as a poor fielder. Although Arlett began his career at about 185 pounds, he had gained approximately 50 pounds during his career and had become a sluggish fielder. He was used sparingly in 94 games as an outfielder and only 13 as first baseman. Although he earned a .313 batting average and hit 18 home runs - fourth in the National League - his lackluster fielding led the Phillies to use him as a pinch-hitter for much of the season.


He must have been a great PCL hitter because he's in the PCL HOF.

[Chris-Counts]

Buzz played in the Baker Bowl, which was one of the best hitting parks in history. Like the stats posted there by Lefty O'Doul, Chuck Klein, Don Hurst and others, you can't take them too seriously ...

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

Buzz played in the Baker Bowl, which was one of the best hitting parks in history. Like the stats posted there by Lefty O'Doul, Chuck Klein, Don Hurst and others, you can't take them too seriously ...

Not Lefty.

Over his career, Lefty O'Doul hit .352 at home and .347 on the road. He won his 2nd NL batting title with Brooklyn at age 35 (.368, 219 hits).

[rhettyeakley]

Think about it from Arlett's POV. He was just about the biggest player in the PCL during his career and beloved by the fans, in the National League he was another "good" ballplayer and nothing more. Another thing to keep in mind that the ballclubs "owned" these players and had full control over their careers, look at Lefty Grove's record for Balto from 1920-24--Baltimore had tons of offers for Grove but they weren't willing to sell him. Arlett was the most popular player in Oakland for over a decade, Oakland probably had NO desire to sell him in his prime.

Keep in mind that while the PCL is a "Minor League" according to us today, back then it was the only game in town and these guys didn't really consider themselves Minor Leaguers like we do today.

Were I Arlett, I'd opt to stay where everybody knows your name rather then move East and give it a go (not that it was really up to Arlett at the end of the day).

[oaks1912]

Bob.... Buzz Arlett is not a native of Minnesota. He was born in Elmhurst, California, which was a district of Oakland (Southeast)... Arlett started his PCL career as a pitcher racking up 20 or more wins in three seasons, including a league leading 29 victories in 1920 before switching to an outfielder (brought on by injury) ..... His lifetime batting (PCL) stats include 251 Home runs and 1188 RBI's, both of which represent the number 1 spot in the record books. He played 175 or more games 5 years in the PCL, with 7 consecutive years of 120 or more hits. A PCL Lifetime batting average of .342. Fielding was his weak point, as he led the league (single season) in errors, not only as a pitcher , but also as an outfielder. His game used bats have been seen as "Arlett" , which is correct, and "Artlett" which is not. Four boys from the Arlett family played in the PCL. Buzz played for Minneapolis after leaving the PCL, settled there and opened a bar near the ballpark. He spent his remaining 30 years in Minnesota.

[tbob]

Mark- I stand corrected, thanks. I knew he spent a long time in Minnesota during the last days of his career and after he retired, I thought he was returning home.
Bob

[FrankWakefield]

Arlett played on the west coast, in the sunshine... a regular home and away travel schedule, in front of friends; instead of a more eratic schedule in front of a bunch of yankees. In the majors he wasn't a regular, and played in the cold and crap weather... In the PCL he could get paid for playing about 8 months, only for about 6 in the majors. He may well have made more money in the majors. And we lack the perspective of the times; out west in the 20s they took the PCL about as seriously as the 'major' leagues back east. Today the stratification of the majors and minors is more significant. There are several players in the PCL back then who chose it over the 'majors'.

[mybuddyinc]

From Baseball Reference: http://www.baseball-reference.com/mi...d=arlett001rus


Maybe he was just happy being a "local hero." A big fish in a small pond, etc.