George Gore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Gore |
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: May 3, 1854 Saccarappa, Maine, U.S. |
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| Died: September 16, 1933 (aged 79) Utica, New York, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 1, 1879, for the Chicago White Stockings | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 18, 1892, for the St. Louis Browns | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .301 | ||
| Home runs | 46 | ||
| Runs batted in | 618 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As manager
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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George F. Gore (May 3, 1854 – September 16, 1933) was a famous American center fielder in Major League Baseball. He played for 14 seasons, mostly for the Chicago White Stockings and the New York Giants. People nicknamed him "Piano Legs" because of his strong legs.
George Gore was born in Saccarappa, Maine. He was a top player in the National League (NL). In 1880, he won the batting title. He also led the league in on-base percentage and slugging percentage that year. He led the league in runs scored twice and walks three times. Gore also holds the record for the most errors by a major league outfielder. He had 368 errors in his career, with 346 of them in the National League.
Gore played on many winning teams. With the White Stockings, he won five league titles. They also played in two World Series. Later, he helped the New York Giants win two National League championships in 1888 and 1889. Both Giants teams won the World Series. He set single-game records twice: once for stealing seven bases and another for getting five extra-base hits. After his baseball career, he faced money problems. He passed away at age 79 in Utica, New York.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
George Gore was born in Saccarappa, Maine. He grew up in a humble family and loved playing baseball. His skills caught the eye of professional scouts. In 1877, he signed with a team in Fall River, Massachusetts. He even showed up to his first tryout without shoes!
The next year, he played for the New Bedford Whalers. He batted .324 and helped his team win a championship. Many major league teams wanted him. He got his big chance during a game against the Chicago White Stockings. The team's owner, Albert Spalding, offered him a contract. Gore signed for $1,900 a season.
George Gore's Baseball Career
Playing for Chicago
George Gore started his major league career with the Chicago White Stockings on May 1, 1879. He played in 63 games as the team's starting center fielder. In his second season, 1880, he was amazing. He led the league with a .360 batting average. He also had the best on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He was among the top players in many other hitting stats too.
In 1881 and 1882, Gore continued to hit well. He led the league in runs scored both seasons. He also led in walks in 1882. On June 25, 1881, he made history. He became the first known player to get seven stolen bases in one game. This was a huge achievement, even though stolen bases were not official stats yet.
The White Stockings did not win the league title in 1883. However, Gore still played very well. He was among the top players in many hitting categories. In 1884, he led the league with 61 walks.
In 1885 and 1886, the White Stockings were back on top. Gore's hitting remained strong. On July 9, 1885, he set another record. He got five extra-base hits in one game, with three doubles and two triples. He was the first player to do this.
After the 1885 season, Chicago played the St. Louis Browns in the "World Series." This was a series of exhibition games. The series ended in a tie. After one game, Gore was suspended due to off-field issues. In 1886, Gore set career highs. He had 102 walks, the first player to reach 100 walks in a season. He also scored 150 runs. The White Stockings won the league again. They played the St. Louis Browns in another "World Series," but St. Louis won this time.
Leaving Chicago
After the 1886 World Series, there were problems with player behavior. Some players were accused of not trying their best in games. George Gore was the first player to leave. He was sold to the New York Giants in November 1886. A writer named Henry Chadwick said Gore "cannot play in harmony with Captain and Manager Anson." This meant Gore had trouble getting along with his team captain.
Playing for New York
Gore joined the New York Giants in 1887. This team had many future Baseball Hall of Famers. Gore became the starting center fielder. He played well, batting .290 and scoring 95 runs. The team finished in fourth place.
In 1888, Gore played in fewer games. Fans sometimes wanted other players to play instead of him. However, New York won the National League championship that year. They played the St. Louis Browns in the World Series. Gore played in three games and helped his team win the series.
Gore became the starting center fielder again in 1889. He played much better. He batted .305, scored 132 runs, and hit seven home runs. The Giants won the NL championship again. They played the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in the 1889 World Series. New York won the series, and Gore played well in five of the games.
The Players' League
After the 1889 season, a new league called the Players' League started. Many players, including Gore, joined this new league. Gore played for the New York Giants in this league in 1890. He batted .318 and scored 132 runs.
Back to the Giants
The Players' League ended after just one season. Players returned to their old teams. Gore went back to the Giants in 1891. He was their starting center fielder. He batted .284 and scored 103 runs.
Playing for St. Louis
In 1892, Gore started the season with the Giants. But then he moved to the St. Louis Browns of the National League. He became a player-manager, meaning he played and managed the team. He managed for a short time, from August 1 to August 18. During this period, the Browns won 6 games and lost 9. Gore played in 20 games for them, batting .205. After this, he left the team and never played major league baseball again.
Career Statistics Summary
In his 14 seasons, George Gore played in 1310 games. He had a career batting average of .301. He scored 1327 runs, hit 262 doubles, 94 triples, and 46 home runs. He also had 618 RBIs, 170 stolen bases, and 717 walks. His on-base percentage was .386 and his slugging percentage was .411.
Life After Baseball
After his baseball career, George Gore faced financial struggles. He had to take various jobs to make ends meet.
Later Years and Death
In 1933, a few months before he passed away, Gore spoke to a reporter. He said he felt good and still walked several miles daily. He enjoyed playing pinocle every night. George Gore died in Utica, New York, at the age of 79. He had lived in Nutley, New Jersey for 13 years before that.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball batting champions
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball single-game hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base records
- List of Major League Baseball player-managers
