Mule Suttles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mule Suttles |
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: March 31, 1901 Edgewater, Alabama, US |
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| Died: July 9, 1966 (aged 65) Newark, New Jersey, US |
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| debut | |||
| 1921, for the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1944, for the Newark Eagles | |||
| NBL statistics | |||
| Batting average | .339 | ||
| Hits | 1,088 | ||
| Home runs | 179 | ||
| Runs batted in | 877 | ||
| Stolen bases | 84 | ||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2006 | ||
| Election Method | Committee on African-American Baseball | ||
George "Mule" Suttles (born March 31, 1901 – died July 9, 1966) was a famous American baseball player. He played as a first baseman and outfielder in the Negro leagues. He was especially known for playing with the Birmingham Black Barons, St. Louis Stars, and Newark Eagles. Suttles was celebrated for his powerful hitting. Because of his amazing career, he was chosen to join the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
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Playing in the Negro Leagues
George Suttles was born in Edgewater, Alabama. He started his professional baseball career in 1921, playing one game for the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants. In 1923, he joined the Negro National League with the Birmingham Black Barons.
Suttles quickly became known for two things: hitting for power (meaning he hit many home runs) and having a high batting average (meaning he got a lot of hits). During his five years with the St. Louis Stars (from 1926 to 1930), he was a top player. He led the league in home runs twice. He also led the league in doubles, triples, and batting average once each.
In 1926, Suttles achieved something very special: he won the batting Triple Crown. This means he led the league in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in all in the same season. This was only the fifth time a player in the Negro Leagues had done this.
Later in his career, Suttles played first base for the Newark Eagles. This team had a famous group of players called the "Million Dollar Infield." It included Dick Seay at second base, Willie Wells at shortstop, and Ray Dandridge at third base. Suttles also worked as a manager for some teams and was highly respected by other players. He is one of only nine players to have won more than one league batting title.
East–West All-Star Games
Suttles was a five-time All-Star, playing in the famous East–West All-Star Games. These games featured the best players from the eastern and western teams in the Negro Leagues.
In these important games, he had an impressive batting average of .412. This means he got a hit almost half the times he batted! He also had a very high slugging percentage of .883, showing his power. Suttles made history by hitting the very first home run ever in an East-West All-Star Game.
Amazing Career Stats
George Suttles played in 26 documented exhibition games against white teams. In these games, he showed his skill by hitting for a .374 batting average and smashing five home runs.
In all his Negro League games, Suttles hit for a .329 batting average. He also hit 129 home runs, which is the second-highest number in Negro League history. Only Turkey Stearnes hit more home runs than Suttles in the Negro Leagues.
Legacy and Nickname
Suttles was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed about 195 pounds. He used a very heavy 50-ounce bat, which helped him hit the ball with incredible power. He was known for hitting several home runs that traveled over 500 feet!
One time, in a game against the Memphis Red Sox, he hit three home runs in just one inning! Another famous home run happened in Havana, Cuba, at Tropicana Park. That ball flew over a 60-foot-high center field fence and landed in the ocean!
It was because of Suttles' amazing strength that he earned his nickname, "Mule." When his team needed a big hit late in a game, his teammates would cheer him on by shouting, "Kick, Mule!" Clarence Israel, a player for the Eagles, once said that Suttles was "the most gentle person I ever saw."
In 2001, a writer named Bill James ranked Suttles as the 43rd-greatest baseball player of all time. He also called him the second-best left fielder in the Negro Leagues.
Later Life
George Suttles passed away in Newark, New Jersey, when he was 65 years old. He is buried in Glendale Cemetery in Bloomfield, New Jersey.
