Sisler, George H.
Baseball
b. March 24, 1893, Manchester, OH
d. March 26, 1973
As a left-handed pitcher in high school, Sisler signed a minor-league contract that was to take effect on graduation day. However, he decided to attend the University of Michigan, where his coach was Branch Rickey. Sisler showed such promise as a college player that the Pittsburgh Pirates bought his contract.
A lawyer and also a scout for the St. Louis Browns, Rickey had the contract voided because Sisler had been a minor at the team and didn't have parental consent. He then signed Sisler with the Browns and became the team's manager.
Sisler went directly to the Browns in 1915 without playing any minor-league ball. He had a 4-4 record with a 2.83 ERA in 15 games as a pitcher and he also played 66 games at first base and in the outfield, batting .275.
Rickey decided the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Sisler had more of a future as a hitter than as a pitcher and made him the team's starter at first base in 1916. Sisler became one of the greatest of all time, batting over .300 in 13 of his 15 seasons and twice hitting over .400.
He was a very unusual kind of hitter, a free swinger with some power who could also make contact. He walked very few times and also struck out very few times. Sisler was also an excellent fielder with great range; he led AL first basemen in assists six times.
After hitting .305, .353, .341, and .352 in his first four full seasons, Sisler won a batting title with a .407 average in 1920, collecting 257 hits, still the major league record, with 49 doubles, 18 triples, and 19 home runs.
He hit a league-leading 18 triples in 1921, when he batted .371, and had then one of the greatest seasons in history in 1922. He won his second batting championship with a .420 record and also led the league with 134 runs, 246 hits, 18 triples, and 51 stolen bases to win the most valuable player award. Sisler struck out only 14 times in 586 at-bats.
Double vision caused by a severe sinus infection kept him out of action the entire 1923 season, and Sisler was never again the same hitter, although he was still very good.
He returned to St. Louis as playing manager in 1924 and batted .305 and .345 the next two years before slipping to .290 in 1926. He resigned as manager because he felt the pressure was distracting him and batted .327 in 1927.
The Browns sold him to the Washington Senators the following year and he was sold again, to the NL's Boston Braves, early in the season. He batted only .245 with Washington, but .340 with Boston. Sisler ended his major-league career with averages of .326 in 1929 and .309 in 1930.
After two seasons playing in the minor leagues, Sisler worked for a sporting goods company, operated softball fields, and served as commissioner of the National Baseball Congress, an organization of semi-pro leagues.
In 1943, he became a scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers, where Rickey was general manager. When Rickey left the Dodgers for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1951, Sisler went with him and scouted for the Pirates until his death.
Sisler had three sons, all of whom became involved with professional baseball. Dick and Dave both played in the major leagues, while George Sisler Jr. served as president of the International League.