1931 Indianapolis ABCs

1931 Indianapolis ABCs / Franchise: Indianapolis ABCs / BR Team Page

Record: 30-30-1, Finished 3rd in Negro National League (1931 NNL)

Managed by Candy Jim Taylor

Ballpark: Washington Park

History, Comments, Contributions

The 1931 Indianapolis ABCs finished in the middle of the standings in the NNL.

Ray Brown was a workhorse; box scores have been found for 45 of the team's 60 games and he started 14 of them (12 complete games). He was 7-6 with a 2.83 ERA (149 ERA+), tying for the NNL lead in wins, leading in Ks (79) and also leading in games pitched, starts, complete games and innings. Alto Lane (4-3, 3.07, 137 ERA+) was their #2 starter while George Mitchell was a superb 7-2, 2.27 (186 ERA+) mostly in relief, tying Brown and another hurler for the league win lead. Roosevelt Davis (1-4, 4.53, 93 ERA+) was okay but Tom Parker (1-4, 11.31, 37 ERA+) was lit up and led the league with 38 walks in only 35 innings.

Mitchell not only led the team in ERA+ but also OPS+, hitting .303/.392/.486 for a 148 OPS+ while splitting 1B with Fred McBride (.274/.307/.357, 88 OPS+). LF Jim Williams (.354/.395/.429, 133 OPS+) led the league in hits, while 2B John Henry Russell not only batted .296/.375/.387 (116 OPS+) but fielded .020 ahead of the league average there. RF Jabbo Andrews (.293/.355/.401, 114 OPS+) and CF Jimmie Crutchfield (.290/.342/.369, 101 OPS+, 33 R in 41 G) rounded out the outfield, while the rest of the regular infield was 3B Jimmy Binder (.276/.324/.335, 87 OPS+) and SS Chester Williams (.264/.299/.321, 76 OPS+). Mitchell Murray was the main backstop and produced at a .248/.309/.312 clip for a 76 OPS+.

All stats listed are per the Seamheads database 5/27/2021