Augie Galan

August John Galan

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.
• High School Berkeley High School
• Debut April 29, 1934
• Final Game September 16, 1949
• Born May 23, 1912 in Berkeley, CA USA
• Died December 28, 1993 in Fairfield, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Augie Galan, known for his high on-base percentages, played sixteen years in the major leagues, appearing in three All-Star Games and three World Series. He twice led the National League in stolen bases, yet had enough power that he was twice in the top ten in slugging percentage.

Originally a switch-hitting infielder, Galan was in the minors from 1931 to 1933. He spent the latter two years with the San Francisco Seals and was teammates in 1933 with Joe DiMaggio and Vince DiMaggio, both of whom he out-hit with a .357 batting average (although they had higher slugging percentages). He broke into the majors in 1934 with the Chicago Cubs, primarily backing up Billy Herman at second base. He became the club's regular leftfielder the following summer, replacing Chuck Klein who moved to right when Babe Herman was traded away. That year, he hit .314 and paced the NL with 133 runs scored and 22 stolen bases as the Cubs won the pennant. He also went the entire season without grounding into a double play, although he did manage to hit into a triple play.

In 1936, Galan was selected to the All-Star team, and he became the first Cubs player to hit a home run in the Midsummer Classic. The following year, he swiped 23 bases, again leading the circuit. However, he missed much of the 1940 campaign after suffering a knee injury, and midway through the following season, he was dealt to the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Starting in 1943, Galan batted exclusively from the left side, but it did not seem to hurt him at the plate, as he hit over .300 with the Dodgers the next three seasons. After the 1946 season, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, for whom he hit .314 in his first season with the team.

Galan was released by the Reds after the 1948 season and split the next summer, his final year in the majors, between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Athletics. He then returned to the Pacific Coast League for two more seasons, this time with the Oakland Oaks, where he played with former Cubs teammate Billy Herman.

Similarity scores show the second-most similar player to Galan was Dom DiMaggio.

Galan managed the Oakland Oaks in 1953 and was a member of the Philadelphia Athletics coaching staff in 1954. He spent 17 years as a minor league coach and manager for the Athletics organization.

Notable Achievements

• 3-time NL All-Star (1936, 1943 & 1944)
• NL Runs Scored Leader (1935)
• 2-time NL Bases on Balls Leader (1943 & 1944)
• 2-time NL Stolen Bases Leader (1935 & 1937)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 4 (1935, 1937, 1939 & 1945)
• 200 Hits Seasons: 1 (1935)

Further Reading

• Greg King: "Augie Galan", in Bill Nowlin, ed.: Van Lingle Mungo: The Man, The Song, The Players, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2014, pp. 119-122. ISBN 978-1-933599-76-2

Related Sites

• Augie Galan at the SABR Bio Project