Dale Alexander

David Dale Alexander
(Moose)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 210 lb.
• School Milligan College, Tusculum College
• Debut April 16, 1929
• Final Game September 23, 1933
• Born April 26, 1903 in Greeneville, TN USA
• Died March 2, 1979 in Greeneville, TN USA

BR page

Biographical Information

First baseman Dale Alexander had a very brief but successful big league career, winning one batting title and hitting .331 over the course of five seasons.

Alexander made his pro debut in 1924 and hit at least .300 in five minor league seasons. After putting up a hefty .380 average with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1928 to win the International League batting crown, he joined the Detroit Tigers in 1929. He hit .343 with 25 home runs and 137 RBI as a rookie (his teammate Harry Heilmann hit .344) and batted at least .325 in his first four big league seasons.

Alexander began the 1932 season slowly, hitting .250 in 23 games with the Tigers before being traded to the Boston Red Sox in June. His bat heated up with the Red Sox, and he won the American League batting title with a .367 mark although he had fewer than 400 at bats. On May 30th of the following year, he suffered a twisted knee in a game against the Philadelphia Athletics. During treatment for the injury, his leg became infected with gangrene and he nearly lost it. He returned to the Red Sox that year but after that season, his major league career was over. Alexander wore number 4 with the Tigers and 15 with the Red Sox.

After his big league days, Dale played several more years in the minors. In a June 14th, 1935 contest, while a member of the Kansas City Blues, he hit four homers against the Minneapolis Millers at Nicollet Park. He began his managerial career in 1939 with the Sanford Lookouts and led the club to the Florida State League title in addition to hitting .345 for them. He later was a scout for the New York/San Francisco Giants (1951-1963) and Milwaukee Braves (1964). In 2008, nearly 30 years after his passing, he was elected to the International League Hall of Fame.

• Batting Crowns

1928 International League .380

1932 American League .367

• Home Run Crowns

1928 International League 31

1940 Georgia-Florida League 14

• Doubles Crowns

1925 South Atlantic League 44

1928 International League 49

1937 Southern Association 42

• Hits Crowns

1928 International League 236

1929 American League 215

• Triple Crown

1928 International League Toronto Maple Leafs .380, 31, 144

Notable Achievements

• AL Batting Average Leader (1932)
• AL Hits Leader (1929)
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 2 (1929 & 1930)
• 100 RBI Seasons: 2 (1929 & 1930)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 1 (1929)
• 200 Hits Seasons: 1 (1929)

Trivia

• Only player in MLB history to reach 130 RBI in his 1st 2 seasons (137 in 1929 and 135 in 1930)

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1939	Sanford Lookouts	Florida State League	98-35	1st	Washington Senators	League Champs
1940	Thomasville Tourists	Georgia-Florida League	81-58	2nd	Washington Senators	Lost League Finals
1941	Selma Cloverleafs	Southeastern League	80-57	2nd	Washington Senators	Lost in 1st round
1942	Greeneville Burley Cubs	Appalachian League	9-27	--	Boston Braves	Team disbanded June 14
1946	Knoxville Smokies	Tri-State League	73-67	3rd	none	Lost League Finals
1947	Knoxville Smokies	Tri-State League	73-67	3rd	none	Lost in 1st round
1948	Knoxville Smokies	Tri-State League	20-32	--	New York Giants	--	replaced by Dave Garcia (51-44) June 7
	Bristol Twins	Appalachian League	13-30	6th	New York Giants		replaced Rufus Jackson (36-42) on July 23
1950	Jacksonville Tars	South Atlantic League	32-41	8th	New York Giants		replaced Hal Bamberger (3-1)

Related Sites

• Dale Alexander at the SABR Bio Project
• Find-A-Grave Memorial for Dale Alexander