Sparky Adams

Template:Short description Template:For Template:For Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox baseball biography Earl John "Sparky" Adams (August 26, 1894 – February 24, 1989) was a professional Major League Baseball player who played with the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds. At Template:Convert, Adams was the smallest Major League player during his career.<ref name=height>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Career

Chicago Cubs

Adams made his Major League debut with the Cubs on September 18, 1922.<ref name=br>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He played 11 games during the 1922 season. He spent the following two seasons as the team's shortstop, splitting time at the position with Charlie Hollocher.<ref name=br/> In the 1923 season, he hit four home runs in 311 at-bats for the season, then went on to hit only five the following 5,246 at-bats of his career.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The 1925 season became his breakthrough, as he became a second baseman as a result of a trade that sent George Grantham to Pittsburgh, leaving the second base position open.<ref name=bl>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As a hitter, he finished the season with 26 stolen bases, eight triples, and 627 at-bats, which led the National League.<ref name=br/> As a fielder, he led all second basemen in putouts, assists, and fielding average for the season.<ref name=bl/>

In 1926, Adams increased his batting average to .309, and stole a career-high 27 bases, second-best in the National League.<ref name=br/> He also played all 154 games of the season, finished first in at-bats for the second year in a row with 624, and finished first in plate appearances with 700.<ref name=br/> The 1927 season saw Adams being used mainly as a utility infielder, although he started nearly every game. He played 60 games at second base, 53 at third base, and 40 at shortstop.<ref name=br/> He led the league in at-bats for the third year in a row with 647, and stole 26 bases for the third year in a row.<ref name=br/>

Pittsburgh Pirates

The 1927 season marked the end of Adams' time in Chicago. On November 28, 1927, Adams was traded, along with Pete Scott, to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Kiki Cuyler.<ref name=br/> Manager Joe McCarthy was criticized for the move, as the Cubs has plenty of outfield strength, but lacked a solid infield presence.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was also considered a good move for Pittsburgh, with sportswriters picking the Pirates to finish first the National League in 1928.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was given the starting second baseman job for the 1928 season. Adams took the place of George Grantham, so was moved to first base, the second time that Adams forced Grantham to another infield position.<ref name=bl/> However, his batting average began to decline, and by the 1929 season, Adams was being used as a utility infielder.<ref name=bl/> At the end of the season, the St. Louis Cardinals purchased his contract from the Pirates after two seasons of playing in Pittsburgh.<ref name=br/>

St. Louis Cardinals

As the 1930 season began, Adams was given the starting third baseman job. He went on to have a career high batting average of .314, and hit a career high nine triples.<ref name=br/> Adams played all six games in the 1930 World Series, hitting .143 as the Cardinals ended up losing the series. That season, every Cardinals player with over 300 at-bats had a batting average over .300, the only time in history this has happened.<ref name=bl/> The 1931 season ended up being a career year for Adams. He was first in the league in doubles with 46, and had over 600 at-bats for the fourth season.<ref name=br/> Adams also placed in MVP voting, finishing ninth with 18 votes.<ref name=br/> He played 143 games over the season; however, an injury in September caused him to miss postseason time. Adams was injured on September 20 when, after winning a bunting and running contest before the game, he sprained his ankle while taking part in the baserunning challenge.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He played two games as the Cardinals won the 1931 World Series.<ref name=br/> Adams was the last surviving member of the 1931 World Champion Cardinals. The following season, he only played 31 games due to injury.<ref name=br/>

Cincinnati Reds

On May 7, 1933, Adams was traded along with Paul Derringer and Allyn Stout to the Cincinnati Reds for Leo Durocher, Dutch Henry, and Jack Ogden, after playing only eight games for the Cardinals that season.<ref name=br/> He became the starting leadoff man during the 1933 season, as he had been for the other teams he played for. During the 1934 season, as primarily a backup to Mark Koenig, Adams was used as the backup second baseman and third baseman.<ref name=br/> At the end of the season, Adams was released, then retired at the end of the 1935 season.

After his retirement, he became a farmer and a service station operator in Tremont, Pennsylvania.

When he died in Pottsville, Pennsylvania on February 24, 1989, he was the last remaining player of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1931 World Series.

Career statistics

In 1,424 games over 13 seasons, Adams posted a .286 batting average (1,588-for-5,557) with 844 runs, 249 doubles, 48 triples, 9 home runs, 394 RBI, 154 stolen bases, 453 bases on balls, .343 on-base percentage and .353 slugging percentage. He finished his career with a .963 fielding percentage playing at second base, third base, shortstop and several games in the outfield. In the 1930 and '31 World Series, he was unproductive, hitting only .160 (4-for-25) with only one RBI.<ref name="br"/>

See also

• List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders

External links

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