Lew Riggs

Summary

Lewis Sidney Riggs (April 22, 1910 – August 12, 1975) was an American third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals (1934), Cincinnati Reds (1935–40), and Brooklyn Dodgers (1941–42 and 1946).

Lew Riggs
Third baseman
Born: (1910-04-22)April 22, 1910
Mebane, North Carolina, U.S.
Died: August 12, 1975(1975-08-12) (aged 65)
Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 28, 1934, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
April 16, 1946, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
MLB statistics
Batting average.262
Home runs28
Runs batted in271
Teams
Career highlights and awards

He helped the Cardinals win the 1934 World Series, the Reds win the 1939 National League pennant and 1940 World Series and the Dodgers win the 1941 NL pennant. He was named to the 1936 National League All-Star team.

His eighth-inning pinch single off Red Ruffing scored teammate Cookie Lavagetto in the opening game of the 1941 World Series, before Ruffing and the New York Yankees held on for a 3-2 victory.

Riggs never quite achieved the same level in his baseball career after leaving the Dodgers in 1942 in order to serve his country in the Army Air Force during World War II.

Ed Head (left) with Lew Riggs (right) in Montreal, 1946.

In 10 seasons he played in 760 Games and had 2,477 At Bats, 298 Runs, 650 Hits, 110 Doubles, 43 Triples, 28 Home Runs, 271 RBI, 22 Stolen Bases, 181 Walks, .262 Batting Average, .317 On-base percentage, .375 Slugging Percentage, 930 Total Bases and 37 Sacrifice Hits.

He died of cancer in Durham, North Carolina at the age of 65. He was survived by his wife of 30 years, Nellie Dace Hornaday Riggs.

Sources edit

  • Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)