Meet Levi Meyerle

LEVI MEYERLE

"Long Levi"

Positions: Third Baseman, Second Baseman, and Rightfielder

Full Name: Levi Samuel Meyerle

Bats: Right - Throws: Right

Born: 1849, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died: November 4, 1921, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Organizations: Philadelphia White Stockings (2), Philadelphia Athletics (NA, 2), Philadelphia Athletics (NL, 1), Chicago White Stockings (1), Cincinnati Reds (1), Philadelphia Keystones (1)

LEVI MEYERLE'S WALL OF GLORY

BATTING

• Batting Average: 2 (1871, 1874)
• HR Leader: 1 (1871)
• On-Base% Leader: 2 (1871, 1874)
• Slugging Leader: 1 (1871)
• On-Base Plus Slugging: 2 (1871, 1874)

WHO?

"Long Levi" was an American baseball player who played 8 seasons in different organized professional leagues: the National Association, the National League, and the Union Association.

Levi Meyerle began his professional career with Philadelphia Athletics of the National Association, defending the third base. He had a tremendous season, leading the league with an astronomic .492 batting average, a .500 OBP and .700 SLG. He also led the NA in HR (4) and total bases (91). The Philadelphia Athletics won the pennant. He played 26 games. 

When playing with the Philadelphia White Stockings in 1873, Meyerle had 58 RBI (career-high) in just 48 games. In 1874 he played for the Chicago White Stockings, recording his only 100-hits season in his career. Because of an ankle injury "Long Levi" retired after the 1877 season but returned briefly in 1884 (3 games, .091 AVG) 

Levy Mayerle retired definitely after 8 seasons, with some great stats: AVG of .356, 513 hits, 86 doubles and 279 RBI in 307 games.

MY COMMENT:

If we consider the National Association as a Major League (the MLB does not recognize statistics from the NA, but many historians do) Levi Meyerle is a name to be remembered: He was the third baseman of the pennant-winner Philadelphia Athletics in the league's first season, he is credited in getting both the first double and the first triple of the season; he was the first batting champion, the first HR leader, and the first double-crown winner. All in a single season (1871). He had won the MVP if such a thing existed in that year. 

Levi probably got his nickname because at 6' 1" he was one of the tallest players in the league.

While a great batter, Levi was not a great defender: he finished his career with a .796 fielding percentage, having played 158 games in 3B.

He also pitched in 3 games, with a record 0-2 and 5.21 ERA.

BEST FIVE SEASONS

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1871	21	ATH	NA	26	130	45	64	9	3	4	40	4	2	1	.492	.500	.700	1.200	*5/1
1873	23	PHI	NA	48	238	53	83	14	4	3	59	5	2	0	.349	.354	.479	.833	*5/6
1874	24	CHI	NA	53	254	65	100	19	1	1	45	3	3	4	.394	.401	.488	.889	45/O6
1875	25	PHI	NA	68	301	55	95	14	8	1	54	7	0	2	.316	.316	.425	.741	*453
1876	26	ATH	NL	55	256	46	87	12	8	0	34	0	3	2	.340	.347	.449	.797	*5/4O1

Note: If you are using a cell phone to look at this table, put it horizontally for a better experience
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