Major League Baseball Player. Bobby Sturgeon was an infielder who played parts of 6 seasons in the Major Leagues. The Clinton, Indiana native was a member of the St. Louis Cardinals organization when his contract was purchased by the Chicago Cubs on December 27, 1939. A shortstop who could also play second and third, he made his Major League debut on April 16, 1940, in a 2-1 Opening Day loss to Paul Derringer and the Cincinnati Reds. Sturgeon batted just .190 in 7 games with Chicago that season, spending the majority of the year in the minors. The next season he was the Cubs primary shortstop, appearing in 129 games total while batting .245. Used in a utility role in 1942, he appeared in 63 games, batting .247. Entering the Navy during World War 2, he would not resume his career until 1946, when he appeared in 100 games total, 72 at shortstop and 21 at second base. The 1946 season would also be his best season at the plate as he batted a career high .296 and also hit the only home run of his big league career. Again used in a utility role in 1947, his average dropped to .254. Deemed expendable by Cubs management, he was traded on March 1, 1948 to the Boston Braves for shortstop Dick Culler. 1948 would be his last season in the Majors, as he appeared in just 34 games for the Braves, who won their first Pennant since 1914. Sturgeon, unfortunately, did not appear in the World Series, which was won by the Cleveland Indians 4 games to 2. Over the course of his career, Bobby Sturgeon appeared in 420 Major League games, accruing a lifetime .257 average on 313 hits and 80 RBI in 1229 at bats.
Major League Baseball Player. Bobby Sturgeon was an infielder who played parts of 6 seasons in the Major Leagues. The Clinton, Indiana native was a member of the St. Louis Cardinals organization when his contract was purchased by the Chicago Cubs on December 27, 1939. A shortstop who could also play second and third, he made his Major League debut on April 16, 1940, in a 2-1 Opening Day loss to Paul Derringer and the Cincinnati Reds. Sturgeon batted just .190 in 7 games with Chicago that season, spending the majority of the year in the minors. The next season he was the Cubs primary shortstop, appearing in 129 games total while batting .245. Used in a utility role in 1942, he appeared in 63 games, batting .247. Entering the Navy during World War 2, he would not resume his career until 1946, when he appeared in 100 games total, 72 at shortstop and 21 at second base. The 1946 season would also be his best season at the plate as he batted a career high .296 and also hit the only home run of his big league career. Again used in a utility role in 1947, his average dropped to .254. Deemed expendable by Cubs management, he was traded on March 1, 1948 to the Boston Braves for shortstop Dick Culler. 1948 would be his last season in the Majors, as he appeared in just 34 games for the Braves, who won their first Pennant since 1914. Sturgeon, unfortunately, did not appear in the World Series, which was won by the Cleveland Indians 4 games to 2. Over the course of his career, Bobby Sturgeon appeared in 420 Major League games, accruing a lifetime .257 average on 313 hits and 80 RBI in 1229 at bats.
Bio by: Frank Russo
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