| Dode Paskert | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born:(1881-08-28)August 28, 1881 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: February 12, 1959(1959-02-12) (aged 77) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 21, 1907, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 27, 1921, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .268 |
| Home runs | 42 |
| Runs batted in | 577 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
George Henry "Dode" Paskert (August 28, 1881 – February 12, 1959) was an Americancenter fielder inMajor League Baseball who played from 1907 through 1921 for theCincinnati Reds,Philadelphia Phillies, andChicago Cubs.
Born inCleveland, Ohio, the speedy Dode Paskert was one of the finest defensive center fielders of thedead-ball era. He was also a patient hitter who worked pitchers deep into the count as well as a notoriouspull hitter. Being used most often in theleadoff position, Paskert frequently hit forextra bases.[1]
Paskert collected 51stolen bases for the Reds in 1910, including stealing second base, third base, and home in the first inning of a 6–5 win over theBoston Bees.[2]
His most productive season in 1912, when he hit a career-high .312batting average along with a .420on-base percentage and .413slugging average, ranking among the top 10 in four offensive categories, and being considered in theNational League MVP vote at the end of the season.[1]
From 1912 to 1918 he ranked among the top ten indoubles four times andhome runs once.[1]
In between, the reliable Paskert batted third in the lineup in each game of the1915 World Series for the Phillies against theBoston Red Sox, while batting clean-up for the Cubs in each game of the1918 World Series, also against the Red Sox.[1]
In a 15-season career, Paskert hit a .268/.350/.361batting line, including 577runs batted in, 868runs scored, 1613hits, 279 doubles, 77triples, 42 home runs, and stole 293 bases in 1,716 games.[1] Defensively, he recorded a .968fielding percentage.[1]
Afterwards, Paskert played in the minor leagues for theKansas City Blues andColumbus Senators of theAmerican Association and theAtlanta Crackers andNashville Vols of theSouthern Association, before retiring from baseball.
He was publicly credited with saving the lives of five small children on Feb. 23, 1921, when a fire broke out at theUnion Clothing Co. on Lorain Avenue in Cleveland while he was passing by. According to news accounts, Paskert "made three trips into the burning building, carrying out five small children wrapped in rugs and his overcoat, and directed other members of three families to safety. His hands and arms were badly burned and his face blistered by the flames."[3]
Paskert died in 1959 in Cleveland, Ohio, at the age of 77.[1]
· Baseball Almanac, orRetrosheet, orSABR Biography Project