Ivy Olson

Who was Ivy Olson?

Ivan Massie Olson born in Kansas City, Missouri was a Major League Baseball Shortstop for the Cleveland Naps, Cincinnati Reds And Brooklyn Robins. He helped the Robins win the National League Pennant in 1916 and 1920.

His best season was in 1919 when he played in all 140 games and would lead the NL in at bats, plate appearances, hits, singles and at bats per strikeout. In 1921 he would also lead the NL in at bats. He currently ranks 84th on the MLB all-time sacrifice hits list and ranks 73rd on the all-time at bats per strikeout list. He also holds the Los Angeles Dodgers single season record for at bats per strikeout and is the Dodgers all-time at bats per strikeout leader.

In 14 seasons he played in 1,574 games and had 6,111 at bats, 730 runs, 1,575 hits, 191 doubles, 69 triples, 13 home runs, 446 RBI, 156 stolen bases, 285 walks, .258 batting average, .295 on-base percentage, .318 slugging percentage, 1,943 total bases and 198 sacrifice hits. After his playing career ended, he was a coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants. He died in Inglewood, California at the age of 79.