Joseph Franklin Demaree (June 10, 1910 – August 30, 1958 at the age of 48) was an American baseball outfielder. He played all or part of twelve seasons in the majors for the Chicago Cubs (1932–33, 1935–38), New York Giants (1939–41), Boston Braves (1941–42), St. Louis Cardinals (1943) and St. Louis Browns (1944).
Demaree is one of four Pacific Coast League hitters to have had a 30 home runs, 30 stolen bases season (in 1934, in 186 games), along with Joc Pederson (2014, in 115 games), Lefty O'Doul (1927), and Hall of Famer Tony Lazzeri (1925).
Demaree helped the Cubs win the National League pennant in 1932, 1935 and 1938. He hit a home run against the New York Yankees in the final game of the 1932 World Series. He also homered in Game 1 of the 1935 World Series.
During his only season with the Cardinals, they won the National League pennant in 1943. During his last season, he helped the Browns win the American League pennant. He was named to the National League All-Star Team in 1936 and 1937.
He finished 7th in voting for the 1936 National League MVP for playing in 154 games, having 605 at-bats, 93 runs, 212 hits, 34 doubles, 3 triples, 16 home runs, 96 RBI, 4 stolen bases, 49 walks, .350 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, .496 slugging percentage, 300 total bases and 17 sacrifice fits.
He finished 15th in voting for the 1937 National League MVP for playing in 154 games, having 615 at-bats, 104 runs, 199 hits, 36 doubles, 6 triples, 17 home runs, 115 RBI, 6 stolen bases, 57 walks, .324 batting average, .382 on-base percentage, .485 slugging percentage, 298 total bases and 14 sacrifice hits.
On July 5, 1937, Demaree went 6-for-7 for the Cubs against the Cardinals in a 13-12, 14 inning victory at Wrigley Field.
He also led the National League in grounding into double plays (23) in 1937.
In a 12-year, 1155 game career, Demaree posted a .299 batting average (1241-4144) with 578 runs, 72 home runs and 591 RBI. His on-base percentage was .357 and slugging percentage was .415. He compiled a .978 fielding percentage at all three outfield positions. He hit over .300 five times.
Demaree is an inductee in the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame.
Phillip Knight Wrigley (D. 1977) often called P. K. Wrigley, was an American chewing gum manufacturer and executive in Major League Baseball, inheriting both of those roles as the quiet son of his much more flamboyant father, William Wrigley Jr. When his father died in 1932, Wrigley took over as the owner of the Chicago Cubs (which he owned until his death in 1977)
Offered is an official Uniform Player’s Contract for the National League – Chicago Cubs outfielder, Frank Demaree, who was paid $6500. The contract has been hand signed by both Frank Demaree and Phillip K Wrigley. NL president Ford Frick’s signature has been signed by proxy (i.e. secretarial).
Historic piece of Cubs history!!!
Item: 12388
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