Dode Paskert
George Henry Paskert was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1907 through 1921 for the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, he was nicknamed 'Dode'.
The speedy Dode Paskert was one of the finest defensive center fielders of the dead-ball era. Besides, Paskert was an extremely patient hitter who worked pitchers deep into the count as well as a notorious pull hitter. Being used most often in the leadoff position, Paskert frequently hit for extra bases. Eventually, he was used as a corner outfielder and entrenched in the four infield positions.
Paskert collected 51 stolen bases for the Reds in 1910, including stealing second base, third base and home in the first inning of a 6–5 win over the Boston Bees.
His most productive season in 1912, when he hit a career-high.312 batting average along with a.420 on-base percentage and.413 slugging average, ranking among the top-10 in four offensive categories, being considered in the National League MVP vote at the end of the season.
Besides, from 1912 to 1918 he ranked among the top ten in doubles four times and home runs once.
In between, the reliable Paskert batted third in the lineup in each game of the 1915 World Series for the Phillies against the Boston Red Sox, while batting clean-up for the Cubs in each game of the 1918 World Series, also against the Red Sox.
In a 15-season career, Paskert hit a.268/.350/.361 batting line, including 577 runs batted in, 868 runs scored, 1613 hits, 279 doubles, 77 triples, 42 home runs, and stole 293 bases in 1,716 games.
An aggressive hitter, he struck out more times than he walked in 6,017 at-bats. Overall, he recorded a.968 fielding percentage.
Afterwards, Paskert refused to retire at 40. As a result, he became an itinerant minor leaguer over the next six years, playing with the Kansas City Blues and Columbus Senators of the American Association, for the Atlanta Crackers and Nashville Vols of the Southern Association, and the Erie Sailors of the Ohio–Pennsylvania League, before retiring from baseball at age 46 after the 1927 season.
Paskert died in 1959 in Cleveland Ohio, at the age of 77.
