Friday Stuff
Phillies Comings and Goings Edition
Monday
On this date in 1931, outfielder Buzz Arlett’s contract with the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Arlett had been a PCL star for years. In his last seven season before the Phillies bought him, these were Arlett’s numbers:
1924: 33 homers, 145 RBI, .328 average
1925: 25 homers, 146 RBI, .344 average
1926: 35 homers, 140 RBI, .382 average
1927: 30 homers, 123 RBI, .351 average
1928: 25 homers, 113 RBI, .365 average
1929: 39 homers, 189 RBI, .374 average
1930: 31 homers, 143 RBI, .361 average
Major league teams had clamored to sign him, but the Oaks always refused. As an independent team, unaffiliated with any major league franchise, they were on their own for finding players, winning games, and making money. They had a gem in Arlett, and paid him accordingly. He was content to stay in the area where he’d lived his whole life, making a pretty handsome living playing ball.
