Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — In researching my piece on Shohei Ohtani‘s great season, I kept running into the same name over and over again: the Babe. No, not that one, baseball’s other Babe, Babe Herman. Did Shohei get the highest batting average in Dodgers’ history? Nope that was Babe Herman in 1930. Did he have the most total bases? Nope, Babe Herman again. Did Shohei have the highest slugging percentage for a season in Dodgers history? How about slugging percentage? Nope, those records, too, belonged to Babe Herman. Okay, what about OPS? Sorry, Shohei, the Babe is on the top of that list as well. All which raises the question, WHO THE HECK WAS BABE HERMAN?
Babe Herman’s 1930 season remains one of the most remarkable individual performances in baseball history. Known for his potent bat, Herman achieved legendary status with the Brooklyn Robins (later known as the Dodgers) by producing staggering offensive numbers during a year of extreme hitting prowess across the league. Born Floyd Caves Herman in 1903 in Buffalo, New York, he entered Major League Baseball in 1926 and quickly established himself as a powerful hitter. However, it was his 1930 season that cemented his place in baseball history.
By 1930, Herman had become one of the premier sluggers in the National League. That season, he posted a career-high .393 batting average, which placed him third in the league, behind Hall of Famers Bill Terry (.401) and Chuck Klein (.386). His consistency at the plate was incredible, recording 241 hits, 143 runs, and an eye-popping 416 total bases. Herman’s .678 slugging percentage ranked second in the league, and he also finished the year with a .455 on-base percentage, making him one of the toughest outs in the game.
One of the most impressive aspects of Herman’s 1930 season was his power. He belted 35 home runs, an impressive total for the era and particularly in Ebbets Field, which wasn’t known as a home run haven. His 130 RBIs that year demonstrated his ability to drive in runs in key situations. Along with his home run total, Herman smacked 48 doubles and 11 triples, showing that his power wasn’t limited to long balls—he could drive the ball to all fields and find extra-base hits in a variety of ways.
Herman was part of an explosive Brooklyn lineup in 1930, a team that finished second in the National League with an 86-68 record, though they didn’t make the postseason, as only the league champion advanced to the World Series at that time. His teammates included some of the best hitters in the game, such as Lefty O’Doul and Del Bissonette, but it was Herman’s bat that was often the driving force for the Robins’ offensive success.
While Herman’s 1930 season was spectacular from an offensive perspective, his defensive reputation was less impressive. He played primarily in the outfield but was known for occasional lapses on the field. In fact, one of his most famous incidents occurred earlier in his career, in 1926, when he became involved in a notorious baserunning blunder that saw three Dodgers players, including Herman, all end up on third base at the same time. Such gaffes earned Herman a reputation for being error-prone, though his hitting prowess more than made up for any defensive shortcomings. In addition, he was a bit of a rube, quick with a joke, but not necessarily quick with the glove.
“It was an even bet that Babe would either catch a (fly ball) or get killed by it,” wrote Collier’s magazine at the time. “His general practice was to run up when the ball was hit and then turn and run back and then circle around uncertainly. All this time the ball was descending, the spectators were petrified with fear and Mr. Herman was chewing gum, unconcerned. At the proper moment he stuck out his glove. If he found the ball there, he was greatly surprised and very happy.”
“People think Herman was a stupid clown when he was at the height of his career,” Herman’s manager in Brooklyn Charlie Dressen said. “I know different, because I played with him and also managed him. Let me tell you, Herman was a good outfielder. He could hit and throw. He was nobody’s fool.”
Babe Herman’s 1930 campaign stood out in what was already an offensive explosion in Major League Baseball. The entire league saw inflated numbers, as the ball was livelier and pitching lacked the dominance it had in earlier eras. In fact, the 1930 season is still often referred to as one of the greatest offensive years in MLB history, with the National League posting a collective .303 batting average. However, Herman’s numbers were exceptional even by those inflated standards.
Despite his incredible 1930 season, Herman never made it to the Hall of Fame, although many believe his offensive achievements warrant such recognition. His career batting average of .324 over 13 seasons (1926-1945) is a testament to his ability as a hitter, even if his fielding miscues overshadowed his contributions at times. Herman was part of a Dodgers franchise that didn’t experience much postseason success during his tenure, which may have affected his legacy.
Nonetheless, his 1930 season remains one of the most productive offensive years in baseball history, and he was a major figure in the game during the late 1920s and early 1930s. Herman continued to play solid baseball for several more seasons, though he never replicated his incredible 1930 numbers. After leaving Brooklyn, he played for several teams, including the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Detroit Tigers. After his playing days, Herman stayed connected to baseball, serving as a coach and even a scout for various teams.
Babe Herman passed away in 1987, but his legacy as one of the great sluggers of his time lives on. His 1930 season, in particular, stands as a shining example of what he was capable of at his peak: an extraordinary hitter with power, consistency, and the ability to drive in runs. Though he may not have the fame of some of his contemporaries, Herman’s offensive achievements, especially during that standout season, ensure that his name is remembered among the game’s greats.
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