Augie Galan

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August John (Augie) Galan (May 23, 1912 - December 28, 1993) was a left fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1934 through 1949 , he played for the Chicago Cubs (1934-41), Brooklyn Dodgers (1941-46), Cincinnati Reds (1947-48), New York Giants (1949) and Philadelphia Athletics (1949). Galan threw right handed. Galan began his career as a switch hitter. Starting in the latter part of 1943, he became portside swinger until the end of his career. He was born in Berkeley, California.

In a 16-season career, Galan posted a .287 batting average with 100 home runs and 830 RBI in 1742 games played. Galan played in three world series, but his teams never won. In 1935, He became the first full time player to make 649 plate appearances and not hit into a doubleplay. He did, however, hit into a triple play. Augie was often injured. He had a deformed arm from a childhood injury. In 1940, he broke his right knee. It was this injury that eventually made Galan give up batting from the right side of the plate. The Cubs gave up on him, but the Dodgers revived his career.

Galan died in Fairfield, California, at 81 years of age.