George Stovall


George Thomas Stovall, nicknamed "Firebrand", was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball with the Cleveland Naps and the St. Louis Browns in the American League, and he also played two seasons with the Kansas City Packers of the short-lived Federal League. He was the manager of the Naps for one season in, and in, he went to the Browns, serving as player-manager for two seasons. In, he jumped to the Packers as a first baseman-manager. In 1916, he signed with the Toledo Mud Hens and played a season there before retiring from baseball at age 39.
In 5596 career at bats, Stovall had 1382 hits. He recorded 231 doubles and 142 career stolen bases. While for the most part a first baseman, he did play some second base and even third base, especially early in his career. In 1905, he played 46 of his 112 games at second. Every year from 1905 until 1910, Stovall recorded at least 13 stolen bases.
In late 1913, Stovall was suspended by the American League for spitting tobacco juice at an umpire, and was fired as Browns manager, the job being passed to the relatively little-known Branch Rickey.
His elder brother, Jesse Stovall, pitched two seasons in the major leagues.