Joseph Martin Napoleon Munson (November 6,1899 –February 24,1991;born Joseph Martin Napoleon Carlson) was an American professional baseball outfielder who played for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1925 and 1926. Listed at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) and 184 pounds (83 kg),he batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
Munson attended Lehigh University,where he played college baseball. [1] He then played in the minor leagues from 1918 through 1932, [2] initially playing under the name "Joe Martin".[ citation needed ] With the Harrisburg Senators in 1925,he won the Eastern League triple crown,[ citation needed ] leading the league with a .400 batting average,33 home runs and 129 RBIs,while also recording 188 hits,132 runs scored,and 17 triples. [2] For the Tulsa Oilers in the Western League,he batted .383 in 1927,won the batting title with .385 in 1928,and then hit .369 in 1929. [2] After the 1932 season,he retired with a .335 minor league lifetime average and 2,050 hits.[ citation needed ]
Munson played in a total of 42 major league games,all with the Chicago Cubs. [3] In 1925,he played in nine games,batting .371 (13-for-35) with three RBIs. [4] In 1926,he played in 33 games,batting .257 (26-for-101) with three home runs and 15 RBIs. [4] Overall in MLB,Munson was a .287 hitter (39-for-136) with three home runs and 18 RBIs. [4] Defensively,he played 21 games in right field and 16 games in left field,with a .922 fielding average. [4]
Munson was born in Renovo,Pennsylvania. [3] A 1925 newspaper article noted that he was studying art in St. Louis during the baseball offseason. [5] On his draft registration card of February 1942,he listed his employer as the Union Tank Car Company in Philadelphia. [6] He died at the age of 91 in Drexel Hill,Pennsylvania,and was buried under his birth name. [3]