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Born in Cohoes, New York in 1870, George Davis enjoyed a 20-year big league career. He got his start in the majors at age 19 with the NL’s Cleveland Spiders.

Though he began as a centerfielder and played more than 100 games at third and second base, his primary position was shortstop.

In February, 1892 Davis was traded to the New York Giants for fellow Cooperstown man Buck Ewing. His time in Gotham was a resounding success.

Each of the next 9 seasons with the Giants Davis topped the .300 mark. The shortstop averaged 94 runs, 91 RBI, and 40 stolen bases from 1893-1901 in New York. During that time he hit .332 with a .394 on-base parentage and a 132 OPS+.

Before the 1902 campaign Davis jumped to the White Sox. Now in his age-31 season, his best years were behind him.

Davis remained an everyday player through 1908. In 1909 he hit .132 in 28 games and retired 8 days shy of his 39th birthday.

In his two-decade long career, Davis hit .295 with a .362 on-base percentage and a 121 OPS+. He totaled 2,665 hits, 453 doubles, 163 triples, 619 steals, 1,545 runs and 1,440 RBI.

Smooth defensively, Davis led his league in fielding percentage and double plays four times each.

Despite his outstanding career, Davis remained largely forgotten after leaving the game.

According to the Hall of Fame, historian Lee Allen once wrote, “How is it possible for a man to play big league baseball for 20 seasons, manage the New York Giants twice, start a war between the National and American Leagues and then utterly vanish, without leaving a trace?”

More than a century after his death, a Cohoes city historian reignited interest in Davis’ career. In 1995 SABRmetrics guru Bill James called Davis the best player not in the Hall of Fame.

Thank in large part to Cohoes and James, Davis was inducted into Cooperstown three years later in 1998.