Galan was born in Berkeley, California, one of eight children. His parents had emigrated from France in the late 19th century, and his father operated a French hand laundry on Berkeley’s University Avenue. At age 11, Augie Galan broke his right elbow playing sandlot ball. He concealed the injury from his parents, fearful of being barred from further play. The arm was never set, or healed improperly, and it was never fully healthy throughout Galan's professional career. He graduated from Berkeley High School.[1][2]
Minor leagues
Galan started in the Texas League and graduated from the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League in 1932. In 1933 he was PCL Most Valuable Player, and in 1934 was purchased by the Cubs.[2]
In 1937, Galan was the first National Leaguer to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in a game.[3] Galan was selected to three National LeagueAll-Star teams and homered off Schoolboy Rowe in the 1936 game to help power the NL to a 4–3 victory. He also played in three World Series (1935 and 1938 with the Cubs, and 1941 with the Dodgers), but his teams never won. Galan collected four fall classic hits in 29 total at bats (.138). He reached the .300 plateau in hitting six times.
In 1935, he became the first full-time player to make 649 plate appearances and not hit into a double play,[4] though he hit into one triple play.[5] That year, he led the National League with 133 runs scored. Often injured (he broke his knee in 1940), Galan had a deformed arm from a childhood injury. The knee injury eventually forced him to give up batting from the right side of the plate.
Later years in baseball
After leaving the major leagues in 1949, Galan returned to the San Francisco Bay Area and played two more seasons with the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League, then managed the club to a 77–103 record (seventh place) in 1953. He joined the Philadelphia Athletics' coaching staff in 1954, their last year in that city, and went on to spend 17 years as a minor league coach and manager in the Athletics' organization.[citation needed]
Personal life
Galan died in 1993 in Fairfield, California, at 81 years of age. He was survived by his wife of 40 years, Shirley, and four children.[6]
