| George Durning | |
| Position: | Right fielder |
| Birth Date: | May 9, 1898 |
| Birth Place: | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Death Date: | April 18, 1986 |
| Death Place: | Tampa, Florida (aged 87) |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | September 12 |
| Debutyear: | 1925 |
| Debutteam: | Philadelphia Phillies |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | September 26 |
| Finalyear: | 1925 |
| Finalteam: | Philadelphia Phillies |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .357 |
| Stat2label: | Hits |
| Stat2value: | 5 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 1 |
| Teams: |
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George Dewey Durning (May 9, 1898 - April 18, 1986) was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Phillies in its 1925 season. He was officially listed as standing 5inchesft11inchesin (ftin) and 175lb.[1] In addition to his brief major league career, Durning played four seasons for an assortment of minor league baseball teams. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]
Durning began his career at the major league level, debuting with the Phillies on September 12, 1925. He appeared in five major league contests, amassing 14 at-bats in 16 plate appearances. He batted in one run and struck out one time.[2] He also made 11 putouts and notched 2 assists in 4 games in the field, participating in one double play.[3]
In the 1926 season, Durning began play for the AA-level Reading Keystones, playing in six games.[4] Durning was recalled to Philadelphia in April 1926,[5] but did not play another game for them.[1] Upon moving to the Salisbury Indians of the Class-D Eastern Shore League, he led the team in games played (81), at-bats (320), and hits (106). His .331 batting average was third-highest on the team, and he collected six doubles, one triple, and six home runs.[6] He moved back to the Indians for the 1927 season, batting .299 in a team-leading 89 games. His 103 hits were tied for the team lead (Emmett Athey), as were his two triples; he was second on the squad with 15 home runs and led the team with 17 doubles.[7]
Durning did not play in the 1928 season, but resurfaced with the Cumberland Colts, a Class-C team of the Middle Atlantic League, in 1929. His .329 average that season was second on the Colts to John Byrnes; he led the team with 12 triples and his 15 home runs were second-best behind David Black.[8] He collected 462 at-bats, the highest recorded total of his career.[7] After batting .308 in 78 games in the 1930 season,[9] Durning left professional baseball.[7]
Durning died on April 18, 1986, in Tampa, Florida, aged 87.[1]