Bill Phillips (first baseman)
Encyclopedia
William B. "Bill" Phillips (April, 1857 – October 7, 1900), also known as Silver Bill, was a Canadian
professional baseball first baseman
from the mid-1870s until the late 1880s. From to , he played for three major league teams; the Cleveland Blues
of the National League
(NL) from 1879 to , the Brooklyn Grays
of the American Association
(AA) from to , and the Kansas City Cowboys
of the AA in 1888. A native of Saint John, New Brunswick
, Canada
, he has the distinction of being the first Canadian to play in the major leagues.
As a batter, Phillips finished in the top-ten among league leaders on multiple occasions, including triples
four times, and games played
, at bat
s, doubles
, runs batted in
(RBIs), and extra base hit
s three times each. Additionally, as a fielder, he finished among the defensive leaders for the league's first baseman in double play
s for three consecutive years, and twice finished first in putout
s and fielding percentage
. He died in Chicago
, Illinois
at the age of 43. He was later enshrined into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
in 1988 for his accomplishments, and is considered by some to be greatest Canadian first baseman in baseball history.
heritage, that consisted of nine sibling
s, two brothers and seven sisters, and a cooper
father. Known as "Willie" to his family, he had likely began his interest in the game of baseball while still in his hometown of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, considering there were at least nine amateur baseball clubs organized and playing there during the early-1870s. Canadian journalist
Peter McGuire claims the Phillips family moved from Saint John in 1877, due to a major fire, which burned much of the city. However, according to Alfred Henry Spink, founder of the Sporting News, Phillips was playing baseball in the Chicago
, Illinois
area at earlier date.
It is certain the family settled in Chicago in the mid to late-1870s as Phillips was playing for a top amateur team of the area called the Pastime club In 1877, he played professionally for an independent team in Winona, Minnesota
, the Clipper Club. The club lasted just 29 games, and joined the Minneapolis Browns of the League Alliance (LA) in May. He played with the Browns into mid-August, then joined another LA club, the Janesville
Mutual, later that month for a four-day stretch. Phillips joined independent Forest City club of Cleveland, Ohio
in 1878, and in 65 games had a batting average of .296 to lead the team. The next year, the Cleveland team joined the NL, which began Phillips' major league career.
, and Phillips made NL debut on May 1, becoming the first native Canadian to play in the major leagues. In his first NL season, he led the league's first basemen in games played with 75, was sixth in the league with 365 at bat
s, while leading the Blues in runs
scored, and hits
. In the season, his batting average dropped from .271 in 1879, to .256; however, he finished in the top-ten among the league leaders in games played with 85, which was first among first basemen, was fifth in the league with 10 triples
, and led the league in double play
s. On June 12, the Blues were the victim of the first recorded perfect game
in history, thrown by Lee Richmond of the Worcester Worcesters
. In that game, Phillips hit what appeared to be a single
to right field
, only to be thrown out at first base by the shallow-playing right fielder Lon Knight
.
Phillips continued his consistent play in , when his 85 games played led the league, and he finished second in the league with 10 triples, as well as top-ten totals in extra-base hits with 29, and at bats with 357. However, his batting statistics declined, in both and , his batting average dipping to a low of .246 in 1883, but he did finish eighth in league with four home run
s in 1882, and he again led all first basemen in double plays. In 1884, when teammates Fred Dunlap
and Jack Glasscock
jumped to the Union Association
, he attempted to fill the void. Although he batted .276, the highest average on the Blues' team, achieved his highest career statistical totals in nearly all batting categories, it was not enough, as Cleveland finished 49 games out of first place. The seventh place finish by the Blues, along with the decline of fan support, resulted in the financial instability of the franchise, and it folded after the season.
, Charlie Hackett
, along with Phillips and six other Blues' players, including and the team signed many Cleveland's best players, including Phillips and Germany Smith
. In Phillips' first season with Brooklyn, he established his highest seasonal batting average of his career with .302, which was the seventh highest in the league, and led all third basemen in putout
s, and fielding percentage
. Additionally, his on-base percentage of .364 placed in the top five among AA hitters, he led his team in RBIs
with 63, slugging percentage, and triples
.
He continued his success for Grays , establishing his highest seasonal career totals in games played with 141, which led the AA, and hits with 160, which was fifth among the league leaders. In , he became the second Canadian baseball player to surpass 100 RBIs in a season, when he finished with a total of 101, Tip O'Neill having done so in 1886 with the St. Louis Browns
. He led the league in fielding percentage among first basemen for the second time, and his 34 doubles were sixth in the league.
. By the end of the 1888 season, Phillips' abilities began to decline at a rapid pace, which brought about simpathy among the baseball community. Years later, Charles Comiskey
recalled that when he was the manager for the St. Louis Browns, instructing his pitcher
s to throw easy-to-hit pitches for Phillips so that his public image would remain intact. The 1888 season was Phillips' last at the major league level, and while he had his lowest seasonal batting average of .236, he again led the league in putouts. He returned to Canada to play one more season of professional baseball, with Hamilton
Hams of the International League
. However, he batted just .245, which signaled the end of his playing career. Phillips never married, and he died on October 7, 1900 in Chicago at the age of 43, of syphilitic locomotor ataxia
, and he is interred at Graceland Cemetery
. Phillips was enshrined into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional baseball first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
from the mid-1870s until the late 1880s. From to , he played for three major league teams; the Cleveland Blues
Cleveland Blues (NL)
The Cleveland Blues were a Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio that operated in the National League from 1879 to 1884. In six seasons their best finish was third place in 1880. Hugh Daily threw a no-hitter for the Blues on Sept. 13, 1883. Besides Daily, notable Blues players...
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
(NL) from 1879 to , the Brooklyn Grays
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
of the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
(AA) from to , and the Kansas City Cowboys
Kansas City Cowboys (American Association)
The Kansas City Cowboys were a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri for two seasons from to in the American Association. They were the third, and last incarnation of this franchise name, following the Kansas City Cowboys of the Union Association in and the Kansas City...
of the AA in 1888. A native of Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, he has the distinction of being the first Canadian to play in the major leagues.
As a batter, Phillips finished in the top-ten among league leaders on multiple occasions, including triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
four times, and games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s, doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
(RBIs), and extra base hit
Extra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
s three times each. Additionally, as a fielder, he finished among the defensive leaders for the league's first baseman in double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s for three consecutive years, and twice finished first in putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s and fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. He died in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
at the age of 43. He was later enshrined into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museums commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada.-History:...
in 1988 for his accomplishments, and is considered by some to be greatest Canadian first baseman in baseball history.
Early years
Phillips was born in April 1857, to a large family of EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
heritage, that consisted of nine sibling
Sibling
Siblings are people who share at least one parent. A male sibling is called a brother; and a female sibling is called a sister. In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together and spend a good deal of their childhood socializing with one another...
s, two brothers and seven sisters, and a cooper
Cooper (profession)
Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than breadth, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads...
father. Known as "Willie" to his family, he had likely began his interest in the game of baseball while still in his hometown of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, considering there were at least nine amateur baseball clubs organized and playing there during the early-1870s. Canadian journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Peter McGuire claims the Phillips family moved from Saint John in 1877, due to a major fire, which burned much of the city. However, according to Alfred Henry Spink, founder of the Sporting News, Phillips was playing baseball in the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
area at earlier date.
It is certain the family settled in Chicago in the mid to late-1870s as Phillips was playing for a top amateur team of the area called the Pastime club In 1877, he played professionally for an independent team in Winona, Minnesota
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
, the Clipper Club. The club lasted just 29 games, and joined the Minneapolis Browns of the League Alliance (LA) in May. He played with the Browns into mid-August, then joined another LA club, the Janesville
Janesville, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,109 people, 816 households, and 580 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,653.3 people per square mile . There were 848 housing units at an average density of 664.8 per square mile...
Mutual, later that month for a four-day stretch. Phillips joined independent Forest City club of Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
in 1878, and in 65 games had a batting average of .296 to lead the team. The next year, the Cleveland team joined the NL, which began Phillips' major league career.
Cleveland
The Forest City team of Cleveland joined the National League for the 1879 season as the Cleveland BluesCleveland Blues (NL)
The Cleveland Blues were a Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio that operated in the National League from 1879 to 1884. In six seasons their best finish was third place in 1880. Hugh Daily threw a no-hitter for the Blues on Sept. 13, 1883. Besides Daily, notable Blues players...
, and Phillips made NL debut on May 1, becoming the first native Canadian to play in the major leagues. In his first NL season, he led the league's first basemen in games played with 75, was sixth in the league with 365 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s, while leading the Blues in runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
scored, and hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
. In the season, his batting average dropped from .271 in 1879, to .256; however, he finished in the top-ten among the league leaders in games played with 85, which was first among first basemen, was fifth in the league with 10 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and led the league in double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s. On June 12, the Blues were the victim of the first recorded perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
in history, thrown by Lee Richmond of the Worcester Worcesters
Worcester Worcesters
The Worcester Worcesters were a 19th century Major League Baseball team from to in the National League. The team is referred to, at times, as the Brown Stockings or the Ruby Legs; however, no contemporary sources from the time exist that support the use of either name...
. In that game, Phillips hit what appeared to be a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
to right field
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
, only to be thrown out at first base by the shallow-playing right fielder Lon Knight
Lon Knight
Alonzo P. "Lon" Knight, born Alonzo P. Letti , was an American right fielder, right-handed pitcher and manager in Major League Baseball...
.
Phillips continued his consistent play in , when his 85 games played led the league, and he finished second in the league with 10 triples, as well as top-ten totals in extra-base hits with 29, and at bats with 357. However, his batting statistics declined, in both and , his batting average dipping to a low of .246 in 1883, but he did finish eighth in league with four home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in 1882, and he again led all first basemen in double plays. In 1884, when teammates Fred Dunlap
Fred Dunlap
Frederick C. "Sure Shot" Dunlap was a second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball from 1880 to 1891. He was the highest paid player in Major League Baseball from 1884 to 1889. He has also been rated by some contemporary and modern sources as the greatest overall second baseman of the...
and Jack Glasscock
Jack Glasscock
John Wesley "Jack" Glasscock was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for several teams from 1879 to 1895 and was the top player at his position in the 1880s during the sport's bare-handed era...
jumped to the Union Association
Union Association
The Union Association was a league in Major League Baseball which lasted for only one season in 1884. St. Louis won the pennant and joined the National League the following season...
, he attempted to fill the void. Although he batted .276, the highest average on the Blues' team, achieved his highest career statistical totals in nearly all batting categories, it was not enough, as Cleveland finished 49 games out of first place. The seventh place finish by the Blues, along with the decline of fan support, resulted in the financial instability of the franchise, and it folded after the season.
Brooklyn
Following the demise of the Blues, the Brooklyn Grays of AA signed their former managerManager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
, Charlie Hackett
Charlie Hackett
Charlie Hackett was an American manager of the Brooklyn Grays, who later became the Brooklyn Dodgers. He also managed the Cleveland Blues National League team.-References:...
, along with Phillips and six other Blues' players, including and the team signed many Cleveland's best players, including Phillips and Germany Smith
Germany Smith
George J. "Germany" Smith was an American Major League Baseball player from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He played primarily shortstop for five different teams spanning 15 seasons. He made his major league debut for Altoona Mountain City of the Union Association in...
. In Phillips' first season with Brooklyn, he established his highest seasonal batting average of his career with .302, which was the seventh highest in the league, and led all third basemen in putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s, and fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. Additionally, his on-base percentage of .364 placed in the top five among AA hitters, he led his team in RBIs
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
with 63, slugging percentage, and triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
.
He continued his success for Grays , establishing his highest seasonal career totals in games played with 141, which led the AA, and hits with 160, which was fifth among the league leaders. In , he became the second Canadian baseball player to surpass 100 RBIs in a season, when he finished with a total of 101, Tip O'Neill having done so in 1886 with the St. Louis Browns
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He led the league in fielding percentage among first basemen for the second time, and his 34 doubles were sixth in the league.
Final years
Phillips was sold to the Kansas City Cowboys during the off-season to make room for Dave OrrDave Orr
David L. Orr was a first baseman in Major League Baseball from 1883 through 1890.-Baseball career:Orr played most of his career in the American Association for the New York Metropolitans , Brooklyn Bridegrooms and Columbus Solons...
. By the end of the 1888 season, Phillips' abilities began to decline at a rapid pace, which brought about simpathy among the baseball community. Years later, Charles Comiskey
Charles Comiskey
Charles Albert "The Old Roman" Comiskey was a Major League Baseball player, manager and team owner. He was a key person in the formation of the American League and later owned the Chicago White Sox...
recalled that when he was the manager for the St. Louis Browns, instructing his pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
s to throw easy-to-hit pitches for Phillips so that his public image would remain intact. The 1888 season was Phillips' last at the major league level, and while he had his lowest seasonal batting average of .236, he again led the league in putouts. He returned to Canada to play one more season of professional baseball, with Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
Hams of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. However, he batted just .245, which signaled the end of his playing career. Phillips never married, and he died on October 7, 1900 in Chicago at the age of 43, of syphilitic locomotor ataxia
Ataxia
Ataxia is a neurological sign and symptom that consists of gross lack of coordination of muscle movements. Ataxia is a non-specific clinical manifestation implying dysfunction of the parts of the nervous system that coordinate movement, such as the cerebellum...
, and he is interred at Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery is a large Victorian era cemetery located in the north side community area of Uptown, in the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Established in 1860, its main entrance is at the intersection of Clark Street and Irving Park Road...
. Phillips was enshrined into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988.
Career statistics
Bill Phillips' career totals as recognized by Baseball-Reference.com.| G Games played Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,... |
AB At bat In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance... |
R Run (baseball) In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured... |
H Hit (baseball) In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice.... |
2B Double (baseball) In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.... |
3B Triple (baseball) In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.... |
HR Home run In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process... |
RBI Run batted in Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI... |
SB Stolen base In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate... |
BB Base on balls A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08... |
SO Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters.... |
BA Batting average Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :... |
OBP On base percentage In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes... |
SLG | TB Total bases In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total.... |
HBP Hit by pitch In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:... |
| 1,038 | 4,255 | 562 | 1,130 | 214 | 98 | 17 | 534 | *39 | 178 | *215 | .266 | .299 | .374 | 1,591 | *25 |
- ' * ' denotes statistics that were not officially recognized during parts or all of his career, and are incomplete.