Billy Shindle
Encyclopedia
William D. "Billy" Shindle (December 5, 1860 - June 3, 1936) was a third baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played from through for the Detroit Wolverines
(1886-87), Baltimore Orioles
(1888-89, 1892-93), Philadelphia Athletics (1890), Philadelphia Phillies
(1891), and the Brooklyn Grooms & Bridegrooms
(1894-98). Shindle batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Gloucester, New Jersey
. He was slightly built at 5'8" and 158 pounds.
Shindle's Range factor
of 4.34 in 1892 for the Baltimore Orioles is the highest rating ever recorded by a third baseman in the history of Major League Baseball. See Range factor
. He also had Range factor
s over 4.0 for Baltimore in 1888, for Philadelphia in 1891.
While his Range factor
demonstrates his superior speed and ability to get to the ball, Shindle was not as talented at handling the balls once he got to them. In 1890, Shindle played shortstop for Philadelphia in the Players League and was charged with 122 errors (119 at shortstop and 3 at third base). Shindle's 122 errors in 1890 is the all time record for most errors by a major league player at any position.
Shindle was ranked as the 95th best third baseman of all time in The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract.
In a 13-season career, Shindle was a .269 hitter (1561-for-5807) in 1422 games
, with 31 home run
s, 355 extra base hits, 992 runs
, 758 RBI
, 226 doubles
, 97 triples
, and 318 stolen base
s. In 1890 (the same year he set the all time errors record), Shindle batted a career-high .322, led the Players League with 282 total bases, and was fourth in the league with 10 home runs.
Shindle played third base for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms from 1894-1898. His 3.7 lifetime Range factor
makes him the number one defensive third baseman in Dodgers history. (William F. McNeil, "The Dodgers Encyclopedia," p. 102)
In 1894, the 34-year-old Shindle hit .296 with 94 runs scored and 96 RBIs. He retired after the 1898 season at age 38.
Shindle died in Lakeland, New Jersey at age 75.
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played from through for the Detroit Wolverines
Detroit Wolverines
The Detroit Wolverines were a 19th century baseball team that played in the National League from 1881 to 1888 in the city of Detroit, Michigan. In total, they won 426 games and lost 437, taking their lone pennant in 1887. The team was disbanded following the 1888 season.-Franchise...
(1886-87), Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
(1888-89, 1892-93), Philadelphia Athletics (1890), Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1891), and the Brooklyn Grooms & Bridegrooms
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...
(1894-98). Shindle batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Gloucester, New Jersey
Gloucester, New Jersey
Gloucester, New Jersey may refer to:* Gloucester City, New Jersey, Camden County* Gloucester Township, New Jersey, Camden County* Gloucester County, New Jersey...
. He was slightly built at 5'8" and 158 pounds.
Shindle's Range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
of 4.34 in 1892 for the Baltimore Orioles is the highest rating ever recorded by a third baseman in the history of Major League Baseball. See Range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
. He also had Range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
s over 4.0 for Baltimore in 1888, for Philadelphia in 1891.
While his Range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
demonstrates his superior speed and ability to get to the ball, Shindle was not as talented at handling the balls once he got to them. In 1890, Shindle played shortstop for Philadelphia in the Players League and was charged with 122 errors (119 at shortstop and 3 at third base). Shindle's 122 errors in 1890 is the all time record for most errors by a major league player at any position.
Shindle was ranked as the 95th best third baseman of all time in The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract.
In a 13-season career, Shindle was a .269 hitter (1561-for-5807) in 1422 games
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,...
, with 31 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, 355 extra base hits, 992 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...
, 758 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...
, 226 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....
, 97 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 318 stolen base
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...
s. In 1890 (the same year he set the all time errors record), Shindle batted a career-high .322, led the Players League with 282 total bases, and was fourth in the league with 10 home runs.
Shindle played third base for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms from 1894-1898. His 3.7 lifetime Range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
makes him the number one defensive third baseman in Dodgers history. (William F. McNeil, "The Dodgers Encyclopedia," p. 102)
In 1894, the 34-year-old Shindle hit .296 with 94 runs scored and 96 RBIs. He retired after the 1898 season at age 38.
Shindle died in Lakeland, New Jersey at age 75.