Les Backman

Born: 3/20/1888 in Cleves, OH, USA

Died: 11/8/1975 in Cincinnati, OH, USA

MLB Debut: 1909-07-03 | Final Game: 1910-08-28

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 195 lbs

Full name: Lester John Backman

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Biography

Les Backman was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1909 to 1910. Born in 1888, Backman made his mark on the diamond during a transitional period in baseball, as the game began to shift away from the deadball era towards a more offense-driven style. Despite his relatively brief career, he showcased a competitive spirit on the mound, finishing with a record of 9 wins and 18 losses. Backman’s career earned run average (ERA) was 3.61, a respectable figure for a pitcher of his time, reflecting his ability to hold opposing hitters at bay. Over his time in the Major Leagues, he struck out 76 batters and recorded 2 saves, demonstrating his potential as a reliable arm in the bullpen. While his career did not reach the heights of some of his contemporaries, Les Backman remains a part of the rich tapestry of early 20th-century baseball history.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
9	18	47	26	13	0	2	244.3	263	98	5	92	76	3.61	0

Career ERA 3.61 vs. league average 2.67 across their career seasons — 35.3% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1909	STL	NL	3	11	21	15	8	0	0	128.3	146	59	39	35	4.14	2.55 (-63%)	-
1910	STL	NL	6	7	26	11	5	0	2	116.0	117	39	53	41	3.03	2.79 (-8%)	-

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
47	74	3	8	1	1	0	5	0	8	28	0.108	0.214	0.149	0.363	0.0

Career AVG .108 vs. league average .247 across their career seasons — 56.2% below league average.

Career OBP .214 vs. league average .312 across their career seasons — 31.4% below league average.

Career SLG .149 vs. league average .320 across their career seasons — 53.5% below league average.

Career OPS 0.363 vs. league average 0.632 across their career seasons — 42.6% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1909	STL	NL	21	39	1	4	0	0	0	2	0	4	16	0.103	—	—	—	—	0.0
1910	STL	NL	26	35	2	4	1	1	0	3	0	4	12	0.114	—	—	—	—	0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
P	47	26	7	66	4	1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1909	SLN	P	21	15	2	36	1	0
1910	SLN	P	26	11	5	30	3	1

Career Games by Position

Position	Games
Pitcher	47

College History

School Name	City	State	Years Attended
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	Terre Haute	IN	1907, 1908, 1909