Bruno Betzel, baseball player, 1914-1918

Bruno Betzel

Born: 12/6/1894 in Chattanooga, OH, USA

Died: 2/7/1965 in West Hollywood, FL, USA

MLB Debut: 1914-09-03 | Final Game: 1918-09-02

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 158 lbs

Full name: Christian Frederick Albert John Henry David Betzel

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Biography

Bruno Betzel was a professional baseball player born in 1894, whose career spanned from 1914 to 1918. Primarily serving as a position player, Betzel appeared in 448 games over the course of his five seasons in Major League Baseball. He finished his career with a total of 333 hits, 94 RBIs, and a modest batting average of .231. Known for his speed on the bases, he accumulated 49 stolen bases, showcasing his ability to contribute to his team's offensive strategy during a time when base stealing was a valued skill. Playing in the midst of World War I, Betzel's career coincided with an era of transition in baseball. The sport was beginning to see changes in player dynamics and fan engagement, partially influenced by the societal shifts brought on by the war. Although not a superstar, Betzel played a consistent role during a competitive period and left an enduring legacy through his contributions to the teams he played for. His performance on the field illustrated the resilience and dedication of players during a challenging time in American history.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
448 1444 135 333 37 25 2 94 49 90 189 0.231 0.278 0.295 0.573 -2941.7

Career AVG .231 vs. league average .252 across their career seasons — 8.4% below league average.

Career OBP .278 vs. league average .318 across their career seasons — 12.5% below league average.

Career SLG .295 vs. league average .331 across their career seasons — 10.8% below league average.

Career OPS 0.573 vs. league average 0.648 across their career seasons — 11.6% 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
1914 STL NL 7 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1915 STL NL 117 367 42 92 12 4 0 27 10 18 48 0.251 .250 (avg) .318 (-9%) .332 (-8%) .651 (-8%) -626.7
1916 STL NL 142 510 49 119 15 11 1 37 22 39 77 0.233 .248 (-6%) .314 (-8%) .326 (-5%) .640 (-6%) -723.8
1917 STL NL 106 328 24 71 4 3 1 17 9 20 47 0.216 .248 (-13%) .312 (-15%) .323 (-21%) .635 (-18%) -1033.8
1918 STL NL 76 230 18 51 6 7 0 13 8 12 16 0.222 .255 (-13%) .318 (-18%) .326 (-5%) .645 (-12%) -557.4

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
2B 205 0 465 632 50 110
3B 177 0 173 359 45 17
OF 51 0 84 5 2 2
SS 2 0 3 6 2 1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1914 SLN 2B 4 0 4 11 0 0
1914 SLN 3B 1 0 0 0 0 0
1915 SLN 2B 3 0 1 1 1 0
1915 SLN 3B 105 0 105 221 22 10
1915 SLN SS 2 0 3 6 2 1
1916 SLN 2B 113 0 275 366 27 64
1916 SLN 3B 33 0 34 69 13 3
1916 SLN OF 7 0 10 0 0 0
1917 SLN 2B 75 0 159 217 15 40
1917 SLN 3B 4 0 2 5 1 1
1917 SLN OF 23 0 32 3 1 1
1918 SLN 2B 10 0 26 37 7 6
1918 SLN 3B 34 0 32 64 9 3
1918 SLN OF 21 0 42 2 1 1

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Second Base 202
Third Base 176
Shortstop 3
Left Field 14
Center Field 20
Right Field 23