Bob Black, baseball player, 1884-1884

Bob Black

Born: 12/10/1862 in Cincinnati, OH, USA

Died: 3/21/1933 in Sioux City, IA, USA

MLB Debut: 1884-08-19 | Final Game: 1884-10-19

Throws: R | Height: 5'5" | Weight: 155 lbs

Full name: Robert Benjamin Black

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Biography

Bob Black was a professional baseball pitcher born in 1862, whose career spanned from August 19, 1884, to October 19, 1884. He played during a transformative period in baseball, characterized by the evolution of pitching techniques and the growing popularity of the sport in America. Black's tenure in the major leagues was brief, yet he made notable contributions during a time when the game was still solidifying its rules and structure. In his single season, Black compiled a record of 4 wins and 9 losses, while maintaining an earned run average (ERA) of 3.22. He recorded 93 strikeouts, showcasing his ability to overpower batters with his pitching style. Although he did not secure any saves, his performance reflected the competitive nature of the league at the time. Black's impact on the game, though limited in duration, was part of the larger narrative of early professional baseball, where pitchers began to emerge as key figures in the sport's development.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
4 9 16 15 13 0 0 123.0 127 44 1 17 93 3.22 0

Career ERA 3.22 vs. league average 3.11 across their career seasons — near 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
1884 KCU UA 4 9 16 15 13 0 0 123.0 127 44 17 93 3.22 3.11 (-4%) 2615.4

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
38 146 25 36 14 2 1 0 0 10 0 0.247 0.295 0.390 0.685 256.6

Career AVG .247 vs. league average .243 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .295 vs. league average .279 across their career seasons — +5.7% above league average.

Career SLG .390 vs. league average .327 across their career seasons — +19.4% above league average.

Career OPS 0.685 vs. league average 0.606 across their career seasons — +13.1% above 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
1884 KCU UA 38 146 25 36 14 2 1 0 0 10 0 0.247 .243 (+1%) .278 (+6%) .327 (+19%) .606 (+13%) 256.6

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
2B 6 0 17 15 4 2
OF 19 0 25 4 8 0
P 16 0 16 29 4 2
SS 1 0 0 2 4 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1884 KCU 2B 6 0 17 15 4 2
1884 KCU OF 19 0 25 4 8 0
1884 KCU P 16 0 16 29 4 2
1884 KCU SS 1 0 0 2 4 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 16
Second Base 6
Shortstop 1
Left Field 5
Center Field 7
Right Field 7