Buttons Briggs

Born: 7/8/1875 in Poughkeepsie, NY, USA

Died: 2/18/1911 in Cleveland, OH, USA

MLB Debut: 1896-04-23 | Final Game: 1905-09-25

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: Herbert Theodore Briggs

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Biography

Buttons Briggs was a professional baseball pitcher who played from 1896 until 1905. Born in 1875, he made his mark during a transitional period in baseball, moving from the tail end of the deadball era into a time when the game began to embrace more offensive strategies. Over the course of his career, Briggs compiled a win-loss record of 44-47 and maintained an earned run average (ERA) of 3.41, indicating his effectiveness on the mound during a time when scoring was often low and pitching dominated the game. Briggs was known for his competitive spirit and ability to strike out batters, finishing his career with 338 strikeouts. Though he recorded only 4 saves, his contributions to his teams were significant and often reflected in high-pressure situations. As a member of the early 20th-century baseball landscape, he navigated the challenges of a rapidly changing sport and left a legacy that captured the spirit of a game in evolution. His career spanned nearly a decade, and while he may not be as widely recognized as some of his contemporaries, his role as a pitcher during this formative era of baseball remains an important part of the sport's history.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
44	47	106	97	84	8	4	855.7	879	324	16	332	338	3.41	0

Career ERA 3.41 vs. league average 3.40 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
1896	CHC	NL	12	8	26	21	19	0	1	194.0	202	93	108	84	4.31	4.36 (+1%)	-
1897	CHC	NL	4	17	22	22	21	0	0	186.7	246	109	85	60	5.26	4.30 (-22%)	-
1898	CHC	NL	1	3	4	4	3	0	0	30.0	38	19	10	14	5.70	3.59 (-59%)	-
1904	CHC	NL	19	11	34	30	28	3	3	277.0	252	63	77	112	2.05	2.66 (+23%)	-
1905	CHC	NL	8	8	20	20	13	5	0	168.0	141	40	52	68	2.14	2.82 (+24%)	-

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
106	324	19	48	2	3	1	17	1	19	66	0.148	0.195	0.182	0.377	-2422.3

Career AVG .148 vs. league average .266 across their career seasons — 44.3% below league average.

Career OBP .195 vs. league average .326 across their career seasons — 40.1% below league average.

Career SLG .182 vs. league average .348 across their career seasons — 47.7% below league average.

Career OPS 0.377 vs. league average 0.674 across their career seasons — 44.0% 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
1896	CHC	NL	26	78	5	10	0	2	0	6	0	7	14	0.128	.290 (-56%)	.354 (-44%)	.387 (-54%)	.741 (-49%)	-675.3
1897	CHC	NL	22	81	5	13	0	1	0	5	1	3	15	0.160	.291 (-45%)	.354 (-46%)	.387 (-52%)	.741 (-49%)	-694.0
1898	CHC	NL	4	14	2	6	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	0.429	—	—	—	—	0.0
1904	CHC	NL	34	94	6	16	1	0	1	4	0	5	26	0.170	.246 (-31%)	.300 (-29%)	.321 (-34%)	.622 (-32%)	-442.9
1905	CHC	NL	20	57	1	3	0	0	0	1	0	4	10	0.053	.248 (-79%)	.307 (-63%)	.322 (-84%)	.629 (-73%)	-610.2