Bill Butland, baseball player, 1940-1947

Bill Butland

Born: 3/22/1918 in Terre Haute, IN, USA

Died: 9/19/1997 in Terre Haute, IN, USA

MLB Debut: 1940-05-29 | Final Game: 1947-05-10

Bats: R | Throws: L | Height: 6'5" | Weight: 185 lbs

Full name: Wilburn Rue Butland

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Biography

Bill Butland, born in 1918, was a professional baseball pitcher who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1940 until 1947. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 9-3 with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.88, showcasing his effectiveness on the mound during a time when the game was evolving both in strategy and player skill. Butland's ability to strike out batters was evident in his total of 62 strikeouts, and he contributed to his team's success with a single save, demonstrating his capability to perform under pressure. Butland played during an era marked by the transition of baseball through the war years and the early stages of the post-war boom. His contributions to his teams, although not as widely recognized as some of his contemporaries, reflected the dedication and resilience of many players who participated during this transformative period in the sport. After retiring from the game on May 10, 1947, Butland left behind a legacy that underscored the importance of solid pitching and the impact of the game on American culture during the 1940s.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
9 3 32 15 7 2 1 150.7 138 65 11 56 62 3.88 0

Career ERA 3.88 vs. league average 3.84 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
1940 BOS AL 1 2 3 3 1 0 0 21.0 27 13 10 5 5.57 4.21 (-32%) 135.8
1942 BOS AL 7 1 23 10 6 2 1 111.3 85 31 33 46 2.51 3.57 (+30%) -246.1
1946 BOS AL 1 0 5 2 0 0 0 16.3 23 20 13 10 11.02 3.59 (-207%) -1043.5
1947 BOS AL 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2.0 3 1 0 1 4.50 — 0.0

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
32 39 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 7 16 0.051 0.196 0.051 0.247 0.0

Career AVG .051 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — 80.3% below league average.

Career OBP .196 vs. league average .331 across their career seasons — 40.9% below league average.

Career SLG .051 vs. league average .368 across their career seasons — 86.1% below league average.

Career OPS 0.247 vs. league average 0.699 across their career seasons — 64.7% 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
1940 BOS AL 3 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1942 BOS AL 23 28 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 7 12 0.036 — — — — 0.0
1946 BOS AL 5 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0.250 — — — — 0.0
1947 BOS AL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 32 0 15 31 0 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1940 BOS P 3 0 1 7 0 0
1942 BOS P 23 0 14 20 0 0
1946 BOS P 5 0 0 4 0 0
1947 BOS P 1 0 0 0 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 32