Willis Cole

Born: 1/6/1882 in Milton Junction, WI, USA

Died: 10/11/1965 in Madison, WI, USA

MLB Debut: 1909-08-22 | Final Game: 1910-06-13

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 170 lbs

Full name: Willis Russell Cole

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Biography

Willis Cole was a professional baseball player born in 1882, who played in the Major Leagues during the early 20th century. His career spanned from August 22, 1909, to June 13, 1910, a time when baseball was evolving and becoming a major American pastime. Cole primarily played as a position player and appeared in a total of 68 games throughout his brief career. He recorded 53 hits, contributing 18 runs batted in, and finished with a batting average of .216. While he did not hit any home runs, he demonstrated speed on the base paths with 3 stolen bases. Playing in an era that was characterized by the tail end of the deadball era, Cole’s contributions to his teams reflected the gritty and fundamental style of play that defined the time. Though his career was short-lived, Cole's experience in the burgeoning world of professional baseball provides a glimpse into the daily lives of players during a period of significant transition for the sport. His legacy, while modest in statistical terms, is part of the rich tapestry of baseball history, illuminating the challenges and triumphs faced by athletes of his time.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
68	245	23	53	9	4	0	18	3	20	35	0.216	0.281	0.286	0.567	-365.5

Career AVG .216 vs. league average .247 across their career seasons — 12.4% below league average.

Career OBP .281 vs. league average .312 across their career seasons — 10.0% below league average.

Career SLG .286 vs. league average .320 across their career seasons — 10.6% below league average.

Career OPS 0.567 vs. league average 0.632 across their career seasons — 10.3% 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	CHW	AL	46	165	17	39	7	3	0	16	3	16	19	0.236	.244 (-3%)	.306 (avg)	.312 (+1%)	.618 (+1%)	14.9
1910	CHW	AL	22	80	6	14	2	1	0	2	0	4	16	0.175	.249 (-30%)	.317 (-30%)	.326 (-31%)	.644 (-30%)	-380.4