Birdie Cree

Born: 10/23/1882 in Khedive, PA, USA

Died: 11/7/1942 in Sunbury, PA, USA

MLB Debut: 1908-09-17 | Final Game: 1915-09-21

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'6" | Weight: 150 lbs

Full name: William Franklin Cree

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Biography

Birdie Cree, born in 1882, was a notable position player in Major League Baseball who enjoyed a career spanning from 1908 to 1915. He played in 742 games, where he demonstrated a well-rounded offensive skill set characterized by his impressive batting average of .292. Cree amassed a total of 761 hits, including 11 home runs and 332 runs batted in, showcasing his ability to contribute significantly to his teams' offensive efforts. In addition to his hitting prowess, he displayed remarkable speed on the base paths, finishing his career with 132 stolen bases, a testament to his agility and base-running acumen during an era increasingly characterized by the transition from small ball tactics to more power-oriented play. Cree's impact on the game extended beyond his statistical achievements; he was part of a generation of players who helped shape the early 20th-century landscape of baseball. His contributions came during a time when the sport was evolving, facing the challenges of the deadball era's restrictive offensive environment. Despite the limitations of the era, Birdie Cree's skill set and competitive spirit ensured he left a lasting impression on the teams he played for, including the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox. As a player who embraced both speed and contact hitting, he remains a significant figure in the annals of baseball history.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
742	2603	345	761	117	62	11	332	132	269	274	0.292	0.368	0.398	0.766	7836.9

Career AVG .292 vs. league average .254 across their career seasons — +14.9% above league average.

Career OBP .368 vs. league average .320 across their career seasons — +14.9% above league average.

Career SLG .398 vs. league average .335 across their career seasons — +18.6% above league average.

Career OPS 0.766 vs. league average 0.655 across their career seasons — +16.8% 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
1908	NYY	AL	21	78	5	21	0	2	0	4	1	7	12	0.269	.240 (+12%)	.298 (+16%)	.306 (+5%)	.605 (+10%)	135.8
1909	NYY	AL	104	343	48	90	6	3	2	27	10	30	31	0.262	.244 (+7%)	.306 (+10%)	.312 (+1%)	.618 (+5%)	444.0
1910	NYY	AL	134	467	58	134	19	16	4	73	28	40	48	0.287	.249 (+15%)	.317 (+11%)	.326 (+29%)	.644 (+20%)	1645.2
1911	NYY	AL	137	520	90	181	30	22	4	88	48	56	61	0.348	.266 (+31%)	.336 (+23%)	.356 (+44%)	.693 (+34%)	3398.1
1912	NYY	AL	50	190	25	63	11	6	0	22	12	20	25	0.332	.268 (+23%)	.335 (+22%)	.358 (+26%)	.694 (+24%)	815.4
1913	NYY	AL	145	534	51	145	25	6	1	63	22	50	51	0.272	.259 (+5%)	.325 (+4%)	.345 (avg)	.670 (+2%)	266.2
1914	NYY	AL	77	275	45	85	18	5	0	40	4	30	24	0.309	.255 (+21%)	.322 (+21%)	.339 (+21%)	.661 (+21%)	1057.5
1915	NYY	AL	74	196	23	42	8	2	0	15	7	36	22	0.214	.250 (-14%)	.318 (+11%)	.332 (-17%)	.651 (-3%)	74.7

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
2B	6	3	6	8	1	0
3B	1	0	0	0	0	0
OF	689	227	1252	81	48	20
SS	10	5	14	34	6	3

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1908	NYA	OF	21	21	35	4	0	2
1909	NYA	2B	4	3	6	7	0	0
1909	NYA	3B	1	0	0	0	0	0
1909	NYA	OF	79	78	121	9	7	2
1909	NYA	SS	6	5	7	21	2	2
1910	NYA	OF	134	128	202	11	10	3
1911	NYA	2B	2	0	0	1	1	0
1911	NYA	OF	132	0	245	19	10	2
1911	NYA	SS	4	0	7	13	4	1
1912	NYA	OF	50	0	123	5	7	1
1913	NYA	OF	144	0	239	17	3	5
1914	NYA	OF	76	0	190	10	5	4
1915	NYA	OF	53	0	97	6	6	1