Bill Donovan

Born: 7/6/1916 in Maywood, IL, USA

Died: 9/25/1997 in Maywood, IL, USA

MLB Debut: 1942-04-19 | Final Game: 1943-06-20

Bats: R | Throws: L | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 198 lbs

Full name: Willard Earl Donovan

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Biography

Bill Donovan, born in 1916, was a professional baseball pitcher who played during a transitional period in the sport's history. His career spanned from 1942 to June 20, 1943, a time marked by the impact of World War II on Major League Baseball, as many players enlisted or were drafted into military service. Donovan's tenure in the league was characterized by his skilled pitching and competitive spirit, contributing to the game during a challenging era. Over the course of his career, Donovan recorded a win-loss record of 4-6 and posted an earned run average (ERA) of 3.2, showcasing his ability to keep runs to a minimum. He struck out 24 batters, demonstrating his effectiveness on the mound despite a relatively brief career. While he did not achieve any saves, his contributions as a pitcher were vital for his team during the early 1940s, a time when the quality of play remained high even amidst the backdrop of wartime challenges. Donovan's legacy is remembered as part of the rich tapestry of baseball history during a unique and pivotal time.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
4	6	38	10	2	0	0	104.0	114	37	2	41	24	3.20	0

Career ERA 3.20 vs. league average 3.53 across their career seasons — 9.4% better than 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
1942	BSN	NL	3	6	31	10	2	0	0	89.3	97	34	32	23	3.43	3.57 (+4%)	320.4
1943	BSN	NL	1	0	7	0	0	0	0	14.7	17	3	9	1	1.84	3.50 (+47%)	-313.8

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
38	28	1	7	0	0	0	1	0	2	6	0.250	0.300	0.250	0.550	0.0

Career AVG .250 vs. league average .255 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .300 vs. league average .324 across their career seasons — 7.4% below league average.

Career SLG .250 vs. league average .348 across their career seasons — 28.2% below league average.

Career OPS 0.550 vs. league average 0.672 across their career seasons — 18.2% 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
1942	BSN	NL	31	25	1	6	0	0	0	1	0	2	4	0.240	—	—	—	—	0.0
1943	BSN	NL	7	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0.333	—	—	—	—	0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
P	38	0	5	41	2	0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1942	BSN	P	31	0	5	32	2	0
1943	BSN	P	7	0	0	9	0	0

Career Games by Position

Position	Games
Pitcher	38