Elmer Foster

Born: 8/15/1861 in Minneapolis, MN, USA

Died: 7/22/1946 in Deephaven, MN, USA

MLB Debut: 1886-04-17 | Final Game: 1891-04-25

Bats: R | Throws: L | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 178 lbs

Full name: Elmer Ellsworth Foster

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Biography

Elmer Foster was a professional baseball player born in 1861, whose career spanned from 1886 to 1891. Primarily serving as a position player, Foster played a total of 105 games in Major League Baseball. During his time in the league, he recorded 72 hits, 6 home runs, and 41 runs batted in, finishing his career with a batting average of .187. His speed on the bases was notable, as he accumulated 37 stolen bases, demonstrating the aggressive style of play that was becoming more prominent in the late 19th century. Foster's career unfolded during an era when baseball was transitioning from the deadball era into a more dynamic phase, as players began to emphasize speed and base running. Although he faced challenges in achieving a higher batting average, his contributions on the field were significant in their own right, particularly in the context of the evolving game. Elmer Foster remains a figure from the formative years of professional baseball, illustrating the early struggles and triumphs of players in a sport that was still finding its identity.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
105	386	56	72	7	5	6	41	37	29	44	0.187	0.258	0.277	0.535	-967.1

Career AVG .187 vs. league average .253 across their career seasons — 26.4% below league average.

Career OBP .258 vs. league average .321 across their career seasons — 19.8% below league average.

Career SLG .277 vs. league average .342 across their career seasons — 18.9% below league average.

Career OPS 0.535 vs. league average 0.663 across their career seasons — 19.3% 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
1886	NY4	AA	35	125	16	23	0	1	0	7	3	7	0	0.184	.246 (-25%)	.302 (-21%)	.331 (-40%)	.634 (-31%)	-560.4
1888	NY1	NL	37	136	15	20	3	2	0	10	13	9	20	0.147	.238 (-38%)	.290 (-26%)	.319 (-38%)	.610 (-32%)	-628.4
1889	NY1	NL	2	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	1	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1890	CHC	NL	27	105	20	26	4	2	5	23	18	9	21	0.248	.260 (-5%)	.336 (-4%)	.351 (+33%)	.687 (+15%)	221.7
1891	CHC	NL	4	16	3	3	0	0	1	1	1	1	2	0.188	—	—	—	—	0.0