William Hoover

Born: 4/12/1863 in Philadelphia, PA, USA

Died: 4/16/1924 in Jersey City, NJ, USA

MLB Debut: 1884-04-17 | Final Game: 1892-10-15

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 178 lbs

Full name: William James Hoover

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Biography

William Hoover, born in 1863, was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1884 to 1892. Primarily recognized as a position player, Hoover participated in 127 games during his time in Major League Baseball. He accumulated 151 hits and demonstrated a solid batting average of .288, reflecting his ability to connect well with the ball in an era when offense was becoming increasingly important. Although he hit only one home run throughout his career, he was known for his speed on the bases, recording 16 stolen bases and contributing a total of 16 RBIs. Playing in the late 19th century, Hoover's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball history, marked by the transition from the deadball era to a more offensive-minded approach in the sport. His performance on the field showcased the evolving nature of baseball, emphasizing both skill and athleticism. Hoover's contributions to the game, while perhaps overshadowed by more prominent players of his time, reflect the dedication and talent that characterized the early days of professional baseball. He retired from the game on October 15, 1892, leaving behind a legacy as one of the many players who helped shape the sport's early narrative.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
127	525	114	151	23	14	1	16	16	37	13	0.288	0.337	0.390	0.727	1505.6

Career AVG .288 vs. league average .245 across their career seasons — +17.6% above league average.

Career OBP .337 vs. league average .296 across their career seasons — +13.7% above league average.

Career SLG .390 vs. league average .329 across their career seasons — +18.8% above league average.

Career OPS 0.727 vs. league average 0.625 across their career seasons — +16.4% 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
1884	PHU	UA	63	275	76	100	20	8	0	0	0	12	0	0.364	.243 (+49%)	.278 (+40%)	.327 (+51%)	.606 (+46%)	1855.3
1884	PHI	NL	10	42	6	8	1	0	1	4	0	4	9	0.190	—	—	—	—	1855.3
1886	BL2	AA	40	157	25	34	2	6	0	10	15	16	0	0.217	.246 (-12%)	.302 (-2%)	.331 (-8%)	.634 (-5%)	-104.5
1892	CIN	NL	14	51	7	9	0	0	0	2	1	5	4	0.176	.244 (-28%)	.316 (-21%)	.327 (-46%)	.644 (-34%)	-245.2