Oscar Horstmann, baseball player, 1917-1919

Oscar Horstmann

Born: 6/2/1891 in Alma, MO, USA

Died: 5/11/1977 in Salina, KS, USA

MLB Debut: 1917-04-18 | Final Game: 1919-06-01

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 165 lbs

Full name: Oscar Theodore Horstmann

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Biography

Oscar Horstmann was a professional baseball pitcher who played in the Major Leagues from 1917 to 1919. Born in 1891, Horstmann made a mark during a transitional period in baseball, just before the sport saw the explosive growth of the 1920s. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 9-7 and maintained an earned run average (ERA) of 3.67, showcasing his ability to compete effectively on the mound during the era. Horstmann's career featured a total of 61 strikeouts and 1 save, reflecting his role as a reliable pitcher who could contribute both as a starter and in relief situations. His playing style included a focus on control and strategy, which was essential in an era where pitchers often relied on guile and finesse rather than overpowering speed. Though his time in the majors was relatively brief, Horstmann's contributions to the teams he played for during this formative period in baseball history remain a testament to the talent that helped shape the game as it evolved into the modern era.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
9 7 50 15 4 1 1 176.7 154 72 5 80 61 3.67 0

Career ERA 3.67 vs. league average 2.86 across their career seasons — 28.2% worse 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
1917 STL NL 9 4 35 11 4 1 1 138.7 111 53 54 50 3.44 2.69 (-28%) -
1918 STL NL 0 2 9 2 0 0 0 23.0 29 14 14 6 5.48 2.83 (-94%) -
1919 STL NL 0 1 6 2 0 0 0 15.0 14 5 12 5 3.00 3.09 (+3%) -

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
50 52 1 10 2 0 0 2 0 3 16 0.192 0.236 0.231 0.467 0.0

Career AVG .192 vs. league average .255 across their career seasons — 24.6% below league average.

Career OBP .236 vs. league average .318 across their career seasons — 25.6% below league average.

Career SLG .231 vs. league average .332 across their career seasons — 30.6% below league average.

Career OPS 0.467 vs. league average 0.650 across their career seasons — 28.2% 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
1917 STL NL 35 46 1 9 2 0 0 2 0 2 13 0.196 — — — — 0.0
1918 STL NL 9 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1919 STL NL 6 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.500 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 50 0 5 57 2 2

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1917 SLN P 35 0 3 40 2 2
1918 SLN P 9 0 1 12 0 0
1919 SLN P 6 0 1 5 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 50