Billy Hoy

Born: 5/23/1862 in Houcktown, OH, USA

Died: 12/15/1961 in Cincinnati, OH, USA

MLB Debut: 1888-04-20 | Final Game: 1902-07-17

Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'6" | Weight: 160 lbs

Full name: William Ellsworth Hoy

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Biography

Billy Hoy was a prominent professional baseball player who made significant contributions to the game during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1862, he played in the major leagues from 1888 until his retirement on July 17, 1902. Over the course of his career, Hoy participated in 1,797 games, a testament to his durability and consistent presence on the field. He amassed a total of 2,048 hits, showcasing his ability to get on base and contribute offensively throughout his time in the league. With a batting average of .288, Hoy established himself as a reliable hitter, while his 40 home runs and 725 RBIs further highlighted his offensive prowess. Hoy was also known for his exceptional speed on the base paths, evidenced by his impressive total of 596 stolen bases, a significant achievement in an era that increasingly valued aggressive base running. His playing style reflected the transitional nature of baseball during this period, as the game began to evolve from the slower-paced play of the deadball era to a more dynamic approach. Hoy's contributions to his teams not only underscored his individual talents but also helped pave the way for future generations of players who would build upon the foundations he helped establish in the sport. His legacy remains a notable part of baseball history, as he exemplified the competitive spirit and athleticism that defined the era in which he played.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
1797 7115 1429 2048 248 121 40 725 596 1006 345 0.288 0.386 0.374 0.760 15572.2

Career AVG .288 vs. league average .271 across their career seasons — +6.4% above league average.

Career OBP .386 vs. league average .337 across their career seasons — +14.7% above league average.

Career SLG .374 vs. league average .362 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.760 vs. league average 0.698 across their career seasons — +8.8% 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
1888 WS8 NL 136 503 77 138 10 8 2 29 82 69 48 0.274 .238 (+15%) .290 (+29%) .319 (+6%) .610 (+17%) 1977.6
1889 WS8 NL 127 507 98 139 11 6 0 39 35 75 30 0.274 .263 (+4%) .334 (+12%) .357 (-11%) .691 (avg) 372.4
1890 BFP PL 122 493 107 147 17 8 1 53 39 94 36 0.298 .260 (+15%) .336 (+24%) .351 (+6%) .687 (+15%) 1916.0
1891 SL4 AA 139 559 134 163 13 5 5 64 59 117 25 0.292 .254 (+15%) .331 (+28%) .343 (+5%) .675 (+16%) 2562.9
1892 WAS NL 152 593 108 167 19 8 3 75 60 86 23 0.282 .244 (+15%) .316 (+19%) .327 (+9%) .644 (+14%) 1839.9
1893 WAS NL 130 564 106 138 12 6 0 45 48 66 9 0.245 .279 (-13%) .356 (-5%) .379 (-24%) .735 (-15%) -1588.7
1894 CIN NL 128 503 118 153 23 13 5 71 28 90 19 0.304 .309 (-2%) .379 (+11%) .435 (-1%) .814 (+5%) 842.4
1895 CIN NL 107 429 93 119 21 12 3 55 50 52 8 0.277 .296 (-6%) .361 (+1%) .399 (+1%) .761 (+1%) 71.5
1896 CIN NL 121 443 120 132 23 7 4 57 50 65 13 0.298 .290 (+3%) .354 (+14%) .387 (+5%) .741 (+9%) 1128.3
1897 CIN NL 128 497 87 145 24 6 2 42 37 54 27 0.292 .291 (avg) .354 (+6%) .387 (-3%) .741 (+1%) 298.1
1898 LS3 NL 148 582 104 177 15 16 6 66 37 49 33 0.304 .270 (+12%) .333 (+10%) .347 (+20%) .680 (+15%) 1673.4
1899 LS3 NL 155 636 117 194 17 13 5 49 33 62 31 0.305 .282 (+8%) .343 (+9%) .366 (+8%) .710 (+9%) 1244.6
1901 CHW AL 132 527 112 155 28 11 2 60 27 86 23 0.294 .271 (+8%) .326 (+24%) .359 (+11%) .686 (+18%) 2303.7
1902 CIN NL 72 279 48 81 15 2 2 20 11 41 20 0.290 .266 (+9%) .321 (+21%) .343 (+11%) .665 (+16%) 930.1

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
2B 1 0 1 2 0 1
OF 1796 0 3964 274 394 72

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1888 WS8 OF 136 0 296 26 37 7
1889 WS8 OF 127 0 255 29 35 4
1890 BFP 2B 1 0 1 2 0 1
1890 BFP OF 122 0 289 23 30 9
1891 SL4 OF 139 0 251 26 27 3
1892 WAS OF 152 0 275 16 38 3
1893 WAS OF 130 0 281 26 37 8
1894 CIN OF 128 0 320 30 41 3
1895 CIN OF 107 0 235 14 33 6
1896 CIN OF 120 0 303 14 18 3
1897 CIN OF 128 0 359 10 26 5
1898 LS3 OF 148 0 348 19 21 6
1899 LS3 OF 155 0 325 21 27 8
1901 CHA OF 132 0 278 16 13 6
1902 CIN OF 72 0 149 4 11 1

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Second Base 1
Left Field 66
Center Field 1727
Right Field 5