Steve King

Born: 1844 in Lansingburgh, NY, USA

Died: 7/8/1895 in Lansingburgh, NY, USA

MLB Debut: 1871-05-09 | Final Game: 1872-07-23

Height: 5'9" | Weight: 175 lbs

Full name: Stephen F. King

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Biography

Steve King was a prominent position player in the early days of professional baseball, with a career that spanned from 1871 until 1872. Born in 1844, King made his mark in a formative era of the sport, contributing significantly to the development of offensive strategies in a time when the game was still evolving. Throughout his career, he played in 54 games, achieving an impressive .353 batting average, which underscored his ability to make consistent contact with the ball. His offensive prowess was further highlighted by his collection of 96 hits and 54 runs batted in (RBIs), showcasing his role as a key contributor to his team's scoring efforts. Though King did not hit any home runs during his brief career, his four stolen bases indicated a level of agility and a willingness to take risks on the basepaths. His playing style reflected the aggressive and dynamic nature of baseball during the early 1870s, a period marked by the transition from amateur to professional play. As one of the early figures in Major League Baseball, King's contributions not only set a standard for offensive performance but also helped pave the way for future generations of players. His legacy remains a testament to the rich history of the sport and its evolution over time.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
54	272	78	96	18	6	0	54	4	2	3	0.353	0.358	0.463	0.821	882.1

Career AVG .353 vs. league average .286 across their career seasons — +23.5% above league average.

Career OBP .358 vs. league average .303 across their career seasons — +18.0% above league average.

Career SLG .463 vs. league average .363 across their career seasons — +27.8% above league average.

Career OPS 0.821 vs. league average 0.666 across their career seasons — +23.3% 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
1871	TRO		29	144	45	57	10	6	0	34	3	1	1	0.396	.286 (+38%)	.311 (+28%)	.383 (+43%)	.695 (+36%)	790.9
1872	TRO		25	128	33	39	8	0	0	20	1	1	2	0.305	.285 (+7%)	.296 (+4%)	.347 (+6%)	.644 (+5%)	91.2