William Nance

Born: 8/2/1876 in Fort Worth, TX, USA

Died: 5/28/1958 in Fort Worth, TX, USA

MLB Debut: 1897-08-19 | Final Game: 1901-09-28

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'7" | Weight: 165 lbs

Full name: William Gideon Nance

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Biography

William Nance, born in 1876, was a prominent position player who made his mark in Major League Baseball during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His career spanned from 1897 to 1901, a period characterized by the transition from the deadball era to a more offensive-minded approach to the game. Nance played in 189 games, accumulating 182 hits and showcasing a respectable batting average of .277. His offensive contributions included 7 home runs and 99 RBIs, which reflected his ability to drive in runs during a time when scoring was often challenging. In addition to his hitting prowess, Nance demonstrated speed on the bases, recording 14 stolen bases throughout his career. His playing style was indicative of the evolving strategies in baseball, where base running became increasingly valued. Although he played in a relatively brief era, Nance's contributions to his teams underscored the competitive nature of the game during the late 1800s, as players adapted to the changing dynamics of baseball. Nance's legacy remains a part of the rich tapestry of early professional baseball, illustrating the game's growth and the players who helped shape its history.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
189	657	110	182	34	8	7	99	14	83	53	0.277	0.362	0.385	0.747	1076.5

Career AVG .277 vs. league average .277 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .362 vs. league average .337 across their career seasons — +7.5% above league average.

Career SLG .385 vs. league average .364 across their career seasons — +5.9% above league average.

Career OPS 0.747 vs. league average 0.701 across their career seasons — +6.7% 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
1897	LS3	NL	35	120	25	29	5	3	3	17	3	20	15	0.242	.291 (-17%)	.354 (avg)	.387 (+5%)	.741 (+3%)	76.0
1898	LS3	NL	22	76	13	24	5	0	1	16	2	12	7	0.316	.270 (+17%)	.333 (+25%)	.347 (+21%)	.680 (+23%)	323.1
1901	DET	AL	132	461	72	129	24	5	3	66	9	51	31	0.280	.271 (+3%)	.326 (+9%)	.359 (+4%)	.686 (+6%)	677.4