Buddy Napier

Born: 12/18/1889 in Byromville, GA, USA

Died: 3/29/1968 in Dallas, TX, USA

MLB Debut: 1912-08-14 | Final Game: 1921-07-16

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

Full name: Skelton Leroy Napier

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Biography

Buddy Napier was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1912 to 1921. Born in 1889, Napier made his mark during a transitional period in baseball, as the sport was evolving from the deadball era to a more offense-driven game. Over the course of his career, he compiled a pitching record of 5-6 and posted an earned run average (ERA) of 3.92, reflecting the competitive nature of the leagues in which he played. Napier's playing style was characterized by his ability to strike out batters, as evidenced by his total of 43 strikeouts. Additionally, he recorded one save throughout his career, showcasing his role as a reliable option in late-game situations. While Napier may not have achieved widespread fame, his contributions to the teams he played for during the early 20th century remain a testament to the skill and determination of athletes in an era marked by significant change in the game of baseball.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
5	6	39	13	6	1	1	137.7	162	60	2	29	43	3.92	0

Career ERA 3.92 vs. league average 3.46 across their career seasons — 13.2% 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
1912	SLA	AL	1	2	7	2	0	0	0	25.3	33	14	5	10	4.97	3.36 (-48%)	214.4
1918	CHC	NL	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	6.7	10	4	4	2	5.40	—	-
1920	CIN	NL	4	2	9	5	5	1	0	49.0	47	7	7	17	1.29	3.45 (+63%)	1059.6
1921	CIN	NL	0	2	22	6	1	0	1	56.7	72	35	13	14	5.56	4.02 (-38%)	288.8

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
39	38	3	6	2	1	0	1	0	6	13	0.158	0.273	0.263	0.536	0.0

Career AVG .158 vs. league average .272 across their career seasons — 42.0% below league average.

Career OBP .273 vs. league average .334 across their career seasons — 18.3% below league average.

Career SLG .263 vs. league average .364 across their career seasons — 27.7% below league average.

Career OPS 0.536 vs. league average 0.698 across their career seasons — 23.2% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS
1912	SLA	AL	7	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0.000	—	—	—	—
1918	CHC	NL	1	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0.333	—	—	—	—
1920	CIN	NL	9	14	1	3	1	0	1	3	4	0.214	—	—	—	—
1921	CIN	NL	22	14	2	2	1	1	0	3	1	0.143	—	—	—	—