Tom O'Rourke, baseball player, 1887-1890

Tom O'Rourke

Born: 1865 in New York, NY, USA

Died: 7/19/1929 in New York, NY, USA

MLB Debut: 1887-05-11 | Final Game: 1890-08-01

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 158 lbs

Full name: Thomas Joseph O'Rourke

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Biography

Tom O'Rourke, born in 1865, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in the late 19th century, a time characterized by the early evolution of the game before the advent of the modern era. O'Rourke played the role of a position player from 1887 until his last game on August 1, 1890. Throughout his career, he appeared in 85 games, accumulating 58 hits and driving in 26 runs, while maintaining a batting average of .186. Known for his speed on the bases, he successfully stole 8 bases, showcasing his ability to contribute to his team's offensive strategies during a period when the game was still heavily reliant on speed and contact hitting. O'Rourke's playing career unfolded during a transitional phase in baseball, moving away from the deadball era towards a more dynamic style of play. While he did not hit any home runs, his contributions were pivotal in the context of his teams at the time. His tenure in the league reflected the challenges and competitive spirit of baseball during its formative years, leaving a legacy that would influence future generations of players.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
85 312 32 58 11 0 0 26 8 21 15 0.186 0.242 0.221 0.463 -1465.2

Career AVG .186 vs. league average .257 across their career seasons — 27.7% below league average.

Career OBP .242 vs. league average .322 across their career seasons — 25.0% below league average.

Career SLG .221 vs. league average .349 across their career seasons — 36.6% below league average.

Career OPS 0.463 vs. league average 0.671 across their career seasons — 31.0% 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
1887 BSN NL 22 78 12 12 3 0 0 10 4 7 6 0.154 .270 (-43%) .331 (-30%) .373 (-49%) .705 (-40%) -497.7
1888 BSN NL 20 74 3 13 0 0 0 4 2 1 9 0.176 .238 (-26%) .290 (-36%) .319 (-45%) .610 (-41%) -425.9
1890 NY1 NL 2 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1890 SR2 AA 41 153 16 33 8 0 0 12 2 12 0 0.216 .260 (-17%) .336 (-18%) .351 (-24%) .687 (-21%) 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 1 0 12 1 0 0
3B 1 0 1 1 1 0
C 83 0 370 118 75 10
OF 2 0 0 0 0 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1887 BSN 3B 1 0 1 1 1 0
1887 BSN C 21 0 80 28 31 3
1887 BSN OF 1 0 0 0 0 0
1888 BSN C 20 0 89 37 17 1
1888 BSN OF 1 0 0 0 0 0
1890 NY1 C 2 0 14 5 3 0
1890 SR2 1B 1 0 12 1 0 0
1890 SR2 C 40 0 187 48 24 6

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Catcher 83
First Base 1
Third Base 1
Right Field 2