Big Jeff Pfeffer

Born: 3/31/1882 in Champaign, IL, USA

Died: 12/19/1954 in Kankakee, IL, USA

MLB Debut: 1905-04-15 | Final Game: 1911-10-09

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 185 lbs

Full name: Francis Xavier Pfeffer

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Biography

Big Jeff Pfeffer was a professional baseball pitcher who played in the Major Leagues from 1905 to 1911. Born in 1882, Pfeffer made his debut during an era that was marked by the early evolution of the game, as baseball transitioned from the deadball era into a period that would soon embrace more offensive strategies. Throughout his career, Pfeffer was known for his durability and ability to take the mound in various situations, accumulating a record of 31 wins and 39 losses, alongside an earned run average (ERA) of 3.3. Pfeffer's performance on the field included 317 strikeouts and 2 saves, showcasing his capability as a strikeout pitcher who could effectively handle pressure situations. His contributions were particularly valuable during a time when pitching styles were beginning to diversify, and he played a significant role in shaping the competitive landscape of baseball during his active years. Through his career, Pfeffer left a lasting impression on the game, exemplifying the determination and skill of early 20th-century pitchers.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
31	39	113	70	59	6	2	695.7	660	255	14	292	317	3.30	0

Career ERA 3.30 vs. league average 2.76 across their career seasons — 19.4% 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
1905	CHC	NL	4	4	15	11	9	0	0	101.0	84	28	36	56	2.50	2.82 (+12%)	-
1906	BSN	NL	13	22	36	36	33	4	0	302.3	270	99	114	158	2.95	2.68 (-10%)	-947.5
1907	BSN	NL	6	8	19	16	12	1	0	144.0	129	48	61	65	3.00	2.50 (-20%)	-1730.1
1908	BSN	NL	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	10.0	18	14	8	3	12.60	2.40 (-425%)	-709.4
1910	CHC	NL	1	0	13	1	1	0	0	41.3	43	15	16	11	3.27	2.79 (-17%)	-
1911	BSN	NL	7	5	26	6	4	1	2	97.0	116	51	57	24	4.73	3.37 (-40%)	-2723.4

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
147	323	20	66	12	4	2	28	4	13	54	0.204	0.255	0.285	0.540	-557.3

Career AVG .204 vs. league average .250 across their career seasons — 18.2% below league average.

Career OBP .255 vs. league average .312 across their career seasons — 18.3% below league average.

Career SLG .285 vs. league average .323 across their career seasons — 11.9% below league average.

Career OPS 0.540 vs. league average 0.635 across their career seasons — 15.0% 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
1905	CHC	NL	15	40	4	8	3	0	0	3	2	0	10	0.200	—	—	—	—	0.0
1906	BSN	NL	60	158	10	31	3	3	1	11	2	5	29	0.196	.247 (-21%)	.307 (-18%)	.315 (-14%)	.622 (-16%)	-404.1
1907	BSN	NL	21	60	1	15	3	0	0	6	0	2	6	0.250	.245 (+2%)	.304 (-6%)	.308 (-3%)	.613 (-4%)	-46.9
1908	BSN	NL	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1910	CHC	NL	14	17	1	3	1	1	0	2	0	1	1	0.176	—	—	—	—	0.0
1911	BSN	NL	33	46	4	9	2	0	1	6	0	5	7	0.196	—	—	—	—	-106.3

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1B	1	0	0	0	0	0
OF	18	9	22	2	1	1
P	113	64	29	189	6	0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1905	CHN	P	15	11	4	24	0	0
1906	BSN	OF	14	8	19	2	1	1
1906	BSN	P	36	36	13	91	4	0
1907	BSN	P	19	16	4	38	2	0
1908	BSN	P	4	0	0	1	0	0
1910	CHN	OF	1	1	1	0	0	0
1910	CHN	P	13	1	0	10	0	0
1911	BSN	1B	1	0	0	0	0	0
1911	BSN	OF	3	0	2	0	0	0
1911	BSN	P	26	0	8	25	0	0