Jack Pfiester

Born: 5/24/1878 in Cincinnati, OH, USA

Died: 9/3/1953 in Loveland, OH, USA

MLB Debut: 1903-09-08 | Final Game: 1911-05-10

Bats: R | Throws: L | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: John Albert Pfiester

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Biography

Jack Pfiester, born in 1878, was a prominent pitcher in Major League Baseball during the early 20th century, carving out a notable career from 1903 to 1911. He played primarily for the Chicago Cubs and was known for his exceptional skill on the mound, finishing his career with a record of 71-44 and an impressive earned run average (ERA) of 2.02. Pfiester stood out during an era characterized by low offensive production, which made his ability to limit runs particularly significant. Over his career, he recorded 503 strikeouts, showcasing his prowess as a strikeout pitcher in an age where such feats were less common. Pfiester's playing style emphasized control and precision, which contributed to his effectiveness and longevity in the game. His contributions were pivotal to the success of the Cubs during his tenure, as he helped solidify a pitching staff that would become known for its dominance in the National League. Despite the challenges of the deadball era, when home runs were scarce and strategy revolved around small ball tactics, Pfiester's performance and consistency on the mound earned him a respected place in baseball history. He retired after a successful career, leaving behind a legacy characterized by his remarkable ERA and strikeout totals.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
71	44	149	128	75	17	0	1067.3	869	240	6	293	503	2.02	0

Career ERA 2.02 vs. league average 2.75 across their career seasons — 26.4% better than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1903	PIT	NL	0	3	3	3	2	0	19.0	26	13	10	15	6.16	3.10 (-99%)	18.2
1904	PIT	NL	1	1	3	2	1	0	20.0	28	16	9	6	7.20	2.66 (-171%)	-255.8
1906	CHC	NL	20	8	31	29	20	4	250.7	173	42	63	153	1.51	2.68 (+44%)	-
1907	CHC	NL	14	9	30	22	13	3	195.0	143	25	48	90	1.15	2.50 (+54%)	-
1908	CHC	NL	12	10	33	29	18	3	252.0	204	56	70	117	2.00	2.40 (+17%)	-
1909	CHC	NL	17	6	29	25	13	5	196.7	179	53	49	73	2.43	2.55 (+5%)	-
1910	CHC	NL	6	3	14	13	5	2	100.3	82	20	26	34	1.79	2.79 (+36%)	-
1911	CHC	NL	1	4	6	5	3	0	33.7	34	15	18	15	4.01	3.37 (-19%)	-

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
149	349	18	36	3	1	0	14	2	20	137	0.103	0.154	0.117	0.272	-2482.8

Career AVG .103 vs. league average .250 across their career seasons — 58.8% below league average.

Career OBP .154 vs. league average .311 across their career seasons — 50.5% below league average.

Career SLG .117 vs. league average .324 across their career seasons — 63.8% below league average.

Career OPS 0.272 vs. league average 0.635 across their career seasons — 57.3% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1903	PIT	NL	3	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1904	PIT	NL	3	7	1	2	0	1	2	0	1	2	0.286	—	—	—	—	0.0
1906	CHC	NL	31	84	5	4	0	0	1	0	3	34	0.048	.247 (-81%)	.307 (-70%)	.315 (-85%)	.622 (-78%)	-967.7
1907	CHC	NL	30	64	4	6	1	0	1	0	5	26	0.094	.245 (-62%)	.304 (-48%)	.308 (-65%)	.613 (-56%)	-523.3
1908	CHC	NL	33	79	2	8	1	0	2	1	3	30	0.101	.240 (-58%)	.298 (-55%)	.306 (-63%)	.605 (-59%)	-679.4
1909	CHC	NL	29	65	5	11	1	0	4	1	5	26	0.169	.244 (-31%)	.306 (-25%)	.312 (-41%)	.618 (-33%)	-312.4
1910	CHC	NL	14	33	1	3	0	0	2	0	2	12	0.091	—	—	—	—	0.0
1911	CHC	NL	6	11	0	2	0	0	2	0	1	5	0.182	—	—	—	—	0.0