John Rainey, baseball player, 1887-1890

John Rainey

Born: 7/16/1864 in Birmingham, MI, USA

Died: 11/11/1912 in Detroit, MI, USA

MLB Debut: 1887-08-25 | Final Game: 1890-07-29

Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 164 lbs

Full name: John M. Rainey

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Biography

John Rainey, born in 1864, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in the late 19th century. His career spanned from 1887 to 1890, during a transformative period in baseball that was characterized by the emergence of organized teams and the early adoption of professional play. Rainey played a total of 59 games, showcasing his skills primarily as a position player. Over the course of his career, he recorded 56 hits, which translated to a batting average of .25, highlighting his ability to make contact with the ball during an era that often favored pitching. Rainey's offensive contributions included 32 RBIs and a solitary home run, but he was also known for his speed on the base paths, achieving 12 stolen bases. While not a household name in the annals of baseball history, Rainey’s performance in the league reflects the competitive nature of the sport during the late 1800s, a time when the game was evolving rapidly and players were beginning to hone the strategies that would shape modern baseball. His career, although brief, remains a part of the rich tapestry of baseball's past, illustrating the early foundations of the game that would grow into a national pastime.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
59 224 35 56 8 1 1 32 12 29 21 0.250 0.349 0.308 0.657 -90.9

Career AVG .250 vs. league average .264 across their career seasons — 5.5% below league average.

Career OBP .349 vs. league average .335 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .308 vs. league average .360 across their career seasons — 14.5% below league average.

Career OPS 0.657 vs. league average 0.695 across their career seasons — 5.5% 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 NY1 NL 17 58 6 17 3 0 0 12 0 5 6 0.293 .270 (+8%) .331 (+5%) .373 (-8%) .705 (-2%) -3.4
1890 BFP PL 42 166 29 39 5 1 1 20 12 24 15 0.235 .260 (-10%) .336 (+4%) .351 (-16%) .687 (-6%) -87.5

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
2B 2 0 5 4 1 1
3B 23 0 27 35 13 3
OF 28 0 41 6 7 1
SS 7 0 18 23 6 6

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1887 NY1 3B 17 0 19 26 10 3
1890 BFP 2B 2 0 5 4 1 1
1890 BFP 3B 6 0 8 9 3 0
1890 BFP OF 28 0 41 6 7 1
1890 BFP SS 7 0 18 23 6 6

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Second Base 2
Third Base 23
Shortstop 7
Right Field 28