Lou Sylvester

Born: 2/14/1855 in Springfield, IL, USA

Died: 5/5/1936 in Brooklyn, NY, USA

MLB Debut: 1884-04-18 | Final Game: 1887-08-14

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'6" | Weight: 165 lbs

Full name: Louis J. Sylvester

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Biography

Lou Sylvester, born in 1855, was a notable position player in the early days of professional baseball, with a career spanning from 1884 to 1887. He played a total of 173 games during his tenure in the Major Leagues, where he showcased a combination of speed and modest power. Sylvester recorded 159 hits and hit six home runs while driving in 43 runs, finishing his career with a batting average of .243. His ability to steal bases was evident, as he successfully swiped 18 bags, reflecting the aggressive style of play that characterized the era. Sylvester's career unfolded during a formative period in baseball, marked by the transition from the deadball era to a more modern approach to the game. Though he may not have achieved the same level of fame as some of his contemporaries, his contributions on the field were significant in helping to shape the dynamics of baseball in the late 19th century. His legacy endures as a representative of the early players who laid the groundwork for the game we know today.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
0	1	6	1	1	0	1	32.7	32	13	0	6	7	3.58	0

Career ERA 3.58 vs. league average 3.11 across their career seasons — 15.2% 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
1884	CNU	UA	0	1	6	1	1	0	1	32.7	32	13	6	7	3.58	3.11 (-15%)	-237.0

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
173	654	138	159	22	14	6	43	18	67	24	0.243	0.315	0.347	0.662	637.8

Career AVG .243 vs. league average .252 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .315 vs. league average .301 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .347 vs. league average .342 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.662 vs. league average 0.643 across their career seasons — near 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
1884	CNU	UA	82	333	67	89	13	8	2	0	0	18	0	0.267	.243 (+10%)	.278 (+9%)	.327 (+14%)	.606 (+12%)	589.9
1886	LS2	AA	45	154	41	35	5	3	0	17	3	29	0	0.227	.246 (-8%)	.302 (+16%)	.331 (-10%)	.634 (+2%)	179.8
1886	CN2	AA	17	55	10	10	0	0	3	8	2	7	0	0.182	.246 (-26%)	.302 (-6%)	.331 (+4%)	.634 (-1%)	179.8
1887	SL4	AA	29	112	20	25	4	3	1	18	13	13	24	0.223	.270 (-18%)	.331 (-7%)	.373 (-9%)	.705 (-8%)	-145.6