Piggy Ward, baseball player, 1883-1894

Piggy Ward

Born: 4/16/1867 in Chambersburg, PA, USA

Died: 10/23/1912 in Hollidaysburg, PA, USA

MLB Debut: 1883-06-12 | Final Game: 1894-09-30

Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 196 lbs

Full name: Frank Gray Ward

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Biography

Piggy Ward, born in 1867, was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1883 to September 30, 1894. Known for his versatility as a position player, Ward made a notable impact in the early days of Major League Baseball, contributing to the game during a time when it was still evolving in popularity and structure. Over the course of 221 games, he recorded 223 hits and achieved a respectable batting average of .286. His offensive prowess included 90 runs batted in and a single home run, but he was particularly recognized for his speed on the basepaths, amassing 86 stolen bases. Ward's playing style exemplified the aggressive and dynamic nature of baseball during the late 19th century, an era characterized by foundational changes in the rules and strategies of the game. His ability to steal bases showcased the emphasis on speed and athleticism that was becoming increasingly important as the sport grew. Although he played in a time before the modern power-hitting era, Ward's contributions to his teams reflected a commitment to the fundamentals of the game, earning him a place in the rich tapestry of baseball history.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
221 780 172 223 23 16 1 90 86 156 73 0.286 0.419 0.360 0.779 1606.2

Career AVG .286 vs. league average .267 across their career seasons — +7.2% above league average.

Career OBP .419 vs. league average .334 across their career seasons — +25.3% above league average.

Career SLG .360 vs. league average .363 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.779 vs. league average 0.697 across their career seasons — +11.8% above 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
1883 PHI NL 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1889 PHI NL 7 25 0 4 1 0 0 4 1 0 7 0.160 — — — — 0.0
1891 PIT NL 6 18 3 6 0 0 0 2 3 3 3 0.333 — — — — 0.0
1892 BLN NL 56 186 28 54 6 5 1 33 10 31 18 0.290 .244 (+19%) .316 (+27%) .327 (+20%) .644 (+23%) 833.6
1893 BLN NL 11 49 11 12 1 3 0 5 4 5 2 0.245 — — — — -40.8
1893 CIN NL 42 150 44 42 4 1 0 10 27 37 10 0.280 .279 (avg) .356 (+24%) .379 (-16%) .735 (+3%) -40.8
1894 WAS NL 98 347 86 105 11 7 0 36 41 80 31 0.303 .309 (-2%) .379 (+18%) .435 (-14%) .814 (+1%) 485.3

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 3 0 22 0 2 0
2B 92 0 195 268 52 23
3B 2 0 1 3 1 0
C 1 0 10 0 0 0
OF 110 0 159 23 31 9
SS 8 0 10 23 9 1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1883 PHI 3B 1 0 0 2 0 0
1889 PHI 2B 6 0 12 16 5 0
1889 PHI OF 1 0 1 0 2 0
1891 PIT OF 5 0 5 0 1 0
1892 BLN 2B 7 0 16 15 2 2
1892 BLN C 1 0 10 0 0 0
1892 BLN OF 43 0 53 13 8 4
1892 BLN SS 5 0 5 16 6 1
1893 BLN 1B 2 0 20 0 2 0
1893 BLN OF 9 0 24 1 4 0
1893 CIN 1B 1 0 2 0 0 0
1893 CIN OF 40 0 54 8 13 4
1894 WAS 2B 79 0 167 237 45 21
1894 WAS 3B 1 0 1 1 1 0
1894 WAS OF 12 0 22 1 3 1
1894 WAS SS 3 0 5 7 3 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Catcher 1
First Base 3
Second Base 92
Third Base 2
Shortstop 8
Left Field 21
Center Field 4
Right Field 85