Bill Watkins, baseball player, 1884-1884

Bill Watkins

Born: 5/5/1858 in Brantford, ON, CAN

Died: 6/9/1937 in Port Huron, MI, USA

MLB Debut: 1884-08-01 | Final Game: 1884-10-13

Bats: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 156 lbs

Full name: William Harton Thomas Watkins

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Biography

Bill Watkins, born in 1858, was a professional baseball player who played during the early years of Major League Baseball, a time when the game was still evolving. His career spanned from August 1, 1884, to October 13, 1884, during which he appeared in 35 games. As a position player, Watkins recorded 26 hits, culminating in a batting average of .205. Though he did not hit any home runs or drive in runs, his contributions to the teams he played for were part of the foundational years of the sport. Watkins' career occurred in an era when baseball was transitioning from its formative years to a more organized and commercialized sport. His involvement in Major League Baseball, albeit brief, placed him among the early players who laid the groundwork for future generations. While his individual statistics may not reflect the power and productivity seen in later eras, Watkins’ presence in the league during its infancy is a testament to the rich history and evolution of baseball.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
35 127 16 26 4 0 0 0 0 5 0 0.205 0.241 0.236 0.477 -367.4

Career AVG .205 vs. league average .243 across their career seasons — 15.8% below league average.

Career OBP .241 vs. league average .279 across their career seasons — 13.8% below league average.

Career SLG .236 vs. league average .327 across their career seasons — 27.8% below league average.

Career OPS 0.477 vs. league average 0.606 across their career seasons — 21.3% 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
1884 IN2 AA 35 127 16 26 4 0 0 0 0 5 0 0.205 .243 (-16%) .278 (-14%) .327 (-28%) .606 (-21%) -367.4

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
2B 9 0 23 29 5 3
3B 24 0 21 28 9 1
SS 2 0 1 6 1 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1884 IN2 2B 9 0 23 29 5 3
1884 IN2 3B 24 0 21 28 9 1
1884 IN2 SS 2 0 1 6 1 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Second Base 9
Third Base 24
Shortstop 2