Wild Bill Widner, baseball player, 1887-1891

Wild Bill Widner

Born: 6/3/1867 in Cincinnati, OH, USA

Died: 12/10/1908 in Cincinnati, OH, USA

MLB Debut: 1887-06-08 | Final Game: 1891-07-23

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: William Waterfield Widner

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Biography

Wild Bill Widner, born in 1867, was a professional baseball pitcher who played from 1887 to 1891. Widner made his mark in an era characterized by a transition in baseball, as the game began to evolve away from its early, rough-and-tumble roots towards a more structured and strategic approach. Throughout his career, he showcased his talents on the mound, finishing with a record of 22 wins and 36 losses. His earned run average (ERA) stood at 4.36, a statistic that reflects the challenges pitchers faced during a time when offensive production was on the rise. In addition to his win-loss record, Widner recorded 110 strikeouts and secured 1 save, demonstrating his ability to contribute effectively in high-pressure situations. While he did not achieve stardom in the league, his presence on the field during the late 19th century contributes to the rich tapestry of baseball history, showcasing the evolution of pitching styles and the competitive spirit of the game during its formative years. Wild Bill Widner's career remains a testament to the early days of baseball, where players laid the groundwork for future generations.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
22 36 69 59 48 3 1 522.0 606 253 23 137 110 4.36 0

Career ERA 4.36 vs. league average 3.70 across their career seasons — 17.8% 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
1887 CN2 AA 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 9.0 11 5 2 0 5.00 4.17 (-20%) 0.0
1888 WS8 NL 5 7 13 13 13 0 0 115.0 111 36 22 33 2.82 2.95 (+4%) -1730.3
1889 CL6 AA 12 20 41 34 25 2 1 294.0 368 170 85 63 5.20 3.93 (-32%) -1430.5
1890 CL6 AA 4 8 13 10 8 1 0 96.0 103 35 24 14 3.28 3.88 (+15%) 22.0
1891 CN3 AA 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 8.0 13 7 4 0 7.88 — 0.0

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
71 242 23 50 3 0 2 19 8 4 42 0.207 0.223 0.244 0.466 -921.1

Career AVG .207 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — 19.8% below league average.

Career OBP .223 vs. league average .326 across their career seasons — 31.8% below league average.

Career SLG .244 vs. league average .349 across their career seasons — 30.2% below league average.

Career OPS 0.466 vs. league average 0.676 across their career seasons — 31.0% 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 CN2 AA 1 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0.250 — — — — 0.0
1888 WS8 NL 15 60 4 12 0 0 0 6 1 0 8 0.200 .238 (-16%) .290 (-31%) .319 (-37%) .610 (-34%) -293.1
1889 CL6 AA 41 133 16 28 3 0 2 10 5 2 31 0.211 .263 (-20%) .334 (-32%) .357 (-22%) .691 (-27%) -628.0
1890 CL6 AA 13 41 3 8 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0.195 — — — — 0.0
1891 CN3 AA 1 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.250 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 1 0 5 0 0 0
OF 3 0 3 0 3 0
P 69 0 33 117 17 5

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1887 CN2 P 1 0 0 3 0 0
1888 WS8 OF 2 0 3 0 3 0
1888 WS8 P 13 0 13 21 5 0
1889 CL6 1B 1 0 5 0 0 0
1889 CL6 OF 1 0 0 0 0 0
1889 CL6 P 41 0 13 61 9 3
1890 CL6 P 13 0 7 30 3 2
1891 CN3 P 1 0 0 2 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 69
First Base 1
Center Field 1
Right Field 3