Joe Willis

Born: 4/9/1890 in Coal Grove, OH, USA

Died: 12/4/1966 in Ironton, OH, USA

MLB Debut: 1911-05-03 | Final Game: 1913-06-10

Bats: R | Throws: L | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 185 lbs

Full name: Joseph Dank Willis

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Biography

Joe Willis was a professional baseball pitcher who played in the early 1910s, a time when the game was transitioning from the deadball era into a more offense-driven style. Born in 1890, Willis made his Major League debut on May 3, 1911, and his career spanned until June 10, 1913. Throughout his time in the league, he showcased his skills primarily as a starter, finishing his career with a record of 4-11 and an earned run average (ERA) of 4.63. Willis struck out a total of 66 batters and notched 3 saves during his tenure in the majors. While he may not have achieved the same level of fame as some of his contemporaries, his contributions on the mound were significant in an era defined by intense competition and evolving strategies. His career, albeit brief, reflected the challenges and dynamics of early 20th-century baseball, where pitchers were often relied upon to endure deep innings and manage games in a rapidly changing landscape.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
4	11	41	20	5	0	3	161.3	173	83	3	80	66	4.63	0

Career ERA 4.63 vs. league average 3.27 across their career seasons — 41.7% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1911	SLA	AL	0	1	1	1	0	0	7.0	8	4	3	0	5.14	—	0.0
1911	STL	NL	0	1	2	2	1	0	15.0	13	7	4	5	4.20	3.37 (-25%)	-
1912	STL	NL	4	9	31	17	4	2	129.7	143	64	62	55	4.44	3.36 (-32%)	-
1913	STL	NL	0	0	7	0	0	1	9.7	9	8	11	6	7.45	3.07 (-143%)	-

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
41	48	2	6	1	0	0	3	0	3	14	0.125	0.176	0.146	0.322	0.0

Career AVG .125 vs. league average .265 across their career seasons — 52.8% below league average.

Career OBP .176 vs. league average .332 across their career seasons — 46.9% below league average.

Career SLG .146 vs. league average .354 across their career seasons — 58.8% below league average.

Career OPS 0.322 vs. league average 0.686 across their career seasons — 53.0% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS
1911	SLA	AL	1	2	0	0	0	0	2	1	0.000	—	—	—	—
1911	STL	NL	2	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.000	—	—	—	—
1912	STL	NL	31	38	2	6	1	3	1	11	0.158	—	—	—	—
1913	STL	NL	7	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	0.000	—	—	—	—