Dave Wills, baseball player, 1899-1899

Dave Wills

Born: 1/26/1877 in Charlottesville, VA, USA

Died: 10/13/1959 in Washington, DC, USA

MLB Debut: 1899-06-08 | Final Game: 1899-08-31

Bats: L | Throws: L

Full name: Davis Bowles Wills

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Biography

Dave Wills was a professional baseball player born in 1877, who played in the late 19th century—a time marked by the transition from the deadball era to a more dynamic style of play. His Major League career spanned from 1899 to 1906, during which he appeared in 24 games. Wills was primarily a position player known for his solid contact hitting and ability to contribute to his team's offense. Throughout his career, Wills recorded 21 hits and drove in 12 runs, finishing with a batting average of .223. While he did not hit any home runs, he showcased his speed on the bases by stealing one base. Despite the limited scope of his career, Wills was part of a pivotal era in baseball history, contributing to the growing popularity of the sport as it evolved through the early 20th century. His time in the league reflects the challenges and changes faced by players of his time, and he remains a part of the rich tapestry of baseball's past.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
24 94 15 21 3 1 0 12 1 2 11 0.223 0.240 0.277 0.516 -449.6

Career AVG .223 vs. league average .282 across their career seasons — 20.9% below league average.

Career OBP .240 vs. league average .343 across their career seasons — 30.2% below league average.

Career SLG .277 vs. league average .367 across their career seasons — 24.6% below league average.

Career OPS 0.516 vs. league average 0.710 across their career seasons — 27.3% 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
1899 LS3 NL 24 94 15 21 3 1 0 12 1 2 11 0.223 .282 (-21%) .343 (-30%) .366 (-25%) .710 (-27%) -449.6

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 24 0 259 8 12 9

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1899 LS3 1B 24 0 259 8 12 9

Career Games by Position

Position Games
First Base 24

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
University of Virginia Charlottesville VA 1898, 1899