Bill Gray (baseball)
Encyclopedia
William Tolan "Bill" Gray (April 5, 1871 – December 8, 1932), also spelled Bill Grey, was an American third baseman
and utility player
in Major League Baseball
between 1890 and 1898. He played two seasons each with the Philadelphia Phillies
and the Cincinnati Reds
, and was the starter at third base for the Pittsburgh Pirates
during his final season in the major leagues. He was officially listed as standing 5 in 11 in (180.34 cm) and weighing 175 pounds (79.4 kg).
Gray began his career at age 19 as a utility player for the Philadelphia Phillies
of the National League
. He appeared in 34 games in 1890—his first season with the team—amassing a .242 batting average
in his debut season, the same as his career average. During the year, he scored 20 runs
and batted in
21. At the plate, he hit eight doubles
and four triples
, and stole
five bases during the year. In the field, Gray appeared at seven positions
on the diamond (all but pitcher
and shortstop
) in his first year, making ten appearances
in the outfield
(six games in left
, three in center
, and one in right
), eight each at second base
and third base
, seven behind the plate
at catcher
, and one at first base
.
Gray's batting declined during the 1891 season, as he amassed no extra-base hits and his batting average dropped to .240. He scored eleven runs, batted in seven, and stole three bases; he also walked
three times. His 81 plate appearance
s, 73 times at bat
, and 23 games played were all second-best among Philadelphia's bench (Ed Mayer). Defensively, he appeared in games at five positions; catcher was his most utilized role, as it was the only position that he played in more than ten games. He made nine errors
behind the plate and caught
26% of potential baserunners stealing.
and Jim Devlin
) from June 20 to the conclusion of the season on September 12. Between the two teams, Gray collected 15 doubles, 3 triples, and 1 home run
, the first of his minor league career. He batted .251 and slugged .336 while stealing 16 bases and scoring 45 runs.
in 1894, but no information about that year's team is available other than their roster.
, appearing in 43 games as an infielder
—adding 5 games at shortstop to his repertoire of positions—5 games as a catcher, and 1 game in left field. He led Cincinnati's bench players in doubles (17) and runs batted in (29), while placing second with 4 triples and 15 walks. He batted .304, the highest average of his professional career, and hit his only home run in the majors during that season as well.
The 1896 season was less productive for Gray, as he batted only .207 in 46 games and ranking last among Cincinnati's bench players in batting average, hits, doubles, and runs scored. It was also the only year of Gray's career in which he appeared at all four infield positions; in total, he played 37 games in the field at 7 different positions. Most of his games were played at second base (12 games, 6 errors in 82 chances) and catcher (11 games, 3 errors in 38 chances, 43% of baserunners caught stealing).
s. After the season, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
with four other players in a deal that included Pink Hawley
.
After trading for Gray, the Pirates made him their starter at third base for the 1898 season; it was the only year in his major league career in which he appeared at only one position. In 585 plate appearances—third-most on the team—Gray led the Pirates in doubles (17) and batted in 67 runs, second to Jack McCarthy
. He notched 121 hits in 528 at bats (a .229 average), taking 28 walks and scoring 56 runs. In the field, however, he committed 59 errors in 486 chances. While a high total in the modern era (Chipper Jones
led the major leagues in 2009 with 22 errors at third base), it was not unheard of for the National League at the turn of the century; the third basemen who led that league in errors between 1891 and 1900 averaged 70 errors per season. Still, Gray's 59 were second only to the 60 committed by Barry McCormick
in 1898, and it was the last season that he ever played in the top-level leagues.
of the Western League in 1899—playing there from April 28 to August 30 of that year—and moved to the Detroit Tigers
and then the Hoosiers again for the 1900 season. In his final year, he batted .282 with the Tigers between April 27 and June 19 while adding a double and two stolen bases. When he moved to the Hoosiers (June 26 – July 15), he batted .242 with two additional stolen bases and three doubles. Gray left the Western League the year before it became the American League
and became recognized as a major league.
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
and utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
between 1890 and 1898. He played two seasons each with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, and was the starter at third base for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
during his final season in the major leagues. He was officially listed as standing 5 in 11 in (180.34 cm) and weighing 175 pounds (79.4 kg).
Early life
William Gray was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 5, 1871.Philadelphia Phillies: 1890–1891
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. He appeared in 34 games in 1890—his first season with the team—amassing a .242 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
in his debut season, the same as his career average. During the year, he scored 20 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
21. At the plate, he hit eight doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and four triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and stole
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
five bases during the year. In the field, Gray appeared at seven positions
Baseball positions
There are 9 fielding positions in baseball. Each position conventionally has an associated number which is used to score putouts...
on the diamond (all but pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
and shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
) in his first year, making ten appearances
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
in the outfield
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
(six games in left
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
, three in center
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
, and one in right
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
), eight each at second base
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, seven behind the plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
at catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
, and one at first base
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
.
Gray's batting declined during the 1891 season, as he amassed no extra-base hits and his batting average dropped to .240. He scored eleven runs, batted in seven, and stole three bases; he also walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
three times. His 81 plate appearance
Plate appearance
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance each time he completes a turn batting. A player completes a turn batting when: He strikes out or is declared out before reaching first base; or He reaches first base safely or is awarded first base ; or He hits a fair ball which...
s, 73 times at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
, and 23 games played were all second-best among Philadelphia's bench (Ed Mayer). Defensively, he appeared in games at five positions; catcher was his most utilized role, as it was the only position that he played in more than ten games. He made nine errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
behind the plate and caught
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
26% of potential baserunners stealing.
Athletics and Grays: 1892
During the 1892 season, Gray played in the minor leagues for the Providence Grays and the Philadelphia Athletics of the Eastern League, which at that time represented the top level (A) of minor league play. He played for the Grays from April 30 through June 18, and then with the Athletics (alongside Matt KilroyMatt Kilroy
Matthew Aloysius Kilroy was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Rookie season:...
and Jim Devlin
Jim Devlin
James Alexander Devlin was an American Major League Baseball player who played mainly as a first baseman early in his career, then as a pitcher in the latter part...
) from June 20 to the conclusion of the season on September 12. Between the two teams, Gray collected 15 doubles, 3 triples, and 1 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, the first of his minor league career. He batted .251 and slugged .336 while stealing 16 bases and scoring 45 runs.
Indianapolis: 1894
Gray played with the Indianapolis HoosiersIndianapolis Hoosiers (minor league baseball)
At least three different teams in minor league baseball have borne the name Indianapolis Hoosiers.-Western League Hoosiers I:The first Western League, which lasted only part of the season, included an Indianapolis Hoosiers team....
in 1894, but no information about that year's team is available other than their roster.
Cincinnati Reds: 1895–1896
In 1895, Gray returned to the National League with the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, appearing in 43 games as an infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
—adding 5 games at shortstop to his repertoire of positions—5 games as a catcher, and 1 game in left field. He led Cincinnati's bench players in doubles (17) and runs batted in (29), while placing second with 4 triples and 15 walks. He batted .304, the highest average of his professional career, and hit his only home run in the majors during that season as well.
The 1896 season was less productive for Gray, as he batted only .207 in 46 games and ranking last among Cincinnati's bench players in batting average, hits, doubles, and runs scored. It was also the only year of Gray's career in which he appeared at all four infield positions; in total, he played 37 games in the field at 7 different positions. Most of his games were played at second base (12 games, 6 errors in 82 chances) and catcher (11 games, 3 errors in 38 chances, 43% of baserunners caught stealing).
Indianapolis: 1897
In 1897, Gray played a second stint with the Hoosiers, now known as the "Indians", of the Western League. It was his most productive season as a player; at age 26, he played in 125 games for the Hoosiers, batting .347, the fifth-highest average on the team. He hit 19 home runs to lead the Hoosiers, adding 26 doubles, 11 triples, and 13 stolen bases. He also led Indianapolis with 21 sacrifice hitSacrifice hit
In baseball, a sacrifice bunt is a batter's act of deliberately bunting the ball in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to another base. The batter is almost always sacrificed but sometimes reaches base due to an error or fielder's choice...
s. After the season, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
with four other players in a deal that included Pink Hawley
Pink Hawley
Emerson Pink Hawley , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1892-1901. He played for the St. Louis Browns, Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Milwaukee Brewers...
.
Pittsburgh Pirates: 1898
Jack McCarthy (baseball)
John Arthur McCarthy , is a former professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1893-1907. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, and Brooklyn Dodgers...
. He notched 121 hits in 528 at bats (a .229 average), taking 28 walks and scoring 56 runs. In the field, however, he committed 59 errors in 486 chances. While a high total in the modern era (Chipper Jones
Chipper Jones
Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves...
led the major leagues in 2009 with 22 errors at third base), it was not unheard of for the National League at the turn of the century; the third basemen who led that league in errors between 1891 and 1900 averaged 70 errors per season. Still, Gray's 59 were second only to the 60 committed by Barry McCormick
Barry McCormick
William Joseph "Barry" McCormick was a professional baseball player and later a major league umpire.As a player, he played infielder in Major League Baseball from 1895 to 1904. He would play for the Louisville Colonels, Chicago Colts/Orphans, St...
in 1898, and it was the last season that he ever played in the top-level leagues.
Final minor league years: 1899–1900
Gray played for the Milwaukee CreamsBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
of the Western League in 1899—playing there from April 28 to August 30 of that year—and moved to the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
and then the Hoosiers again for the 1900 season. In his final year, he batted .282 with the Tigers between April 27 and June 19 while adding a double and two stolen bases. When he moved to the Hoosiers (June 26 – July 15), he batted .242 with two additional stolen bases and three doubles. Gray left the Western League the year before it became the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
and became recognized as a major league.