Billy Lauder
Encyclopedia
William Lauder (February 23, 1874 in New York City
, New York
- May 20, 1933 in Norwalk, Connecticut
) was a Major League Baseball
third baseman
and coach and college baseball coach who played for the Philadelphia Phillies
, the Philadelphia Athletics and the New York Giants
. After attending Brown University
, he began his Major League career on June 25, 1898 for the Phillies, replacing fellow rookie Kid Elberfeld
as the Phillies third baseman. In 1898 he played in 97 games and got 95 hits
in 361 at bats for a .263 batting average
. He also had two home run
s and 67 RBIs
that season. In 1899, he played 151 games for the Phillies with 156 hits in 583 at bats for a batting average of .268, and 3 home runs, 90 RBIs and 74 runs scored. He recorded 210 putout
s as a fielder, which remains one of the highest totals all time among Major League third basemen. He was 6th in the National League
in games played and 9th in outs made
.
After not playing the Majors in 1900, Lauder played two games for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1901, getting one hit in eight at bats. In 1902 and 1903 he played for the Giants. In 1902, he played in 125 games, getting 114 hits in 482 at bats for a .237 batting average. His 20 doubles ranked 9th in the National League. In 1903, his final Major League season, he played in 108 games, getting 111 hits in 395 for a .281 batting average. His 17 sacrifice hit
s ranked 9th in the National League. For his career, Lauder played in 483 Major League games, with 477 hits in 1829 at bats for a batting average of .261. He had 6 home runs, 254 RBIs, 210 runs scored, a .292 on-base percentage and a .321 slugging percentage. As a fielder, he handled 1801 chances, all but 7 at third base, with 190 errors for a fielding percentage
of .895.
After his playing career ended, Lauder became a lawyer after studying law at Harvard University
, wrote a baseball book, and ultimately became an insurance salesman. He also coached baseball at Columbia University
and Yale University
. At Columbia, he coached future Hall of Famer Eddie Collins
, where he first recognized and Collins' Major League potential and encouraged hiim to pursue a baseball career. In 1925, when Collins was managing the Chicago White Sox
, he hired Lauder as a White Sox coach.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
- May 20, 1933 in Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
) was a 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...
third baseman
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 coach and college baseball coach who played for 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...
, the Philadelphia Athletics and the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. After attending Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, he began his Major League career on June 25, 1898 for the Phillies, replacing fellow rookie Kid Elberfeld
Kid Elberfeld
Norman Arthur "Kid" Elberfeld , nicknamed "The Tabasco Kid," was a shortstop in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies , Cincinnati Reds , Detroit Tigers , New York Highlanders , Washington Senators , and Brooklyn Robins...
as the Phillies third baseman. In 1898 he played in 97 games and got 95 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 361 at bats for a .263 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 :...
. He also had two 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...
s and 67 RBIs
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...
that season. In 1899, he played 151 games for the Phillies with 156 hits in 583 at bats for a batting average of .268, and 3 home runs, 90 RBIs and 74 runs scored. He recorded 210 putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s as a fielder, which remains one of the highest totals all time among Major League third basemen. He was 6th in 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...
in games played and 9th in outs made
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
.
After not playing the Majors in 1900, Lauder played two games for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1901, getting one hit in eight at bats. In 1902 and 1903 he played for the Giants. In 1902, he played in 125 games, getting 114 hits in 482 at bats for a .237 batting average. His 20 doubles ranked 9th in the National League. In 1903, his final Major League season, he played in 108 games, getting 111 hits in 395 for a .281 batting average. His 17 sacrifice hit
Sacrifice 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 ranked 9th in the National League. For his career, Lauder played in 483 Major League games, with 477 hits in 1829 at bats for a batting average of .261. He had 6 home runs, 254 RBIs, 210 runs scored, a .292 on-base percentage and a .321 slugging percentage. As a fielder, he handled 1801 chances, all but 7 at third base, with 190 errors for a fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
of .895.
After his playing career ended, Lauder became a lawyer after studying law at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, wrote a baseball book, and ultimately became an insurance salesman. He also coached baseball at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. At Columbia, he coached future Hall of Famer Eddie Collins
Eddie Collins
Edward Trowbridge Collins, Sr. , nicknamed "Cocky", was an American Major League Baseball second baseman, manager and executive...
, where he first recognized and Collins' Major League potential and encouraged hiim to pursue a baseball career. In 1925, when Collins was managing the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, he hired Lauder as a White Sox coach.