Dave Orr
Encyclopedia
David L. Orr (September 29, 1859 - June 2, 1915) was a first baseman
in Major League Baseball
from 1883 through 1890.
for the New York Metropolitans
(1883–87), Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1888) and Columbus Solons
(1889). He also had stints with the New York Gothams (1883, midseason) in the National League
, and for the Brooklyn Ward's Wonders
(1890) of the Players League
. A native of Brooklyn, New York, he batted and threw right-handed.
At 5'11" and 250 pounds, Orr was one of the best ballplayers of his era as he accumulated impressive statistics in his short major league career. He never hit below .305 for a full season, and had a .973 fielding average. In his eight-season career, Orr posted a .342 batting average
(1125-for-3289) with 37 home run
s and 627 RBI
in 791 games
. He added 536 runs
, 198 doubles
, 108 triples
and 66 stolen base
s.
In 1884, Orr hit nine home runs, to fall just two shy of tying Long John Reilly and short of winning the Triple Crown
, as he led the American Association in batting at .354 and RBI with 112.
On June 12, 1885 Orr hit for the cycle
, the first of three men to accomplish the feat that month.
While playing in an exhibition game in Renovo, Pennsylvania
, Orr was paralyzed by a stroke
, which ended his baseball career. It happened just a few weeks after the 1890 season and just days after his 31st birthday. He died in Brooklyn, New York, in 1915.
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...
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...
from 1883 through 1890.
Baseball career
Orr played most of his career in the American AssociationAmerican Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
for the New York Metropolitans
New York Metropolitans
The Metropolitan Club was a 19th-century professional baseball team that played in New York City from 1880 to 1887...
(1883–87), Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1888) and Columbus Solons
Columbus Solons
The Columbus Solons were a baseball team in the American Association from 1889 to 1891. In three seasons, they won 200 games and lost 209 for a winning percentage of .489. Their home games were played at Recreation Park in Columbus, Ohio....
(1889). He also had stints with the New York Gothams (1883, midseason) 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...
, and for the Brooklyn Ward's Wonders
Brooklyn Ward's Wonders
The Brooklyn Ward's Wonders was a team who played in the Players' League in 1890. The team's nickname derived from its superstar shortstop, hall of famer John Montgomery Ward. The team finished with a 76-56 record, good enough to finish in second place. Other notable players for Brooklyn that...
(1890) of the Players League
Players League
The Players' National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, popularly known as the Players' League , was a short-lived but star-studded professional American baseball league of the 19th century...
. A native of Brooklyn, New York, he batted and threw right-handed.
At 5'11" and 250 pounds, Orr was one of the best ballplayers of his era as he accumulated impressive statistics in his short major league career. He never hit below .305 for a full season, and had a .973 fielding average. In his eight-season career, Orr posted a .342 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 :...
(1125-for-3289) with 37 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 627 RBI
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...
in 791 games
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,...
. He added 536 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...
, 198 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....
, 108 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 66 stolen base
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...
s.
In 1884, Orr hit nine home runs, to fall just two shy of tying Long John Reilly and short of winning the Triple Crown
Triple crown (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a player earns the Triple Crown when he leads a league in three specific statistical categories. For batters, a player must lead the league in home runs, run batted in , and batting average; pitchers must lead the league in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average...
, as he led the American Association in batting at .354 and RBI with 112.
On June 12, 1885 Orr hit for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
, the first of three men to accomplish the feat that month.
While playing in an exhibition game in Renovo, Pennsylvania
Renovo, Pennsylvania
Renovo is a borough in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, northwest of Lock Haven. Deposits of bituminous coal and fire clay are in the region. In 1900, 4,082 people lived there, and in 1910, 4,621 lived there...
, Orr was paralyzed by a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, which ended his baseball career. It happened just a few weeks after the 1890 season and just days after his 31st birthday. He died in Brooklyn, New York, in 1915.
Highlights
- Led AA in batting average (1884, .354)
- Led AA in RBI (1884, 112)
- Twice led AA in hitsHit (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....
(1884, 162; 1886, 183) - Twice led AA in triples (1885, 21; 1886, 31)
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions
- Hitting for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
- List of Major League Baseball triples records