Hobe Ferris
Encyclopedia
Albert Sayles "Hobe" Ferris, (December 7, 1877 – March 18, 1938), was a Major League second baseman
during the 1900s. He holds the record for the lowest on base percentage
of any player in Major League Baseball
history with over 5000 plate appearances, recording an OBP of just .265. Despite this, his career slugging percentage is actually higher than the league average of the period.
Although he grew up in Providence, Rhode Island
and was long thought to have been born there, census records indicate that he was born somewhere in England
and immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1879.
He was a shortstop in the minor leagues from 1898 to 1900, after which he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds
. He chose to jump to the newly formed American League
instead, and signed with the Boston Americans. As the team had already signed a shortstop in Freddy Parent
, Ferris moved to second base. He made his Major League debut on April 26, 1901.
He committed 61 errors
as a rookie for Boston in . This did not lead the league — Kid Gleason
of Detroit made 64 errors — but it remains to this day the second-highest total ever for a second baseman in the American League. He did hit .250 with 15 triples and 63 RBI, however. The following season, he cut his error total to 39 and began to acquire a reputation as a stellar fielder with outstanding range. He was also one of the league's feistiest players, being suspended in for an altercation with umpire Jack Sheridan
. On September 11, 1906, he got into a nasty fight with teammate Jack Hayden, whom he accused of lackadaisical play. Ferris kicked Hayden in the face. Both were ejected from the game, and Ferris was suspended for the remainder of the season. This was the first time that teammates had been ejected for fighting each other.
He was a member of the Boston side that won the inaugural 1903 World Series
. Despite being a gifted defensive player, Ferris committed an error in the top of the first inning of the opening game of the series, fumbling a ball hit by Pittsburgh's
Kitty Bransfield
, and in doing so committed the first error in World Series history. He did, however, make amends by knocking in all of Boston's runs in the final game, which they won 3-0. Boston repeated as pennant winners in 1904, although no World Series was played that year. Ferris hit only .213 that season, and the team fell down the standings over the next years as its star players began to show their age. By 1906, Boston was in last place with a 49-105 record. Ferris was one of the team's few bright spots, playing excellent defense and ranking among American League leaders in extra base hits.
Prior to the season Ferris was traded to the St. Louis Browns
in order to clear space for Amby McConnell
, who was highly rated at the time. While at St. Louis, Ferris converted to become a third baseman
. His first season with the Browns was the most productive of his entire career: he set new highs in OBP, batting average
, and RBI and hit in 26 straight games. However, this relatively successful season with the bat proved to be something of a blip — in his numbers plummeted as he recorded the worst season of his career. Following this poor season Ferris's contract was not renewed by the Browns.
Following his departure from St. Louis, Ferris could not find a Major League club willing to offer him a contract. This led to him signing with the Minneapolis Millers
of the American Association
prior to the season. In his first season with the Millers, Ferris's performance with the bat improved slightly; however, the following year he exploded. In he hit 14 home runs and recorded an average of .303 as the Millers won their second consecutive pennant with a team that included Gavvy Cravath
, Sam Leever
and future Hall of Famer Rube Waddell
. The Millers won a third consecutive pennant in . Ferris's numbers, however, returned to their previous levels. Ferris retired after playing two more minor league seasons, with the St. Paul Saints
and Wilkes-Barre Barons
, respectively. His final game in the majors was October 1, 1909.
Hobe Ferris moved to Detroit after his playing career, where he worked as a mechanic. He died there of a brain hemorrhage in 1938.
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...
during the 1900s. He holds the record for the lowest on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of any player 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...
history with over 5000 plate appearances, recording an OBP of just .265. Despite this, his career slugging percentage is actually higher than the league average of the period.
Although he grew up in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
and was long thought to have been born there, census records indicate that he was born somewhere in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1879.
He was a shortstop in the minor leagues from 1898 to 1900, after which he was drafted by 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....
. He chose to jump to the newly formed 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...
instead, and signed with the Boston Americans. As the team had already signed a shortstop in Freddy Parent
Freddy Parent
Frederick Alfred Parent was a professional baseball player. He played all or part of eleven seasons in Major League Baseball, between 1899 and 1911, for the St. Louis Perfectos , Boston Americans and Chicago White Sox , primarily as a shortstop. Parent batted and threw right-handed...
, Ferris moved to second base. He made his Major League debut on April 26, 1901.
He committed 61 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 ...
as a rookie for Boston in . This did not lead the league — Kid Gleason
Kid Gleason
William J. "Kid" Gleason was an American professional athlete and Major League Baseball player and manager. Gleason is best known as the manager of the 1919 Chicago White Sox, the team made infamous by the Black Sox scandal, in which Gleason's players conspired to intentionally lose the World...
of Detroit made 64 errors — but it remains to this day the second-highest total ever for a second baseman in the American League. He did hit .250 with 15 triples and 63 RBI, however. The following season, he cut his error total to 39 and began to acquire a reputation as a stellar fielder with outstanding range. He was also one of the league's feistiest players, being suspended in for an altercation with umpire Jack Sheridan
Jack Sheridan
John F. Sheridan was an American umpire in Major League Baseball. In his 30-year career as an official, he worked 18 seasons between 1890 and 1914 in three major leagues....
. On September 11, 1906, he got into a nasty fight with teammate Jack Hayden, whom he accused of lackadaisical play. Ferris kicked Hayden in the face. Both were ejected from the game, and Ferris was suspended for the remainder of the season. This was the first time that teammates had been ejected for fighting each other.
He was a member of the Boston side that won the inaugural 1903 World Series
1903 World Series
The 1903 World Series was the first modern World Series to be played in Major League Baseball. It matched the Boston Americans of the American League against the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League in a best-of-nine series, with Boston prevailing five games to three, winning the last...
. Despite being a gifted defensive player, Ferris committed an error in the top of the first inning of the opening game of the series, fumbling a ball hit by Pittsburgh's
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...
Kitty Bransfield
Kitty Bransfield
William Edward "Kitty" Bransfield , was a professional baseball player who played first base in the Major Leagues from 1906–1914. He would play for the Boston Beaneaters, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs.-External links:...
, and in doing so committed the first error in World Series history. He did, however, make amends by knocking in all of Boston's runs in the final game, which they won 3-0. Boston repeated as pennant winners in 1904, although no World Series was played that year. Ferris hit only .213 that season, and the team fell down the standings over the next years as its star players began to show their age. By 1906, Boston was in last place with a 49-105 record. Ferris was one of the team's few bright spots, playing excellent defense and ranking among American League leaders in extra base hits.
Prior to the season Ferris was traded to the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore 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...
in order to clear space for Amby McConnell
Amby McConnell
Ambrose Moses McConnell , born in North Powell, Vermont, was a professional baseball player for Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox...
, who was highly rated at the time. While at St. Louis, Ferris converted to become a 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...
. His first season with the Browns was the most productive of his entire career: he set new highs in OBP, 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 :...
, and RBI and hit in 26 straight games. However, this relatively successful season with the bat proved to be something of a blip — in his numbers plummeted as he recorded the worst season of his career. Following this poor season Ferris's contract was not renewed by the Browns.
Following his departure from St. Louis, Ferris could not find a Major League club willing to offer him a contract. This led to him signing with the Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
prior to the season. In his first season with the Millers, Ferris's performance with the bat improved slightly; however, the following year he exploded. In he hit 14 home runs and recorded an average of .303 as the Millers won their second consecutive pennant with a team that included Gavvy Cravath
Gavvy Cravath
Clifford Carlton "Gavvy" Cravath , also nicknamed "Cactus", was an American right fielder and right-handed batter in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Philadelphia Phillies...
, Sam Leever
Sam Leever
Samuel Leever , nicknamed "The Goshen Schoolmaster," was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates....
and future Hall of Famer Rube Waddell
Rube Waddell
George Edward Waddell was an American southpaw pitcher in Major League Baseball. In his thirteen-year career he played for the Louisville Colonels , Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Orphans in the National League, and the Philadelphia Athletics and St. Louis Browns in the American League...
. The Millers won a third consecutive pennant in . Ferris's numbers, however, returned to their previous levels. Ferris retired after playing two more minor league seasons, with the St. Paul Saints
St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints are a professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
and Wilkes-Barre Barons
Wilkes-Barre Barons (baseball)
The Wilkes-Barre Barons were a minor league team that existed on and off from 1888 to 1955. They began in the Central League in 1888, but the league disbanded after that season. Their next incarnation came about in 1905, when they began playing in the New York State League. They played in that...
, respectively. His final game in the majors was October 1, 1909.
Hobe Ferris moved to Detroit after his playing career, where he worked as a mechanic. He died there of a brain hemorrhage in 1938.
Further reading
- Dennis H. Auger: "Albert Sayles 'Hobe' Ferris", in David Jones, ed.: Deadball Stars of the American League, SABR, Potomac Books, Inc., Dulles, VA, 2006, pp. 408–410.