Pat Dillard
Encyclopedia
Robert Lee "Pat" Dillard (June 12, 1873 – July 22, 1907) was a professional baseball
player from 1896 to 1906. He played one season in Major League Baseball
for the St. Louis Cardinals
. Dillard was 6 feet tall and weighed 180 pounds.
, in 1873. He started his professional baseball career in 1896, when he played for the Southern Association's Montgomery Senators and Mobile Blackbirds. That season, he had a batting average
of .307 in 81 games. Dillard then spent most of the next three seasons with the Detroit Tigers
of the Western League. He batted a career-high .350 there in 1897.
In September 1899, Dillard was purchased by the St. Louis Perfectos (later named the Cardinals). He was on the team's roster for most of the 1900 season and appeared in 57 games, mostly as an outfielder
and a third baseman
. He batted .230 with 24 runs scored
and 12 runs batted in
. On June 18, he made nine putout
s at third in a game against the Cincinnati Reds
; this set a single-game MLB record for most putouts by a third baseman. Dillard was sent to the minor league Chicago White Stockings
in August, and according to Sporting Life, he initially refused to report to the team. However, he did join Chicago on August 27 and batted .194 there for the rest of the season.
Over the next few years, Dillard continued to play in the minors. He batted .311 for the American Association
's St. Paul Saints in 1902 and then spent three seasons in the Eastern League. In 1906, he played 12 games in the New England League
before his baseball career ended. Around that time, Dillard had contracted a cold and then moved to a health resort in Colorado
. He died of consumption
on July 22, 1907.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player from 1896 to 1906. He played one season 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...
for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Dillard was 6 feet tall and weighed 180 pounds.
Career
Dillard was born in Chattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
, in 1873. He started his professional baseball career in 1896, when he played for the Southern Association's Montgomery Senators and Mobile Blackbirds. That season, he had a 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 :...
of .307 in 81 games. Dillard then spent most of the next three seasons with 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...
of the Western League. He batted a career-high .350 there in 1897.
In September 1899, Dillard was purchased by the St. Louis Perfectos (later named the Cardinals). He was on the team's roster for most of the 1900 season and appeared in 57 games, mostly as an outfielder
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...
and 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...
. He batted .230 with 24 runs scored
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 12 runs 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...
. On June 18, he made nine 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 at third in a game against 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....
; this set a single-game MLB record for most putouts by a third baseman. Dillard was sent to the minor league Chicago White Stockings
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...
in August, and according to Sporting Life, he initially refused to report to the team. However, he did join Chicago on August 27 and batted .194 there for the rest of the season.
Over the next few years, Dillard continued to play in the minors. He batted .311 for 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...
's St. Paul Saints in 1902 and then spent three seasons in the Eastern League. In 1906, he played 12 games in the New England League
New England League
The New England League was a mid-level league in American minor league baseball that played sporadically in five of the six New England states between 1886 and 1949. After 1901, it existed in the shadow of two Major League Baseball clubs in Boston and alongside stronger, higher-classification...
before his baseball career ended. Around that time, Dillard had contracted a cold and then moved to a health resort in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. He died of consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
on July 22, 1907.