Bill Dahlen
From BR Bullpen
William Frederick Dahlen (Bad Bill)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 9", Weight 180 lb.
- Debut April 22, 1891
- Final Game October 12, 1911
- Born January 5, 1870 in Nelliston, NY USA
- Died December 5, 1950 in Brooklyn, NY USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Bill Dahlen played 21 seasons in the major leagues, split between the 19th and 20th centuries. He also managed four years. His playing career was almost the same exact years as those of Cy Young, except Cy started one year earlier. In 2008 he was on the pre-1943 Veterans Committee ballot for Hall of Fame consideration.
Dahlen was primarily a shortstop, with good range in most of his career.
As a hitter, he had 2,457 hits, and scored 1,589 runs. Every player with at least 1,589 runs scored is in the Hall of Fame, except for Jimmy Ryan, George Van Haltren, and Dahlen (along with a few players still active or recently retired). Dahlen's best years with the bat were 1894 and 1896, when he hit .357 and .352. He had two long hitting streaks in 1894. He was second in the league in slugging percentage in 1896.
Joe Battin recommended the young Bill Dahlen to the majors. (www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/BBM/1908/bbm22i.pdf)
Dahlen was managed by Cap Anson when he broke in, and by John McGraw many years later. At the end of his career, he was his own manager. He managed Brooklyn during Zack Wheat's first full major league season and during Casey Stengel's rookie year. He managed the team from 1910-13.
Seven of the ten most similar players (based on similarity scores) are in the Hall of Fame, with the most similar player being George Davis, his contemporary.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- NL RBI Leader (1904)
- 100 RBI Seasons: 1 (1894)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 6 (1891-1896)
- 50 Stolen Bases Seasons: 2 (1892 & 1896)
- Won a World Series with the New York Giants in 1905
| Preceded by Harry Lumley | Brooklyn Superbas Manager 1910-1913 | Succeeded by Wilbert Robinson |
[edit] Records Held
- Triples, inning, 2, 8/30/1900 (tied)
- Most errors by a National League shortstop. (972)
