Bill Keister
From BR Bullpen
William Hoffman Keister (Wagon Tongue)
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Weight 168 lb.
- Debut May 20, 1896
- Final Game August 25, 1903
- Born August 17, 1871 in Baltimore, MD USA
- Died August 19, 1924 in Baltimore, MD USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Bill "Wagon Tongue" Keister was an infielder-outfielder who hit well but moved around from team to team. His lifetime major league average was .312, and he was in the top ten in slugging percentage three times in his five full seasons.
In those five full seasons, he was a shortstop his first year, a second baseman his second year, a shortstop again his third year, a multi-position player his fourth year, and a rightfielder his fifth year. He played 215 games at shorstop in his major league career, 214 at second base, 167 in the outfield (mostly in right), and 23 at third base.
Each of those five seasons he hit at least .300, and was sometimes among the leaders in doubles, triples or home runs. In 1901 he led the new American League in triples. He could also steal a base, with a high of 33 in 1899.
Keister's problem was apparently his defense. He was usually below average in both fielding percentage and range factor. In 1901, while playing shortstop next to third baseman and player-manager John McGraw on the 1901 Baltimore Orioles, Keister made 97 errors in 112 games.
In the minors he played for Paterson, Rochester, Jersey City, Toronto and Buffalo.
Keister was born in Maryland the same month as Otis Stocksdale, who came to the majors several years before him. Keister died in Baltimore, MD the same year that Jimmy Macullar died there.
