Bones Ely
From BR Bullpen
William Frederick Ely
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 155 lb.
- Debut June 19, 1884
- Final Game September 24, 1902
- Born June 7, 1863 in North Girard, PA USA
- Died January 10, 1952 in Berkeley, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Bones Ely broke into the major leagues in 1884, playing one game, and then played 10 games in 1886, and then had a full season in 1890, but didn't really get started regularly in the majors until 1894, when he was 31. From 1894 through 1900, he had at least 467 at-bats every year, and in his last two seasons in the majors, he had 411 and 381 at-bats.
He was not a strong hitter. His highest batting average was .306 in 1894, the year when the league as a whole hit .309. However, he did surprise that year with 12 triples and 12 home runs, far above his normal output. Neither total put him among the leaders in the hit-rich atmosphere of the lively ball era in 1894.
The St. Louis teams he played on in the 1880's were usually among the worst in the league. He played for the Pirates in the late 1890's, but was released by them halfway through the 1901 season, when they won the pennant. Bones had apparently been encouraging players to jump to the new American League, and after he was released, that's what he did. Honus Wagner, who had previously played other positions, took over at shortstop.
As a shortstop, his fielding percentage was above the league average, and managers of the time seemed to pay attention to that.
He also pitched 9 games in the majors, going 0-5.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- AA Saves Leader (1886)
