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William Brown

William M. Brown (Big Bill or California)

Positions: First Baseman, Catcher and Outfielder
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 2", Weight: 190 lb.

Born: 1866 in San Francisco, CA (All Transactions)
Debut: May 10, 1887 (Age 21)
Teams (by GP): Giants/Colonels/Phillies/Orioles/Browns 1887-1894

Final Game: May 20, 1894 (Age 28)
Died: December 20, 1897 in San Francisco, CA
Buried: Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, CA
    About biographical information

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Standard Batting

More Stats

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos Awards
1887 21 NYG NL 49 183 170 17 37 3 2 0 25 10 10 15 .218 .273 .259 .532 51 44 3 2/5O
1888 22 NYG NL 20 60 59 4 16 1 0 0 6 1 1 8 .271 .283 .288 .571 83 17 0 2
1889 23 NYG NL 40 151 139 16 36 10 0 1 29 6 9 9 .259 .318 .353 .670 84 49 3 2/O
1890 24 NYI PL 60 244 230 47 64 8 4 4 43 5 13 13 .278 .320 .400 .720 85 92 1 2O/354
1891 25 PHI NL 115 479 441 62 107 20 4 0 50 7 34 35 .243 .303 .306 .609 77 135 4 *32/O
1893 27 TOT NL 118 545 493 85 144 26 7 1 90 9 51 35 .292 .360 .379 .739 103 187 1 *3/2
1893 27 BLN NL 7 33 32 5 4 3 0 0 5 0 1 3 .125 .152 .219 .370 -3 7 0 /3
1893 27 LOU NL 111 512 461 80 140 23 7 1 85 9 50 32 .304 .373 .390 .764 111 180 1 *3/2
1894 28 TOT NL 16 67 57 5 11 2 0 0 9 1 5 9 .193 .258 .228 .486 21 13 0 5 3
1894 28 LOU NL 13 55 48 5 10 2 0 0 9 1 5 7 .208 .283 .250 .533 34 12 0 2 3
1894 28 STL NL 3 12 9 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .111 .111 .111 .222 -46 1 0 3 /3
7 Yrs 418 1729 1589 236 415 70 17 6 252 39 123 124 .261 .319 .338 .657 82 537 12 5
162 Game Avg. 162 670 616 91 161 27 7 2 98 15 48 48 .261 .319 .338 .657 82 208 5
NYG (3 yrs) 109 394 368 37 89 14 2 1 60 17 20 32 .242 .292 .299 .591 68 110 6
LOU (2 yrs) 124 567 509 85 150 25 7 1 94 10 55 39 .295 .365 .377 .742 103 192 1 2
NYI (1 yr) 60 244 230 47 64 8 4 4 43 5 13 13 .278 .320 .400 .720 85 92 1
PHI (1 yr) 115 479 441 62 107 20 4 0 50 7 34 35 .243 .303 .306 .609 77 135 4
STL (1 yr) 3 12 9 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .111 .111 .111 .222 -46 1 0 3
BLN (1 yr) 7 33 32 5 4 3 0 0 5 0 1 3 .125 .152 .219 .370 -3 7 0
NL (6 yrs) 358 1485 1359 189 351 62 13 2 209 34 110 111 .258 .319 .327 .646 82 445 11 5
PL (1 yr) 60 244 230 47 64 8 4 4 43 5 13 13 .278 .320 .400 .720 85 92 1

Player Value--Batters

WAR Explained (v2.2): 8+ MVP, 5+ A-S, 2+ Starter, 0-2 Sub, < 0 Repl
Year Age Tm Lg G PA Rbat Rbaser Rdp Rfield Rpos RAA WAA Rrep RAR WAR waaWL% 162WL% oWAR dWAR oRAR Salary Pos Awards
1887 21 NYG NL 49 183 -11 -0 0 -3 3 -11 -1.1 6 -5 -0.4 .481 .494 -0.1 -0.1 -2 $1,500 2/5O
1888 22 NYG NL 20 60 -1 -0 0 -5 1 -6 -0.6 2 -4 -0.4 .471 .496 0.2 -0.4 1 $2,300 2
1889 23 NYG NL 40 151 -3 -0 0 -5 2 -6 -0.5 5 -1 -0.0 .487 .497 0.4 -0.2 4 $2,300 2/O
1890 24 NYI PL 60 244 -8 -1 0 -3 2 -10 -0.7 6 -4 -0.2 .488 .496 0.0 -0.0 -1 2O/354
1891 25 PHI NL 115 479 -15 -1 0 3 1 -12 -1.1 16 4 0.5 .491 .493 0.4 0.2 1 *32/O
1893 27 BLN NL 7 33 -6 0 0 0 0 -6 -0.5 1 -5 -0.3 .434 .497 -0.3 0.0 -5 /3
1893 27 LOU NL 111 512 10 -1 0 -4 0 4 0.3 17 22 2.0 .503 .502 2.4 -0.3 26 *3/2
1894 28 LOU NL 13 55 -6 -0 0 3 -0 -3 -0.2 2 -2 -0.1 .481 .498 -0.3 0.2 -5 3
1894 28 STL NL 3 12 -4 0 0 0 0 -4 -0.3 0 -3 -0.2 .412 .498 -0.2 0.0 -3 /3
7 Seasons 418 1729 -44 -4 0 -14 9 -53 -4.7 56 4 0.9 .489 .497 2.4 -0.6 17 $6,100
NYG (3 yrs) 109 394 -16 -1 0 -13 6 -23 -2.2 13 -10 -0.8 .481 .496 0.5 -0.7 3 $6,100
LOU (2 yrs) 124 567 3 -1 0 -1 -0 1 0.1 19 20 2.0 .501 .500 2.1 -0.1 21
NYI (1 yr) 60 244 -8 -1 0 -3 2 -10 -0.7 6 -4 -0.2 .488 .496 0.0 -0.0 -1
PHI (1 yr) 115 479 -15 -1 0 3 1 -12 -1.1 16 4 0.5 .491 .493 0.4 0.2 1
STL (1 yr) 3 12 -4 0 0 0 0 -4 -0.3 0 -3 -0.2 .412 .498 -0.2 0.0 -3
BLN (1 yr) 7 33 -6 0 0 0 0 -6 -0.5 1 -5 -0.3 .434 .497 -0.3 0.0 -5

Postseason Batting

Year Age Tm Lg Series Opp Rslt G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB
1888 22 NYG NL WS STL W 0 8 8 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .375 .375 .500 .875 4 0
1889 23 NYG NL WS BRO W 0 5 5 3 3 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 .600 .600 1.200 1.800 6 0
2 Yrs (2 Series) 0 13 13 4 6 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .462 .462 .769 1.231 10 0
2 WS 0 13 13 4 6 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .462 .462 .769 1.231 10 0

Standard Fielding

More Stats

Year Tm Lg Age Pos G GS CG Inn Ch PO A E DP Fld% RF/9 RF/G lgFld% lgRF9 lgRFG G PB WP SB CS CS% lgCS% PO Awards
1887 NYG NL 21 C 46 326 229 69 28 5 .914 6.48 .906 6.12 51 0 0
1887 NYG NL 21 3B 3 6 2 2 2 0 .667 1.33 .870 3.43
1887 NYG NL 21 OF 2 1 0 0 1 0 .000 0.00 .880 1.95 0-0-2
1888 NYG NL 22 C 20 177 134 24 19 0 .893 7.90 .912 6.83 26 0 0
1889 NYG NL 23 C 37 208 138 38 32 3 .846 4.76 .910 6.00 16 0 0
1889 NYG NL 23 OF 3 9 8 1 0 0 1.000 3.00 .910 2.00 0-3-0
1890 NYI PL 24 C 34 180 124 38 18 1 .900 4.76 .901 5.36 17 55 35 39% 37%
1890 NYI PL 24 OF 13 16 15 0 1 0 .938 1.15 .904 2.11 2-0-11
1890 NYI PL 24 1B 9 106 97 4 5 4 .953 11.22 .973 10.44
1890 NYI PL 24 3B 3 10 3 6 1 0 .900 3.00 .853 3.53
1890 NYI PL 24 2B 2 4 2 1 1 0 .750 1.50 .912 5.85
1891 PHI NL 25 1B 97 1057 997 48 12 60 .989 10.77 .978 10.66
1891 PHI NL 25 C 19 86 60 20 6 2 .930 4.21 .926 5.79 8 30 18 38% 37%
1891 PHI NL 25 OF 2 3 2 1 0 0 1.000 1.50 .913 1.90 0-2-0
1893 TOT NL 27 1B 118 1213 1145 54 14 79 .988 10.16 .978 10.58
1893 BLN NL 27 1B 7 67 63 3 1 3 .985 9.43 .978 10.59
1893 LOU NL 27 1B 111 1146 1082 51 13 76 .989 10.21 .978 10.58
1893 LOU NL 27 C 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 4.80 1 0 0
1894 TOT NL 28 1B 16 163 141 19 3 8 .982 10.00 .976 9.80
1894 LOU NL 28 1B 13 133 113 17 3 6 .977 10.00 .976 9.80
1894 STL NL 28 1B 3 30 28 2 0 2 1.000 10.00 .976 9.80
4 Seasons 1B 240 2539 2380 125 34 151 .987 10.44 .978 10.56
6 Seasons C 157 977 685 189 103 11 .895 5.57 .909 5.97 119 85 53 38% 37%
4 Seasons OF 20 29 25 2 2 0 .931 1.35 .906 2.05 2-5-13
2 Seasons 3B 6 16 5 8 3 0 .813 2.17 .859 3.48
1 Season 2B 2 4 2 1 1 0 .750 1.50 .912 5.85
7 Seasons TOT 425 3565 3097 325 143 162 .960 8.05 .958 8.34 2-5-13 119 85 53 38% 37%
Lg Pos G GS CG Inn Ch PO A E DP Fld% RF/9 RF/G lgFld% lgRF9 lgRFG G PB WP SB CS CS% lgCS% PO Awards
Note: Fielding stats are a combination of official records and RetroSheet records. Both are likely to have substantial errors and will not match perfectly.
View Complete Notes on Fielding Data
Leagues historically made no effort to balance team, league, and player fielding stats. Since 1990 or so, computers have made this feasible, but prior to that there are hundreds or thousands of discrepancies each year in games played (even whether a player played a position), putouts, assists, double plays and errors.
  • Pre-1945 SB & CS data for catchers is estimated from catcher assists, games started and opposition stolen bases.
  • From 1945 on SB, CS, Pickoff, & WP data for catchers and pitchers is taken from play-by-play accounts in the retrosheet files. There are several hundred games without pbp from 1945 to 1973 and for those we may not have any data.
  • CG & GS come from the retrosheet data and should be complete and pretty accurate from 1916 on.
  • Innings played (like SB and CS) come from the retrosheet play-by-play data and should be considered mostly complete from 1945 to 1973 and complete from then on.
  • Stats (PO,A,G, etc) for LF-CF-RF positions (since 1916) is taken from play-by-play or box score data as available.
  • Stats (PO,A,G,etc) for C,P,1B,2B,3B,SS,OF positions is taken from the official reported totals and may have been corrected at various times since their publication.
  • For detailed information on which games retrosheet is missing play-by-play from 1945 to 1973, please see their most wanted games list
  • For detailed information on the availability of data on this site by year, see our data coverage page

Appearances on Leader Boards, Awards, and Honors

Stats are Year-Value-Rank · Glossary

Putouts† s c a p y
1893 NL  1,145 (5th)

Passed Balls s c a p y
1887 NL  51 (3rd)

Def. Games as 1B s c a p y
1893 NL  118 (5th)

Putouts as 1B s c a p y
1893 NL  1,145 (5th)

Assists as 1B s c a p y
1891 NL  48 (5th)
1893 NL  54 (5th)

Double Plays Turned as 1B s c a p y
1893 NL  79 (3rd)

Range Factor/Game as 1B s c a p y
1891 NL  10.77 (5th)

Fielding % as 1B s c a p y
1891 NL  .989 (1st)
1893 NL  .988 (1st)

Hall Of Fame Statistics

Player rank in (·)

Hall of Fame StandardsBatting - 5 (2221), Average HOFer ≈ 50
JAWS First Base (372nd), 0.9 career WAR/1.7 7yr-peak WAR/1.3 JAWS
Average HOF 1B (out of 19) = 68.2 career WAR/43.2 7yr-peak WAR/55.7 JAWS

Similarity Scores

Explanation of Similarity Scores
Similar Batters 
 View Similar Player Links in Pop-up
 Compare Stats to Similars
  1. Norm McMillan (961)
  2. Frank Ellerbe (955)
  3. Billy Lauder (954)
  4. Jim Finigan (953)
  5. Pete Castiglione (952)
  6. Jim Bucher (951)
  7. Dario Lodigiani (951)
  8. Joe Werrick (949)
  9. Bobby Valentine (947)
  10. Bill Brubaker (946)
Most Similar by Ages 
 View Similar Player Links in Pop-up
 Hold mouse over #'s to see names
  1. Lave Cross (969)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  2. Alexi Casilla (972)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  3. Alan Bannister (958)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  4. Frank Ellerbe (955)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
* - Signifies Hall of Famer

Transactions

The transaction information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. We attempt to update transactions throughout the season.

Salaries

 Salaries may not be complete (especially pre-1985) and may not include some earned bonuses
Year Age Team Salary Sources Notes/Other Sources
188721New York Giants$1,5001890 Spalding Guide
188822New York Giants$2,3001890 Spalding Guide
188923New York Giants$2,3001890 Spalding GuideP. Orem 534: $2,800
Career to date (may be incomplete)$6,100
Primary salary Data (about) courtesy Doug Pappas, and the Society for American Baseball Research.
Additional 1915-1969 salaries researched via Baseball Hall of Fame contract archives by Dr. Michael Haupert of UW-LaCrosse.
Salaries for mid-season call-ups or traded players may not be shown.
Salaries converted to alternate years using Consumer Price Index (CPI) data courtesty of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Board.

Other Resources & Links

Error?     Compare     Search SABR's Baseball Index     Other Links@google.com     Baseball-Almanac.com     DeadBallEra Obituary     Retrosheet     WahooSam.com     WhatIfSports: William Brown    

Viewed 3,923 times through May 15, 2013.
Name and misspellings: Big Bill William Big Bill California M. William Brown

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