Ned Williamson
Ned Williamson | ||
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Edward Nagle Williamson (October 24, 1857 – March 3, 1894) was an American
From 1883 and 1887, Williamson held the single-season record for both doubles and home runs. Although his record for doubles was surpassed in 1887, he held the home run record until 1919, when it was topped by Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox. Statistically, he was one of the best fielders of his era. During the first eight years of his career, he led the league at his position in both fielding percentage and double plays five times, and he also led his position in assists six times. Later, when he moved to shortstop, he again led the league in both assists and double plays.
His career was shortened by a knee injury that he suffered in Paris during a world-tour organized by Albert Spalding. After he left organized baseball, his health declined rapidly. He contracted tuberculosis and ultimately died at the age of 36 of dropsy.
Career
Born in
The Blues were only a major league team for the 1878 season,[4] resulting in Williamson joining the Chicago White Stockings for the 1879 season.[1] He was their regular third baseman, leading the league in multiple fielding categories for his position, including fielding percentage, assists, putouts, and double plays.[1] As a hitter, his numbers improved. He finished second in the league with 13 triples, and eighth in doubles with 20, while also raising his batting average to .294.[2] During the next three seasons, his batting statistics fluctuated from year to year. His batting average rose from .251 in 1880 to .282 in 1882; likewise, his 20 doubles in 1880 were good for seventh in the league, but dropped to 12 in 1881. He followed that season with 27 in 1882, which was fourth in the league.[2] During this time period, when his level of hitting had dropped, his play in the field did not. He led the league in fielding percentage from 1880 to 1882, and in assists in 1881 and 1882.[1]
In 1883, Williamson set the major league record for doubles in a single season by hitting 49, surpassing
During this time period, the establishment of the
After the 1884 season, the White Stockings moved to
Beginning in 1886, Williamson switched his fielding position to shortstop, while the Chicago White Stockings again won the National League championship, their fifth in seven years.[11] The team's success did not coincide with Williamson's slide in seasonal numbers. His batting average dropped to his career low of .216, and his strikeouts jumped up to a career high of 71, in 430 at bats, although he did finish third in bases on balls.[2] The White Stockings met the St. Louis Browns following the season and agreed to play a best of seven "World Series" for the second consecutive year.[12] The Browns won the series, four games to two, and Williamson's statistics for the series did not improve. In fact, they were worse than in 1885. He gathered one base hit in 18 at bats, for a .056 batting average, and scored two runs.[12]
1887 was Williamson's second season at shortstop, his last full season in the majors, and his numbers began to climb back to what they were during the early part of his career. His batting average jumped back up to .267, hit 20 doubles, 14 triples, 73 base on balls, and nine home runs.[2] In 1888, his batting average dipped again, this time to .250, but he did finish fourth in the league in both RBIs with 73, and base on balls with 65.[2] In the field, he led the league in assists and double plays.[1]
Spalding's world tour
At the completion of the 1888 baseball season,
Late career and death
The injury to Williamson's knee caused his career to suffer, as he played in 47 games during the 1889 season. He batted .237, and of his 41 hits that season, only five of them were
In the spring of 1894, Williamson traveled to
See also
- List of Major League Baseball home run records
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Ned Williamson's career statistics". Retrosheet.org. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Ned Williamson's career statistics". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ "Ned Williamson's umpire log". Retrosheet.org. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ "Indianapolis Blues 1878 franchise". Retrosheet.org. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ a b "Progressive Leaders & Records for Doubles". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ ISBN 0-7867-1286-4.
- ISBN 1-57860-192-4. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
- ^ a b c "Ned Williamson from the Chronology". baseballbiography.com. 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ISBN 0-7867-1286-4. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
- ^ a b "1885 World Series". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ a b "1886 World Series". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ a b c McMahon, Bill. "The Biography Project – Albert Spalding". Bioproj.sabr.org. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ ISBN 1-58648-311-0. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ISBN 978-0-9725574-3-6., pp. 168–171, 178–180, 182–186, 188. Besides having Williamson World Tour letter content on 13 pages of its 34 pages devoted to the tour, Cap Anson 4 also contains a 12-page biography of Williamson, focusing on his personality, including his letter-writing talents at other times.
- ^ "Deadball (2015)". IMDb.com.
- ISBN 1-58648-311-0. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ "Too Young To Die". Thedeadballera.com. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ "SABR dedicating grave marker to 19th century Cubs star". Marqueesportsnetwork.com. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)