Win Mercer
Win Mercer | |
---|---|
San Francisco, California | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 21, 1894, for the Washington Senators | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 27, 1902, for the Detroit Tigers | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 131-164 |
Earned run average | 3.99 |
Strikeouts | 528 |
Teams | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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George Barclay "Win" Mercer (June 20, 1874 – January 12, 1903) was a
Appointed player-manager of the Detroit Tigers for the 1903 season, Mercer's baseball career was terminated when he took his own life on January 13, 1903, in San Francisco.[1]
Six seasons with the Washington Senators: 1894–1899
Mercer spent the first seven years of his major league career, 1894–1899, with the
While Mercer's career record is 131–164, these figures do not reflect Mercer's talents. In Mercer's rookie season, 1894, he pitched 336+1⁄3 innings and had 29 complete games at age 20. His ERA of 3.85 was third best in the National League. Yet, his win–loss record for the hapless Senators was 17–23. In 1896, Mercer managed to win 25 games (5th best in the National League) despite playing for a losing team. If Mercer's decisions were removed from the Senators’ 1896 season, they would have finished 23–55 – a .294 winning percentage.
A game played on August 31, 1896, demonstrates how difficult it was for Mercer to secure wins for the Senators. On that day, Mercer shut out Chicago for 11 innings, but the Senators also failed to score a run against opposing pitcher Cy Young. The Senators finally scored a run in the 11th inning to give Mercer the win, but Mercer lacked the support to achieve the win totals he could have secured on a better hitting team.
Mercer's role in the Ladies' Day Riot of 1897
Mercer was a fan favorite, especially with women. He reportedly was "young and handsome with piercing dark eyes, and an outgoing personality." According to one account (Nash and Zullo, "Turnstile Turnoffs" in ‘The Baseball Hall of Shame’ (1985)), the ladies loved Mercer, and he "loved the ladies." Playing on Mercer's popularity with the ladies, Washington liked to pitch Mercer on Tuesdays and Fridays, which were designated "Ladies’ Days." One Ladies’ Day game in 1897 ended in shambles when women rioted after Umpire Bill Carpenter ejected Mercer. According to Nash and Zullo, "an army of angry females poured out of the stands. They surrounded Carpenter, shoved him to the ground and ripped his clothing. Finally, police brought the situation under control."[2]
Mercer's talents as a batter
Mercer also proved himself to be a solid hitter with the Senators. He hit .291 in his rookie season with 29 runs, 29 RBIs, 9 extra base hits, and 9 stolen bases. After Mercer hit .317 in 1897, the Senators began using him as a position player starting in 1898 on days when he wasn’t pitching. As a result, Mercer played at every position except catcher in his career, including 90 games at 3rd base, 75 games in the outfield, 39 games at shortstop, 8 games at first base, and 5 at 2nd base. With increased at bats in 1898, Mercer batted .321 with a .369 on-base percentage. The rest of the Senators’ team batted .271 for the 1898 season – 50 points lower than Mercer. And in 1899, he hit .299 and achieved career highs with 73 runs, 35 RBIs, 112 hits, and 16 stolen bases.
The New York Giants: 1900
On January 10, 1900, the
The American League: 1901–1902
Before the 1901 season, Mercer jumped to the newly formed
Mercer played for the Detroit Tigers in 1902 and had one of his best seasons. Though he had eight major league seasons behind him, Mercer was only 27 years old at the start of the 1902 season. He started 33 games for the Tigers and had 28 complete games. His ERA of 3.04 was the best of his career. His four shutouts in 1902 were second in the American League to Addie Joss.
Death
After the conclusion of the 1902 season, the Tigers appointed the 28-year-old Mercer to be their player-manager for 1903. However, on January 12, 1903, after a barnstorming tour through the west, Mercer checked into the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco and killed himself by inhaling
Mercer was laid to rest at Riverview Cemetery in East Liverpool, Ohio.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders
- List of baseball players who died during their careers
References
- ^ Overfield, Joe (24 November 2016). "Suicides and Other Violent Deaths". medium.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- ^ a b Win Mercer at the SABR Baseball Biography Project , by William Akin, Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- ^ Win Mercer's obituary at www.thedeadballera.com
External links
- Baseball Almanac
- Win Mercer at the SABR Baseball Biography Project , by William Akin, Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference
- Tom Deveaux, The Washington Senators 1901–1971 (McFarland & Co. 2001)
- Bruch Nash and Allan Zullo, "Turnstile Turnoffs: The Most Undignified Ballpark Promotions", in The Baseball Hall of Shame (Pocket Books 1985).