WHY I THINK HARRY STOVEY SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK HARRY STOVEY SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

Harry Stovey was one of the best overall players in the 1880’s, especially when it was his turn to hit. He set the single season home run record with 14 in 1883, was one of three players ever to average better than a run per game (the others were Billy Hamilton and George Gore), and dominated pretty much every offensive leaderboard in the 1880’s. A complete player, Stovey backed up his home runs with a high batting average, patience, and well over 500 career stolen bases. Not only was he the whole package on offense, but he was also a strong fielder both at first base (a defensive position until about 1925) and in the outfield. Harry Stovey began his career in 1880 with the Worcester Ruby Legs and immediately left his mark, leading the Majors in homers as a rookie. He would lead two leagues in home runs a total of five times, his next win being in 1883. In 1885, he became baseball’s career home run leader with 50, and would hold the title until 1887. Stovey regained the crown in 1889 and held it until 1894, when he was passed up by Roger Connor, the man who Babe Ruth eventually beat. Stovey joined the one year Players’ League in 1890, and continued his hitting ways with the Boston Reds, batting .298 with a dozen longballs and a league leading 97 stolen bases. Stovey had one last big season in 1891 (.279 average, MLB best 16 homers), but by 1892, he started to slow down a bit. Stovey was still an above average player when he stepped away from the game in 1893. In retirement, he became a police officer. Harry Stovey was a superb hitter, a proficient run producer, and a solid fielder whose career and reputation suggest that he was one of the very best players who ever lived. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,489 season high: 137 in 1889 led AA: 112 in 1885 

At Bats career: 6,153 season high: 556 in 1889 

Hits career: 1,775 season high: 171 in 1889 

Doubles career: 348 season high: 38 in 1889 led AA: 31 in 1883 

Triples career: 176 season high: 23 in 1884 led NL: 14 in 1880, 20 in 1891 led AA: 23 in 1884, 20 in 1888 

Home Runs career: 122 season high: 19 in 1889 led NL: 6 in 1880, 16 in 1891 led AA: 14 in 1883, 13 in 1885, 19 in 1889 

Runs career: 1,495 season high: 152 in 1889 led AA: 110 in 1883, 124 in 1884, 130 in 1885, 152 in 1889 

Runs Batted In career: 912 season high: 119 in 1889 led AA: 119 in 1889 

Stolen Bases career: 509 season high: 97 in 1890 led AA: 68 in 1886 led PL: 97 in 1890 (Stovey’s stolen base information prior to 1886 is unavailable) 

Walks career: 664 season high: 82 in 1890 

Strikeouts career: 452 season high: 69 in 1888 and 1891 led NL: 69 in 1891 (Stovey’s strikeout information from 1883 through 1886 is unavailable) 

Batting Average career: .288 season high: .326 in 1884 

On Base Percentage career: .361 season high: .403 in 1890 

Slugging Percentage career: .462 season high: .545 in 1884 led AA: .506 in 1883, .525 in 1889 led NL: .498 in 1891 

Total Bases career: 2,841 season high: 292 in 1889 led AA: 213 in 1883, 292 in 1889 led NL: 271 in 1891 

Sacrifice Hits career: N/A 

Fielding Percentage career: .943 season high: .963 in 1883 led AA 1B: .965 in 1883 

Double Plays career: 286 season high: 49 in 1885 

Putouts career: 7,527 season high: 1,061 in 1884 

Assists career: 329 season high: 38 in 1889 led AA 1B: 28 in 1885 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-was the first player in MLB history to (1), hit 100 home runs, (2), wear sliding pads, and (3), slide feet first 

-also led his league in extra-base hits five times, home run percentage four times, and plate appearances once 

-pitched four career games, striking out seven batters in 9 ⅓ innings 

-was also the career leader in triples for a time 

-hit for the cycle on May 15, 1888 

-hit three triples in one game on July 21, 1892 and two in one inning on August 18, 1884 

-hit five home runs each off of Guy Hecker and Silver King, four each off of Hoss Radbourn, Tim Keefe, Mickey Welch, Jim McCormick, and Will White, three off of Tony Mullane, two each off of Pud Galvin, Bob Caruthers, and George Van Haltren, and one each off of Hank O’Day, Mike Smith, and Dave Foutz (sheesh!) 

-ranks 21st in career triples and 35th in stolen bases

fix label outfielder