Ollie Beard
Shortstop · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1889-1891)
Ollie Beard was a shortstop who played in Major League Baseball from 1889 to 1891 for the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Louisville Colonels, a span of 3 seasons. In 331 career games, he hit .270 with 353 hits, 4 home runs, and 173 RBI.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Shortstop
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'11" / 180 lb
- Died
- 5/28/1929 in Cincinnati, OH, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1889-04-17
- Last Game
- 1891-06-28
Full name: Oliver Perry Beard
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 331 | 1,307 | 195 | 353 | 34 | 34 | 4 | 173 | 73 | 112 | 61 | .270 | .330 | .357 | .687 | -165 |
Career AVG .270 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OBP .330 vs. league average .334 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career SLG .357 vs. league average .351 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OPS .687 vs. league average .685 across their career seasons — near league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1889 | CN2 | AA | 141 | 558 | 96 | 159 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 77 | 36 | 35 | 39 | .285 | .263 (+8%) | .334 (-2%) | .357 (+2%) | .691 (avg) | -111.4 |
| 1890 | CIN | NL | 122 | 492 | 64 | 132 | 17 | 15 | 3 | 72 | 30 | 44 | 13 | .268 | .260 (+3%) | .336 (-2%) | .351 (+9%) | .687 (+4%) | 188.4 |
| 1891 | LS2 | AA | 68 | 257 | 35 | 62 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 24 | 7 | 33 | 9 | .241 | .254 (-5%) | .331 (avg) | .343 (-14%) | .675 (-7%) | -241.6 |
| Career · 3 seasons | 331 | 1,307 | 195 | 353 | 34 | 34 | 4 | 173 | 73 | 112 | 61 | .270 | — | — | — | — | -165 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Third Base | 70 |
| Shortstop | 261 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Ollie Beard (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Ollie Beard: the record in brief
The profile opens with Ollie Beard's first major league game on April 17, 1889; the last one listed came on June 28, 1891. By club, Beard's seasons break down as the Cincinnati Red Stockings (1889), the Cincinnati Reds (1890), and the Louisville Colonels (1891). Beard played primarily as a shortstop and threw and hit right-handed. Born on May 2, 1862, in Lexington, KY, USA, Beard was listed at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds. Beard's death is recorded on May 28, 1929, in Cincinnati, OH, USA. Beard's full given name, per the bio, is Oliver Perry Beard.
Beard collected 353 hits in 1,307 at bats across 331 games, good for a .270 batting average; the totals also include 4 homers, 173 RBI, and 73 stolen bases. Beard got on base at a .330 rate and slugged .357 (.687 OPS). Against a .259 league average for those years, Beard's .270 average was near the norm. The highest hit total in a season was 159, in 1889. The RBI column peaks at 77 in 1889. On the bases, the high point was 36 steals in 1889.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ollie Beard
- What years did Ollie Beard play?
- Ollie Beard played in Major League Baseball from 1889 to 1891.
- Was Ollie Beard a pitcher?
- No. Ollie Beard was a position player (Shortstop).
- How many home runs did Ollie Beard hit?
- Ollie Beard hit 4 career home runs with 353 hits.
- What was Ollie Beard's career batting average?
- Ollie Beard batted .270 over his career, with 353 hits in 1,307 at bats.
- How many RBI did Ollie Beard have?
- Ollie Beard drove in 173 runs in his career.
- Is Ollie Beard in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Ollie Beard has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.