Howdy Caton
Born: 7/16/1894 in Zanesville, OH, USA
Died: 1/8/1948 in Zanesville, OH, USA
MLB Debut: 1917-09-17 | Final Game: 1920-09-06
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'6" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: James Howard Caton
Biography
Howdy Caton was a professional baseball player born in 1894, whose career spanned from 1917 to 1920. Primarily serving as a position player, Caton appeared in 231 games across his brief tenure in Major League Baseball. He played during a transformative period in the sport, which was characterized by the tail end of the deadball era, a time when offensive numbers were typically low and the game relied heavily on speed and strategy rather than power hitting.
Throughout his career, Caton recorded 184 hits and drove in 53 runs, finishing with a batting average of .226. Although he did not hit any home runs, he showcased his speed on the basepaths with 18 stolen bases, reflecting his ability to contribute to his team's offensive efforts in alternative ways. Caton's career, while not marked by overwhelming statistics, highlighted the crucial role of versatile players during a time when the game was evolving, and he remains a part of the rich tapestry of early 20th-century baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 231 | 814 | 85 | 184 | 18 | 16 | 0 | 53 | 18 | 83 | 52 | 0.226 | 0.301 | 0.287 | 0.588 | -1681.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | PIT | NL | 14 | 57 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0.211 | -73.0 |
| 1918 | PIT | NL | 80 | 303 | 37 | 71 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 12 | 32 | 16 | 0.234 | -230.7 |
| 1919 | PIT | NL | 39 | 102 | 13 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 0.176 | -432.0 |
| 1920 | PIT | NL | 98 | 352 | 29 | 83 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 27 | 4 | 33 | 19 | 0.236 | -945.8 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 14 | 0 | 12 | 25 | 2 | 1 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 206 | 0 | 372 | 646 | 81 | 83 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | PIT | SS | 14 | 0 | 21 | 47 | 8 | 5 |
| 1918 | PIT | SS | 79 | 0 | 136 | 276 | 32 | 35 |
| 1919 | PIT | 3B | 14 | 0 | 12 | 25 | 2 | 1 |
| 1919 | PIT | SS | 17 | 0 | 24 | 27 | 4 | 3 |
| 1919 | PIT | OF | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1920 | PIT | SS | 96 | 0 | 191 | 296 | 37 | 40 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Third Base | 15 |
| Shortstop | 206 |
| Center Field | 1 |