Bill Dickey
Catcher · Career Stats, Hall of Fame Bio & Records (1928-1946)
Bill Dickey was a catcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1928 to 1946 for the New York Yankees, a span of 19 seasons. In 1,789 career games, he hit .313 with 1,969 hits, 202 home runs, and 1,209 RBI. Bill Dickey was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954 and was a 11-time All-Star. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 23,944.
- 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
- Catcher
- Bats / Throws
- L / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'1" / 185 lb
- Died
- 11/12/1993 in Little Rock, AR, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1928-08-15
- Last Game
- 1946-09-08
- Hall of Fame
- Inducted 1954 (BBWAA)
- Awards
- 11× All-Star
Full name: William Malcolm Dickey
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,789 | 6,300 | 930 | 1,969 | 343 | 72 | 202 | 1,209 | 37 | 678 | 289 | .313 | .382 | .486 | .868 | 23,944 |
Career AVG .313 vs. league average .274 across their career seasons — +14.2% above league average.
Career OBP .382 vs. league average .339 across their career seasons — +12.7% above league average.
Career SLG .486 vs. league average .388 across their career seasons — +25.1% above league average.
Career OPS .868 vs. league average .727 across their career seasons — +19.4% above 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | NYA | AL | 10 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .200 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1929 | NYA | AL | 130 | 447 | 60 | 145 | 30 | 6 | 10 | 65 | 5 | 14 | 16 | .324 | .289 (+12%) | .353 (-2%) | .415 (+17%) | .769 (+8%) | 584.4 |
| 1930 | NYA | AL | 109 | 366 | 55 | 124 | 25 | 7 | 5 | 65 | 7 | 21 | 14 | .339 | .293 (+15%) | .354 (+6%) | .429 (+13%) | .784 (+10%) | 673.2 |
| 1931 | NYA | AL | 130 | 477 | 65 | 156 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 78 | 2 | 39 | 20 | .327 | .276 (+18%) | .338 (+12%) | .388 (+14%) | .726 (+13%) | 1226.8 |
| 1932 | NYA | AL | 108 | 423 | 66 | 131 | 20 | 4 | 15 | 84 | 2 | 34 | 13 | .310 | .275 (+13%) | .335 (+8%) | .391 (+23%) | .726 (+16%) | 1266.5 |
| 1933 | NYA | AL | 130 | 478 | 58 | 152 | 24 | 8 | 14 | 97 | 3 | 47 | 14 | .318 | .270 (+18%) | .329 (+16%) | .377 (+30%) | .707 (+23%) | 2161.8 |
| 1934 | NYA | AL | 104 | 395 | 56 | 127 | 24 | 4 | 12 | 72 | 0 | 38 | 18 | .322 | .278 (+16%) | .340 (+13%) | .392 (+26%) | .733 (+20%) | 1503.1 |
| 1935 | NYA | AL | 120 | 448 | 54 | 125 | 26 | 6 | 14 | 81 | 1 | 35 | 11 | .279 | .279 (avg) | .342 (-1%) | .399 (+15%) | .742 (+7%) | 581.5 |
| 1936 | NYA | AL | 112 | 423 | 99 | 153 | 26 | 8 | 22 | 107 | 0 | 46 | 16 | .362 | .283 (+27%) | .349 (+22%) | .404 (+53%) | .753 (+39%) | 3258.8 |
| 1937 | NYA | AL | 140 | 530 | 87 | 176 | 35 | 2 | 29 | 133 | 3 | 73 | 22 | .332 | .276 (+20%) | .342 (+22%) | .398 (+43%) | .740 (+33%) | 3783.5 |
| 1938 | NYA | AL | 132 | 454 | 84 | 142 | 27 | 4 | 27 | 115 | 3 | 75 | 22 | .313 | .272 (+15%) | .341 (+21%) | .392 (+45%) | .734 (+34%) | 3226.8 |
| 1939 | NYA | AL | 128 | 480 | 98 | 145 | 23 | 3 | 24 | 105 | 5 | 77 | 37 | .302 | .274 (+10%) | .342 (+18%) | .393 (+30%) | .735 (+25%) | 2575.7 |
| 1940 | NYA | AL | 106 | 372 | 45 | 92 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 54 | 0 | 48 | 32 | .247 | .267 (-7%) | .335 (avg) | .387 (-8%) | .722 (-4%) | -169.1 |
| 1941 | NYA | AL | 109 | 348 | 35 | 99 | 15 | 5 | 7 | 71 | 2 | 45 | 17 | .284 | .262 (+9%) | .332 (+12%) | .373 (+12%) | .705 (+12%) | 847.5 |
| 1942 | NYA | AL | 82 | 268 | 28 | 79 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 37 | 2 | 26 | 11 | .295 | .253 (+16%) | .323 (+11%) | .349 (+7%) | .672 (+9%) | 445.1 |
| 1943 | NYA | AL | 85 | 242 | 29 | 85 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 33 | 2 | 41 | 12 | .351 | .255 (+37%) | .324 (+37%) | .346 (+42%) | .671 (+40%) | 1818.3 |
| 1946 | NYA | AL | 54 | 134 | 10 | 35 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 19 | 12 | .261 | .256 (+2%) | .328 (+9%) | .358 (+2%) | .687 (+5%) | 159.7 |
| Career · 17 seasons | 1,789 | 6,300 | 930 | 1,969 | 343 | 72 | 202 | 1,209 | 37 | 678 | 289 | .313 | — | — | — | — | 23,944 | ||
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.
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 145 | 19 | 37 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 15 | 12 | .255 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | WS | NYA | 5 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | .278 |
| 1942 | WS | NYA | 5 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .263 |
| 1941 | WS | NYA | 5 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | .167 |
| 1939 | WS | NYA | 4 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | .267 |
| 1938 | WS | NYA | 4 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .400 |
| 1937 | WS | NYA | 5 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | .211 |
| 1936 | WS | NYA | 6 | 25 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | .120 |
| 1932 | WS | NYA | 4 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | .438 |
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1789 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 906 | 3086 | 465 | 953 | 135 | 633 | .309 |
| Away | 883 | 3219 | 464 | 1016 | 67 | 574 | .316 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946-09-08 | NYY | MIN | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1946-09-06 | NYY | PHA | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1946-08-26 | NYY | DET | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1946-08-11 | NYY | BOS | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1946-08-10 | NYY | BOS | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1946-08-04 | NYY | CLE | W | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1946-08-02 | NYY | CLE | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1946-07-30 | NYY | DET | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1946-07-29 | NYY | CHW | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1946-07-13 | NYY | CLE | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | NYA | C | 6 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1929 | NYA | C | 127 | 0 | 476 | 95 | 12 | 13 |
| 1930 | NYA | C | 101 | 0 | 418 | 51 | 11 | 5 |
| 1931 | NYA | C | 125 | 0 | 670 | 78 | 3 | 6 |
| 1932 | NYA | C | 108 | 0 | 639 | 53 | 9 | 6 |
| 1933 | NYA | C | 127 | 0 | 721 | 82 | 6 | 15 |
| 1934 | NYA | C | 104 | 0 | 527 | 49 | 8 | 13 |
| 1935 | NYA | C | 118 | 0 | 536 | 62 | 3 | 7 |
| 1936 | NYA | C | 107 | 0 | 499 | 61 | 14 | 10 |
| 1937 | NYA | C | 137 | 0 | 692 | 80 | 7 | 11 |
| 1938 | NYA | C | 126 | 0 | 518 | 74 | 8 | 7 |
| 1939 | NYA | C | 126 | 0 | 571 | 57 | 7 | 8 |
| 1940 | NYA | C | 102 | 0 | 425 | 55 | 3 | 9 |
| 1941 | NYA | C | 104 | 0 | 422 | 45 | 3 | 11 |
| 1942 | NYA | C | 80 | 0 | 322 | 44 | 9 | 7 |
| 1943 | NYA | C | 71 | 0 | 322 | 37 | 2 | 5 |
| 1946 | NYA | C | 39 | 0 | 201 | 29 | 3 | 4 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1704 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1943 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |
| 1942 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |
| 1941 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |
| 1941 | TSN All-Star | C |
| 1939 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |
| 1939 | TSN All-Star | C |
| 1938 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C1 |
| 1938 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |
| 1938 | TSN All-Star | C |
| 1937 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |
| 1936 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |
| 1936 | TSN All-Star | C |
| 1933 | TSN All-Star | C |
| 1932 | TSN All-Star | C |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 8th | 58.0 | 336 | 2 |
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 17th | 12.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1941 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 13th | 18.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1939 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 6th | 110.0 | 336 | 3 |
| 1938 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 2nd | 196.0 | 336 | 3 |
| 1937 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 5th | 22.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1936 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 5th | 29.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1933 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 12th | 9.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1932 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 8.0 | 80 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Bill Dickey (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Bill Dickey
Bill Dickey: the record in brief
Bill Dickey played a first major league game on August 15, 1928 and a last one on September 8, 1946. The team column never changes: it is the New York Yankees from 1928 to 1946. Dickey, a catcher by primary position, threw right-handed and batted left-handed. Height and weight on file: 6'1" and 185 pounds. The birth record reads June 6, 1907, in Bastrop, LA, USA. Dickey's death is recorded on November 12, 1993, in Little Rock, AR, USA. On the record, Bill Dickey was born William Malcolm Dickey.
Dickey's career batting table shows 1,789 games, 6,300 at bats and 1,969 hits, a .313 average, plus 202 home runs, 1,209 RBI, and 37 stolen bases. The on-base percentage is .382 and the slugging percentage .486, for an OPS of .868. Set against a .274 league average for the same years, Dickey's .313 average sits 14.2% above it. In OPS terms, Dickey's .868 stands 19.4% above the league's .727. No season beat the 29 home runs Dickey hit in 1937.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bill Dickey
- What years did Bill Dickey play?
- Bill Dickey played in Major League Baseball from 1928 to 1946.
- Was Bill Dickey a pitcher?
- No. Bill Dickey was a position player (Catcher).
- How many home runs did Bill Dickey hit?
- Bill Dickey hit 202 career home runs with 1,969 hits.
- Is Bill Dickey in the Hall of Fame?
- Yes. Bill Dickey was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954.
- What teams did Bill Dickey play for?
- Bill Dickey played for one team, the New York Yankees (1928–1943, 1946).
- Did Bill Dickey win an MVP award?
- No. Bill Dickey did not win the MVP award.
- What awards did Bill Dickey win?
- Bill Dickey was selected to 11 All-Star Games.
- What were Bill Dickey's career stats?
- In 1,789 games, Bill Dickey had 1,969 hits, 202 home runs, 1,209 RBI, 930 runs, and 37 stolen bases, with a .313 batting average.
- What position did Bill Dickey play?
- Bill Dickey played primarily as a catcher, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Bill Dickey and how much did he weigh?
- Bill Dickey was listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 185 pounds.
- How many home runs did Bill Dickey hit each season?
- Bill Dickey's home runs by season: 0 in 1928, 10 in 1929, 5 in 1930, 6 in 1931, 15 in 1932, 14 in 1933, 12 in 1934, 14 in 1935, 22 in 1936, 29 in 1937, 27 in 1938, 24 in 1939, 9 in 1940, 7 in 1941, 2 in 1942, 4 in 1943, and 2 in 1946. His most in one season was 29, in 1937.
- What was Bill Dickey's career batting average?
- Bill Dickey batted .313 over his career, with 1,969 hits in 6,300 at bats.
- How many RBI did Bill Dickey have?
- Bill Dickey drove in 1,209 runs in his career.
- How many All-Star Games did Bill Dickey make?
- Bill Dickey was selected to 11 All-Star Games.