Bill Donovan, baseball player, 1898-1918

Bill Donovan

Born: 10/13/1876 in Lawrence, MA, USA

Died: 12/9/1923 in Forsyth, NY, USA

MLB Debut: 1898-04-22 | Final Game: 1918-09-02

Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 190 lbs

Full name: William Edward Donovan

Biography

Bill Donovan, born in 1876, was a prominent pitcher in Major League Baseball during the early 20th century, with a career that spanned from 1898 until his retirement in 1918. Known for his skillful pitching and competitive spirit, Donovan finished his career with a record of 185-139 and an impressive earned run average (ERA) of 2.69. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 1,552 strikeouts and recorded 8 saves, showcasing his ability to not only excel as a starting pitcher but also contribute in crucial late-game situations. Donovan played during a transformative period in baseball history, characterized by the game's evolution from the deadball era into a more offense-oriented approach. His pitching style was marked by a blend of finesse and power, which allowed him to become a key figure on the mound for his teams. With a competitive edge and strategic approach, Donovan left a lasting impact on the game, earning respect from peers and fans alike for his contributions to baseball during a time when the sport was gaining widespread popularity. His legacy is remembered as one of the standout pitchers of his era, reflecting the hard work and dedication that defined the early days of Major League Baseball.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
185 139 378 327 289 35 8 2964.7 2631 886 30 1059 1552 2.69 0

Season-by-Season Pitching

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
459 1302 142 251 30 11 7 95 36 77 321 0.193 0.241 0.249 0.490 -4388.0

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
6 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0.000

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1909 WS DET 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000
1908 WS DET 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0.000
1907 WS DET 2 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0.000

Playoff Career Pitching

W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
1 4 6 6 0 50.0 41 16 17 33 2.88

Playoff Pitching by Year

Year Round Team W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
1909 WS DET 1 1 2 2 0 12.0 7 4 8 7 3.00
1908 WS DET 0 2 2 2 0 17.0 17 8 4 10 4.24
1907 WS DET 0 1 2 2 0 21.0 17 4 5 16 1.71

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 18 7 144 7 3 4
2B 8 4 9 9 2 0
OF 37 9 58 10 7 3
P 378 187 173 654 49 20
SS 3 0 1 4 4 2

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 378
First Base 19
Second Base 9
Shortstop 3
Left Field 16
Center Field 9
Right Field 13

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1908 Baseball Magazine All-Star P5