Tom Downey
Born: 1/1/1884 in Lewiston, ME, USA
Died: 8/3/1961 in Passaic, NJ, USA
MLB Debut: 1909-05-07 | Final Game: 1915-09-30
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 178 lbs
Full name: Thomas Edward Downey
Biography
Tom Downey was a professional baseball player born in 1884, who enjoyed a career spanning from 1909 to 1915. Primarily serving as a position player, Downey made a notable impact in the early 20th century, a period characterized by the transition from the deadball era to a more offensively-minded game. Over the course of his career, he played in 651 games, amassing a total of 520 hits, which contributed to a batting average of .240. His offensive contributions included 7 home runs and 188 RBIs, along with a respectable total of 87 stolen bases, showcasing his speed and base-running abilities.
While Downey may not have been among the most heralded players of his time, his consistent performance and versatility on the field provided valuable depth to the teams he played for. His career unfolded during a pivotal time in baseball history, as the sport began to embrace more dynamic styles of play, setting the stage for the offensive explosions that would define later decades. Downey's legacy, though perhaps overshadowed by contemporaries, remains a testament to the skill and dedication of early 20th-century baseball players.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 651 | 2170 | 256 | 520 | 69 | 25 | 7 | 188 | 87 | 198 | 206 | 0.240 | 0.306 | 0.304 | 0.610 | -2755.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | CIN | NL | 119 | 416 | 39 | 96 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 32 | 16 | 32 | 34 | 0.231 | -519.8 |
| 1910 | CIN | NL | 111 | 378 | 43 | 102 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 32 | 12 | 34 | 28 | 0.270 | 229.1 |
| 1911 | CIN | NL | 111 | 360 | 50 | 94 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 36 | 10 | 44 | 38 | 0.261 | 4.6 |
| 1912 | CHC | NL | 13 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.182 | 0.0 |
| 1912 | PHI | NL | 54 | 171 | 27 | 50 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 3 | 21 | 20 | 0.292 | 0.0 |
| 1914 | BUF | FL | 151 | 541 | 69 | 118 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 42 | 35 | 40 | 55 | 0.218 | -1743.4 |
| 1915 | BUF | FL | 92 | 282 | 24 | 56 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 11 | 26 | 26 | 0.199 | -989.5 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2B | 184 | 0 | 404 | 543 | 49 | 73 |
| 3B | 135 | 41 | 177 | 257 | 36 | 16 |
| C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 306 | 186 | 648 | 887 | 168 | 104 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | CIN | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1909 | CIN | SS | 119 | 119 | 260 | 363 | 62 | 54 |
| 1910 | CIN | 3B | 41 | 41 | 65 | 89 | 15 | 8 |
| 1910 | CIN | SS | 68 | 67 | 136 | 192 | 45 | 18 |
| 1911 | CIN | 1B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1911 | CIN | 2B | 6 | 0 | 15 | 22 | 4 | 2 |
| 1911 | CIN | 3B | 5 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 1911 | CIN | SS | 93 | 0 | 198 | 267 | 48 | 26 |
| 1911 | CIN | OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1912 | CHN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1912 | CHN | 3B | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1912 | CHN | SS | 5 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| 1912 | PHI | 3B | 46 | 0 | 57 | 76 | 16 | 3 |
| 1912 | PHI | SS | 3 | 0 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 2 |
| 1914 | BUF | 2B | 129 | 0 | 265 | 388 | 26 | 49 |
| 1914 | BUF | 3B | 5 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 2 |
| 1914 | BUF | SS | 16 | 0 | 31 | 35 | 3 | 3 |
| 1915 | BUF | 1B | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1915 | BUF | 2B | 48 | 0 | 124 | 130 | 19 | 22 |
| 1915 | BUF | 3B | 35 | 0 | 41 | 63 | 3 | 3 |
| 1915 | BUF | SS | 2 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1 |
| First Base | 3 |
| Second Base | 186 |
| Third Base | 134 |
| Shortstop | 309 |
| Right Field | 1 |