Tom Forster
Born: 5/1/1859 in New York, NY, USA
Died: 7/17/1946 in New York, NY, USA
MLB Debut: 1882-08-04 | Final Game: 1886-08-23
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 153 lbs
Full name: Thomas W. Forster
Biography
Tom Forster was a professional baseball player born in 1859, who played in the Major Leagues from 1882 until his retirement in 1886. As a position player, he appeared in 180 games throughout his career, primarily during a transformative era in baseball characterized by the shift from the deadball era to a more offensive style of play. Forster's contributions to the game were marked by his tenacity on the field, accumulating 131 hits and 40 RBIs, while also showcasing his speed with 9 stolen bases.
Despite a batting average of .197, Forster's impact extended beyond just numbers; he was part of the evolving landscape of baseball in the 1880s. His lone home run symbolized the early stages of power hitting that would later define the sport. Although he played during a time when the game was still finding its identity, Tom Forster's dedication and participation in the Major Leagues helped pave the way for future generations of players. His career, while modest in statistical terms, reflected the hard-fought battles of the era and the passion for baseball that continues to resonate today.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 180 | 666 | 76 | 131 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 40 | 9 | 49 | 12 | 0.197 | 0.256 | 0.236 | 0.492 | -1907.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1882 | DTN | NL | 21 | 76 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 0.092 | -615.4 |
| 1884 | PT1 | AA | 35 | 126 | 10 | 28 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0.222 | -217.9 |
| 1885 | NY4 | AA | 57 | 213 | 28 | 47 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0.221 | -262.3 |
| 1886 | NY4 | AA | 67 | 251 | 33 | 49 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 9 | 20 | 0 | 0.195 | -811.7 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1884 | WS | NY4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 136 | 0 | 339 | 394 | 95 | 52 |
| 3B | 6 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| OF | 9 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| SS | 29 | 0 | 47 | 111 | 21 | 10 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1882 | DTN | 2B | 21 | 0 | 58 | 54 | 23 | 5 |
| 1884 | PT1 | 2B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1884 | PT1 | 3B | 6 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| 1884 | PT1 | SS | 28 | 0 | 45 | 103 | 17 | 8 |
| 1885 | NY4 | 2B | 52 | 0 | 127 | 143 | 29 | 21 |
| 1885 | NY4 | OF | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 1886 | NY4 | 2B | 62 | 0 | 152 | 193 | 42 | 26 |
| 1886 | NY4 | SS | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| 1886 | NY4 | OF | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 136 |
| Third Base | 6 |
| Shortstop | 29 |
| Left Field | 5 |
| Center Field | 4 |