Elmer Foster
Outfielder · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1886-1891)
Elmer Foster was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1886 to 1891 for the New York Metropolitans, the New York Giants, and the Chicago Cubs, a span of 6 seasons. In 105 career games, he hit .187 with 72 hits, 6 home runs, and 41 RBI.
- 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
- Outfielder
- Bats / Throws
- R / L
- Height / Weight
- 5'10" / 178 lb
- Died
- 7/22/1946 in Deephaven, MN, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1886-04-17
- Last Game
- 1891-04-25
Full name: Elmer Ellsworth Foster
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 105 | 386 | 56 | 72 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 41 | 37 | 29 | 44 | .187 | .258 | .277 | .535 | -882 |
Career AVG .187 vs. league average .253 across their career seasons — 26.4% below league average.
Career OBP .258 vs. league average .321 across their career seasons — 19.8% below league average.
Career SLG .277 vs. league average .342 across their career seasons — 18.9% below league average.
Career OPS .535 vs. league average .663 across their career seasons — 19.3% below 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1886 | NY4 | AA | 35 | 125 | 16 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .184 | .246 (-25%) | .302 (-21%) | .331 (-40%) | .634 (-31%) | -521.3 |
| 1888 | NY1 | NL | 37 | 136 | 15 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 20 | .147 | .238 (-38%) | .290 (-26%) | .319 (-38%) | .610 (-32%) | -582.2 |
| 1889 | NY1 | NL | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1890 | CHN | NL | 27 | 105 | 20 | 26 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 18 | 9 | 21 | .248 | .260 (-5%) | .336 (-4%) | .351 (+33%) | .687 (+15%) | 221.7 |
| 1891 | CHN | NL | 4 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .188 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 5 seasons | 105 | 386 | 56 | 72 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 41 | 37 | 29 | 44 | .187 | — | — | — | — | -882 | ||
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.
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 21 |
| Third Base | 1 |
| Left Field | 25 |
| Center Field | 59 |
Elmer Foster: the record in brief
April 17, 1886 and April 25, 1891 bracket Elmer Foster's time in the majors: the debut and the last game on record. By club, Foster's seasons break down as the New York Metropolitans (1886), the New York Giants (1888 to 1889), and the Chicago Colts (1890 to 1891). Foster, an outfielder by primary position, batted right-handed and threw left-handed. Height and weight on file: 5 feet, 10 inches and 178 pounds. Foster was born on August 15, 1861, in Minneapolis, MN, USA. Foster's death is recorded on July 22, 1946, in Deephaven, MN, USA. Foster's full given name, per the bio, is Elmer Ellsworth Foster.
Foster finished with 72 hits from 386 at bats in 105 games, which works out to .187, along with 6 homers, 41 runs batted in, and 37 stolen bases. Reaching base at a .258 clip and slugging .277, Foster finished with a .535 OPS. The league as a whole hit .253 across Foster's seasons, which puts the .187 career mark 26.4% below average. The OPS comparison is .535 to a league .663, 19.3% below average. No season topped the 26 hits of 1890.
Frequently Asked Questions about Elmer Foster
- What years did Elmer Foster play?
- Elmer Foster played in Major League Baseball from 1886 to 1891.
- Was Elmer Foster a pitcher?
- No. Elmer Foster was a position player (Outfielder).
- How many home runs did Elmer Foster hit?
- Elmer Foster hit 6 career home runs with 72 hits.
- What teams did Elmer Foster play for?
- Elmer Foster played for 3 teams: the New York Metropolitans (1886), the New York Giants (1888–1889), and the Chicago Colts (1890–1891).
- What were Elmer Foster's career stats?
- In 105 games, Elmer Foster had 72 hits, 6 home runs, 41 RBI, 56 runs, and 37 stolen bases, with a .187 batting average.
- What position did Elmer Foster play?
- Elmer Foster played primarily as an outfielder, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Elmer Foster and how much did he weigh?
- Elmer Foster was listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 178 pounds.
- How many home runs did Elmer Foster hit each season?
- Elmer Foster's home runs by season: 0 in 1886, 0 in 1888, 0 in 1889, 5 in 1890, and 1 in 1891. His most in one season was 5, in 1890.
- What was Elmer Foster's career batting average?
- Elmer Foster batted .187 over his career, with 72 hits in 386 at bats.
- How many RBI did Elmer Foster have?
- Elmer Foster drove in 41 runs in his career.
- Is Elmer Foster in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Elmer Foster has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.