Pat Friel

Pat Friel was a professional baseball player born in 1858, who made his mark in the early days of Major League Baseball during a time characterized by the transition from the deadball era to the more modern game. Friel's career spanned from July 13, 1890, to April 9, 1891, during which he played as a position player. Over the course of 64 games, he recorded 67 hits, demonstrating a solid batting ability with a career batting average of .249. Friel's contributions included 3 home runs and 21 RBIs, but he was particularly known for his speed on the basepaths, accumulating 34 stolen bases. His agility and base-running prowess reflected the evolving strategies of the time, as teams began to emphasize speed and athleticism alongside traditional hitting skills. Though Friel's career was relatively brief, his performance during the nascent years of Major League Baseball helped pave the way for future generations of players, making him a notable figure in the history of the sport.