Pud Galvin
Pitcher · Career Stats, Hall of Fame Bio & Records (1875-1892)
Pud Galvin was a pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1875 to 1892 for 6 teams, including the St. Louis Stars, a span of 18 seasons. Across 705 career appearances, he went 365-310 with a 2.85 ERA and 1,807 strikeouts. He also batted .201 with 5 home runs. Pud Galvin was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1965. His career Pitcher PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of pitching impact — is 27906.7.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
- Position
- Pitcher
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'8" / 190 lb
- Died
- 3/7/1902 in Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1875-05-22
- Last Game
- 1892-08-02
- Hall of Fame
- Inducted 1965 (Veterans)
Full name: James Francis Galvin
Season-by-Season Pitching
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Lg ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1875 | SL2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 62.0 | 53 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 1.16 | 2.23 (+48%) | 308.7 | |
| 1879 | BFN | NL | 37 | 27 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 6 | 0 | 593.0 | 585 | 150 | 31 | 136 | 2.28 | 2.50 (+9%) | -100.8 |
| 1880 | BFN | NL | 20 | 35 | 58 | 54 | 46 | 5 | 0 | 458.2 | 528 | 138 | 32 | 128 | 2.71 | 2.37 (-14%) | 620.5 |
| 1881 | BFN | NL | 28 | 24 | 56 | 53 | 48 | 5 | 0 | 474.0 | 546 | 125 | 46 | 136 | 2.37 | 2.77 (+14%) | 3444.1 |
| 1882 | BFN | NL | 28 | 23 | 52 | 51 | 48 | 3 | 0 | 445.1 | 476 | 157 | 40 | 162 | 3.17 | 2.80 (-13%) | 3249.2 |
| 1883 | BFN | NL | 46 | 29 | 76 | 75 | 72 | 5 | 0 | 656.1 | 676 | 198 | 50 | 279 | 2.72 | 3.22 (+16%) | 7718.6 |
| 1884 | BFN | NL | 46 | 22 | 72 | 72 | 71 | 12 | 0 | 636.1 | 566 | 141 | 63 | 369 | 1.99 | 3.11 (+36%) | 4164.8 |
| 1885 | BFN | NL | 13 | 19 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 3 | 1 | 284.0 | 356 | 129 | 37 | 93 | 4.09 | 3.03 (-35%) | 372.1 |
| 1885 | PT1 | AA | 3 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 88.1 | 97 | 36 | 7 | 27 | 3.67 | 3.03 (-21%) | 519.6 |
| 1886 | PT1 | AA | 29 | 21 | 50 | 50 | 49 | 2 | 0 | 434.2 | 457 | 129 | 75 | 72 | 2.67 | 3.37 (+21%) | -603.0 |
| 1887 | PIT | NL | 28 | 21 | 49 | 48 | 47 | 3 | 0 | 440.2 | 490 | 161 | 67 | 76 | 3.29 | 4.17 (+21%) | 4328.7 |
| 1888 | PIT | NL | 23 | 25 | 50 | 50 | 49 | 6 | 0 | 437.1 | 446 | 128 | 53 | 107 | 2.63 | 2.95 (+11%) | 1996.3 |
| 1889 | PIT | NL | 23 | 16 | 41 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 0 | 341.0 | 392 | 158 | 78 | 77 | 4.17 | 3.93 (-6%) | -1022.7 |
| 1890 | PTP | PL | 12 | 13 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 217.0 | 275 | 105 | 49 | 35 | 4.35 | 3.88 (-12%) | 1759.0 |
| 1891 | PIT | NL | 15 | 14 | 33 | 30 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 246.2 | 256 | 79 | 62 | 46 | 2.88 | 3.52 (+18%) | -97.7 |
| 1892 | PIT | NL | 5 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 96.0 | 104 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 2.62 | 3.28 (+20%) | 1420.5 |
| 1892 | SLN | NL | 5 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 92.0 | 102 | 33 | 26 | 27 | 3.23 | 3.28 (+2%) | -171.2 |
| Career · 17 seasons | 365 | 310 | 705 | 688 | 646 | 57 | 2 | 6,003.1 | 6,405 | 1,903 | 745 | 1,807 | 2.85 | — | 27,907 | ||
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 Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 731 | 2,748 | 278 | 552 | 87 | 31 | 5 | 220 | 23 | 38 | 631 | .201 | .212 | .261 | .473 | -8,580 |
Career AVG .201 vs. league average .252 across their career seasons — 20.4% below league average.
Career OBP .212 vs. league average .306 across their career seasons — 30.5% below league average.
Career SLG .261 vs. league average .338 across their career seasons — 23.0% below league average.
Career OPS .473 vs. league average .644 across their career seasons — 26.6% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1875 | SL2 | 13 | 46 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | .130 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 | |
| 1879 | BFN | NL | 67 | 265 | 34 | 66 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 56 | .249 | .255 (-3%) | .270 (-7%) | .328 (+2%) | .599 (-2%) | -116.8 |
| 1880 | BFN | NL | 66 | 241 | 25 | 51 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 57 | .212 | .244 (-14%) | .267 (-15%) | .319 (-17%) | .586 (-16%) | -493.9 |
| 1881 | BFN | NL | 62 | 236 | 19 | 50 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 70 | .212 | .260 (-19%) | .290 (-24%) | .338 (-12%) | .628 (-17%) | -624.0 |
| 1882 | BFN | NL | 54 | 206 | 21 | 44 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 49 | .214 | .248 (-14%) | .275 (-20%) | .329 (-13%) | .605 (-16%) | -479.1 |
| 1883 | BFN | NL | 80 | 322 | 41 | 71 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 79 | .220 | .257 (-14%) | .285 (-20%) | .345 (-20%) | .631 (-20%) | -909.5 |
| 1884 | BFN | NL | 72 | 274 | 34 | 49 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 80 | .179 | .243 (-26%) | .278 (-34%) | .327 (-36%) | .606 (-35%) | -1298.3 |
| 1885 | BFN | NL | 33 | 122 | 14 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 27 | .189 | .244 (-23%) | .287 (-32%) | .325 (-14%) | .613 (-23%) | -413.9 |
| 1885 | PT1 | AA | 11 | 38 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .105 | — | — | — | — | -413.9 |
| 1886 | PT1 | AA | 50 | 194 | 24 | 49 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .253 | .246 (+2%) | .302 (-13%) | .331 (-7%) | .634 (-10%) | -311.5 |
| 1887 | PIT | NL | 49 | 193 | 10 | 41 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 47 | .212 | .270 (-22%) | .331 (-33%) | .373 (-17%) | .705 (-25%) | -805.5 |
| 1888 | PIT | NL | 50 | 175 | 6 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 51 | .143 | .238 (-40%) | .290 (-49%) | .319 (-45%) | .610 (-47%) | -1135.1 |
| 1889 | PIT | NL | 41 | 150 | 15 | 28 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 46 | .187 | .263 (-29%) | .334 (-39%) | .357 (-27%) | .691 (-33%) | -819.8 |
| 1890 | PTP | PL | 26 | 97 | 8 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 20 | .206 | .260 (-21%) | .336 (-25%) | .351 (-30%) | .687 (-27%) | -421.4 |
| 1891 | PIT | NL | 33 | 109 | 11 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 29 | .165 | .254 (-35%) | .331 (-39%) | .343 (-52%) | .675 (-46%) | -750.8 |
| 1892 | PIT | NL | 12 | 41 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 9 | .122 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1892 | SLN | NL | 12 | 39 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .051 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 17 seasons | 731 | 2,748 | 278 | 552 | 87 | 31 | 5 | 220 | 23 | 38 | 631 | .201 | — | — | — | — | -8,993 | ||
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.
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 57 | 0 | 52 | 11 | 17 | 0 |
| P | 705 | 0 | 325 | 1404 | 163 | 44 |
| SS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1875 | SL2 | OF | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1875 | SL2 | P | 8 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 2 | 1 |
| 1879 | BFN | P | 66 | 0 | 35 | 141 | 26 | 8 |
| 1879 | BFN | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1880 | BFN | OF | 19 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| 1880 | BFN | P | 58 | 0 | 24 | 97 | 13 | 1 |
| 1881 | BFN | OF | 14 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1881 | BFN | P | 56 | 0 | 36 | 123 | 19 | 7 |
| 1881 | BFN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1882 | BFN | OF | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1882 | BFN | P | 52 | 0 | 20 | 85 | 8 | 1 |
| 1883 | BFN | OF | 8 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 1883 | BFN | P | 76 | 0 | 20 | 127 | 10 | 4 |
| 1884 | BFN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1884 | BFN | P | 72 | 0 | 32 | 154 | 7 | 3 |
| 1885 | BFN | P | 33 | 0 | 17 | 83 | 13 | 3 |
| 1885 | PT1 | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1885 | PT1 | P | 11 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| 1886 | PT1 | P | 50 | 0 | 22 | 93 | 8 | 3 |
| 1887 | PIT | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1887 | PIT | P | 49 | 0 | 22 | 123 | 11 | 2 |
| 1888 | PIT | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1888 | PIT | P | 50 | 0 | 23 | 113 | 10 | 2 |
| 1889 | PIT | P | 41 | 0 | 20 | 72 | 11 | 6 |
| 1890 | PTP | P | 26 | 0 | 22 | 71 | 7 | 1 |
| 1891 | PIT | P | 33 | 0 | 20 | 52 | 8 | 1 |
| 1892 | PIT | P | 12 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 5 | 1 |
| 1892 | SLN | P | 12 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 705 |
| Shortstop | 2 |
| Left Field | 21 |
| Center Field | 24 |
| Right Field | 13 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Pud Galvin (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Pud Galvin
Pud Galvin: the record in brief
The profile opens with Pud Galvin's first major league game on May 22, 1875; the last one listed came on August 2, 1892. The team column moves through the St. Louis Brown Stockings (1875), the Buffalo Bisons (1879 to 1885), the Pittsburg Alleghenys (1885 through 1889), the Pittsburgh Burghers (1890), the Pittsburgh Pirates (1891 to 1892), and the St. Louis Browns (1892). Born on December 25, 1856, in St. Louis, MO, USA, Galvin is listed as a pitcher and threw and hit right-handed. Galvin's listed size is 5'8" and 190 pounds. Galvin's death is recorded on March 7, 1902, in Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Pud Galvin was the playing name; the full given name is James Francis.
The pitching table credits Galvin with a 365-310 record and a 2.85 ERA in 705 games. Galvin had 1,807 strikeouts, 646 complete games, and 57 shutouts. Against a 3.33 league ERA for the same years, Galvin was 14.4% better. No season topped the 46 wins of 1883. The strikeout high was 369 in 1884.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pud Galvin
- What years did Pud Galvin play?
- Pud Galvin played in Major League Baseball from 1875 to 1892.
- Was Pud Galvin a pitcher?
- Yes. Pud Galvin pitched in the major leagues, recording 365 wins and 1807 strikeouts.
- How many home runs did Pud Galvin hit?
- Pud Galvin hit 5 career home runs with 552 hits.
- Is Pud Galvin in the Hall of Fame?
- Yes. Pud Galvin was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1965.
- What teams did Pud Galvin play for?
- Pud Galvin played for 5 teams: the St. Louis Brown Stockings (1875), the Buffalo Bisons (1879–1885), the Pittsburgh Pirates (1885–1889, 1891–1892), the Pittsburgh Burghers (1890), and the St. Louis Browns (1892).
- What were Pud Galvin's career stats?
- In 705 games, Pud Galvin went 365-310 with a 2.85 ERA, 1,807 strikeouts, 6,003.1 innings pitched, and 2 saves. At the plate he had 552 hits and 5 home runs.
- What position did Pud Galvin play?
- Pud Galvin played primarily as a pitcher, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Pud Galvin and how much did he weigh?
- Pud Galvin was listed at 5 feet 8 inches and 190 pounds.
- What was Pud Galvin's career ERA?
- Pud Galvin finished with a 2.85 career ERA, going 365-310 with 1,807 strikeouts.
- How many strikeouts did Pud Galvin have?
- Pud Galvin recorded 1,807 career strikeouts.