Bill Hoffer
Pitcher · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1895-1901)
Bill Hoffer was a pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1895 to 1901 for the Baltimore Orioles, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Cleveland Guardians, a span of 7 seasons. Across 161 career appearances, he went 92-46 with a 3.75 ERA and 314 strikeouts. He also batted .229 with 1 home runs. His career Pitcher PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of pitching impact — is 1955.7.
- 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
- 5'9" / 155 lb
- Died
- 7/21/1959 in Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1895-04-26
- Last Game
- 1901-07-04
Full name: William Leopold Hoffer
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1895 | BLN | NL | 31 | 6 | 41 | 38 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 314.0 | 296 | 112 | 124 | 80 | 3.21 | 4.77 (+33%) | -299.0 |
| 1896 | BLN | NL | 25 | 7 | 35 | 35 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 309.0 | 317 | 116 | 95 | 93 | 3.38 | 4.36 (+22%) | 4866.5 |
| 1897 | BLN | NL | 22 | 11 | 38 | 33 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 303.1 | 350 | 145 | 104 | 62 | 4.30 | 4.30 (avg) | -113.3 |
| 1898 | BLN | NL | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 34.1 | 62 | 28 | 16 | 5 | 7.34 | 3.59 (-104%) | -309.2 |
| 1898 | PIT | NL | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 31.0 | 26 | 6 | 15 | 11 | 1.74 | 3.59 (+52%) | 71.8 |
| 1899 | PIT | NL | 8 | 10 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 163.2 | 169 | 66 | 64 | 44 | 3.63 | 3.85 (+6%) | -1248.6 |
| 1901 | CLE | AL | 3 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 99.0 | 113 | 50 | 35 | 19 | 4.55 | 3.49 (-30%) | -1012.5 |
| Career · 7 seasons | 92 | 46 | 161 | 142 | 125 | 10 | 3 | 1,254.1 | 1,333 | 523 | 453 | 314 | 3.75 | — | 1,956 | ||
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 180 | 560 | 82 | 128 | 21 | 9 | 1 | 48 | 11 | 34 | 78 | .229 | .292 | .304 | .595 | -1,329 |
Career AVG .229 vs. league average .283 across their career seasons — 19.2% below league average.
Career OBP .292 vs. league average .344 across their career seasons — 15.3% below league average.
Career SLG .304 vs. league average .373 across their career seasons — 18.6% below league average.
Career OPS .595 vs. league average .718 across their career seasons — 17.0% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1895 | BLN | NL | 41 | 126 | 22 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 15 | .214 | .296 (-28%) | .361 (-20%) | .399 (-36%) | .761 (-29%) | -595.3 |
| 1896 | BLN | NL | 35 | 125 | 23 | 38 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 12 | .304 | .290 (+5%) | .354 (+7%) | .387 (+9%) | .741 (+8%) | 180.6 |
| 1897 | BLN | NL | 42 | 139 | 20 | 33 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 20 | .237 | .291 (-19%) | .354 (-21%) | .387 (-15%) | .741 (-18%) | -432.4 |
| 1898 | BLN | NL | 8 | 24 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | .208 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1898 | PIT | NL | 4 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .091 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1899 | PIT | NL | 33 | 91 | 12 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 14 | .198 | .282 (-30%) | .343 (-28%) | .366 (-40%) | .710 (-34%) | -481.8 |
| 1901 | CLE | AL | 17 | 44 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11 | .136 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 7 seasons | 180 | 560 | 82 | 128 | 21 | 9 | 1 | 48 | 11 | 34 | 78 | .229 | — | — | — | — | -1,329 | ||
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.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (109 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 36 | 107 | 11 | 21 | 0 | 6 | .196 |
| Away | 26 | 62 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 2 | .145 |
Pitching — Home / Away
| Split | G | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 26 | 198.2 | 209 | 80 | 65 | 48 | 3.62 |
| Away | 21 | 129.0 | 161 | 72 | 65 | 30 | 5.02 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901-07-04 | CLE | CHW | W | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1901-07-01 | CLE | MLA | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1901-06-27 | CLE | CHW | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1901-06-17 | CLE | PHA | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1901-06-15 | CLE | MIN | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1901-06-10 | CLE | BLA | W | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1901-06-07 | CLE | BLA | L | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1901-06-01 | CLE | PHA | L | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1901-05-31 | CLE | PHA | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1901-05-30 | CLE | PHA | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Last 10 Games — Pitching
| Date | Tm | Opp | Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901-07-04 | CLE | CHW | W | 9.0 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 1901-07-01 | CLE | MLA | SV | 3.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1901-06-27 | CLE | CHW | L | 8.0 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1901-06-17 | CLE | PHA | L | 8.0 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1901-06-15 | CLE | MIN | SV | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1901-06-10 | CLE | BLA | SV | 3.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1901-06-01 | CLE | PHA | L | 6.0 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1901-05-31 | CLE | PHA | — | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1901-05-30 | CLE | PHA | — | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1901-05-23 | CLE | MIN | W | 9.0 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| OF | 14 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| P | 161 | 0 | 73 | 281 | 21 | 15 |
| SS | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1895 | BLN | P | 41 | 0 | 15 | 55 | 2 | 2 |
| 1896 | BLN | P | 35 | 0 | 15 | 83 | 9 | 6 |
| 1897 | BLN | OF | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1897 | BLN | P | 38 | 0 | 22 | 64 | 4 | 4 |
| 1898 | BLN | OF | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1898 | BLN | P | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1898 | PIT | P | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1899 | PIT | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1899 | PIT | OF | 6 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1899 | PIT | P | 23 | 0 | 13 | 37 | 5 | 2 |
| 1901 | CLE | P | 16 | 0 | 5 | 29 | 1 | 1 |
| 1901 | CLE | SS | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 161 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Shortstop | 1 |
| Left Field | 10 |
| Center Field | 3 |
| Right Field | 1 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Bill Hoffer (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Bill Hoffer: the record in brief
Bill Hoffer's major league career runs from a debut on April 26, 1895 to a final game on July 4, 1901. The season rows list, in order, the Baltimore Orioles (1895 through 1898), the Pittsburgh Pirates (1898 through 1899), and the Cleveland Blues (1901). The bio lists Hoffer as a pitcher who threw and hit right-handed. Hoffer is listed at 155 pounds on a 5-foot-9 frame. Hoffer was born on November 8, 1870, in Cedar Rapids, IA, USA. The bio records the death on July 21, 1959, in Cedar Rapids, IA, USA. The given name on file is William Leopold Hoffer.
Across 161 games (142 starts), Hoffer recorded 92 wins against 46 losses with a 3.75 ERA. Hoffer had 314 strikeouts, 125 complete games, and 10 shutouts. Against a 4.01 league ERA for the same years, Hoffer was 6.4% better. Hoffer won 31 games in 1895, the most of any season listed. 1896 produced Hoffer's most strikeouts, 93.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bill Hoffer
- What years did Bill Hoffer play?
- Bill Hoffer played in Major League Baseball from 1895 to 1901.
- Was Bill Hoffer a pitcher?
- Yes. Bill Hoffer pitched in the major leagues, recording 92 wins and 314 strikeouts.
- How many home runs did Bill Hoffer hit?
- Bill Hoffer hit 1 career home run with 128 hits.
- What teams did Bill Hoffer play for?
- Bill Hoffer played for 3 teams: the Baltimore Orioles (1895–1898), the Pittsburgh Pirates (1898–1899), and the Cleveland Blues (1901).
- What were Bill Hoffer's career stats?
- In 161 games, Bill Hoffer went 92-46 with a 3.75 ERA, 314 strikeouts, 1,254.1 innings pitched, and 3 saves. At the plate he had 128 hits and 1 home runs.
- What position did Bill Hoffer play?
- Bill Hoffer played primarily as a pitcher, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Bill Hoffer and how much did he weigh?
- Bill Hoffer was listed at 5 feet 9 inches and 155 pounds.
- What was Bill Hoffer's career ERA?
- Bill Hoffer finished with a 3.75 career ERA, going 92-46 with 314 strikeouts.
- How many strikeouts did Bill Hoffer have?
- Bill Hoffer recorded 314 career strikeouts.
- Is Bill Hoffer in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Bill Hoffer has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.