Solly Hofman
Born: 10/29/1882 in St. Louis, MO, USA
Died: 3/10/1956 in St. Louis, MO, USA
MLB Debut: 1903-07-28 | Final Game: 1916-08-25
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 160 lbs
Full name: Arthur Frederick Hofman
Biography
Solly Hofman, born in 1882, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball from 1903 until his retirement in 1916. Over the course of his career, he played in 1,194 games, showcasing his skills primarily as an outfielder. Hofman recorded 1,095 hits, achieving a batting average of .269, which reflected his consistent ability to make contact and contribute to his team's offensive efforts. He hit 19 home runs and drove in 495 runs, establishing himself as a reliable run producer during an era that was transitioning from the deadball period into a more power-oriented game.
Known for his speed and baserunning acumen, Hofman amassed a total of 208 stolen bases, demonstrating his ability to not only reach base but also to create scoring opportunities. His playing style combined agility with a keen baseball intellect, allowing him to navigate the complexities of early 20th-century baseball. Hofman's contributions to the game were significant, as he played through a transformative time in baseball history, influencing the strategies of future generations of players. His legacy remains as a testament to the evolving nature of the sport during his active years.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1194 | 4072 | 554 | 1095 | 162 | 60 | 19 | 495 | 208 | 421 | 323 | 0.269 | 0.340 | 0.352 | 0.692 | 5998.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | PIT | NL | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1904 | CHC | NL | 7 | 26 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.269 | 0.0 |
| 1905 | CHC | NL | 86 | 287 | 43 | 68 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 38 | 15 | 20 | 26 | 0.237 | -181.1 |
| 1906 | CHC | NL | 64 | 195 | 30 | 50 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 13 | 20 | 11 | 0.256 | 192.2 |
| 1907 | CHC | NL | 134 | 470 | 67 | 126 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 36 | 29 | 41 | 31 | 0.268 | 424.1 |
| 1908 | CHC | NL | 120 | 411 | 55 | 100 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 42 | 15 | 33 | 34 | 0.243 | 333.6 |
| 1909 | CHC | NL | 153 | 527 | 60 | 150 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 58 | 20 | 53 | 49 | 0.285 | 1391.4 |
| 1910 | CHC | NL | 136 | 477 | 83 | 155 | 24 | 16 | 3 | 86 | 29 | 65 | 34 | 0.325 | 3130.8 |
| 1911 | CHC | NL | 143 | 512 | 66 | 129 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 70 | 30 | 66 | 40 | 0.252 | -502.5 |
| 1912 | CHC | NL | 36 | 125 | 28 | 34 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 5 | 22 | 13 | 0.272 | 224.6 |
| 1912 | PIT | NL | 17 | 53 | 7 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0.283 | 224.6 |
| 1913 | PIT | NL | 28 | 83 | 11 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 0.229 | -89.5 |
| 1914 | BRF | FL | 147 | 515 | 65 | 148 | 25 | 12 | 5 | 83 | 34 | 54 | 41 | 0.287 | 1605.8 |
| 1915 | BUF | FL | 109 | 346 | 29 | 81 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 12 | 30 | 28 | 0.234 | -577.1 |
| 1916 | CHC | NL | 5 | 16 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.312 | 0.0 |
| 1916 | NYY | AL | 6 | 27 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.296 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 57 | 7 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 0.298 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | WS | CHN | 5 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0.267 |
| 1908 | WS | CHN | 5 | 19 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0.316 |
| 1906 | WS | CHN | 6 | 23 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0.304 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 187 | 90 | 1734 | 89 | 37 | 77 |
| 2B | 198 | 78 | 426 | 534 | 49 | 61 |
| 3B | 25 | 16 | 36 | 31 | 4 | 0 |
| OF | 702 | 421 | 1478 | 113 | 55 | 33 |
| SS | 63 | 53 | 124 | 173 | 24 | 32 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | PIT | OF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1904 | CHN | SS | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1904 | CHN | OF | 6 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1905 | CHN | 1B | 9 | 8 | 86 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| 1905 | CHN | 2B | 59 | 56 | 138 | 178 | 15 | 13 |
| 1905 | CHN | 3B | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 1905 | CHN | SS | 9 | 6 | 17 | 19 | 3 | 3 |
| 1905 | CHN | OF | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1906 | CHN | 1B | 21 | 17 | 186 | 9 | 2 | 10 |
| 1906 | CHN | 2B | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1906 | CHN | 3B | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 1906 | CHN | SS | 9 | 6 | 20 | 32 | 3 | 7 |
| 1906 | CHN | OF | 23 | 21 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1907 | CHN | 1B | 18 | 17 | 204 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| 1907 | CHN | 2B | 3 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 4 |
| 1907 | CHN | 3B | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1907 | CHN | SS | 42 | 40 | 81 | 116 | 17 | 21 |
| 1907 | CHN | OF | 69 | 68 | 136 | 14 | 10 | 4 |
| 1908 | CHN | 1B | 37 | 30 | 357 | 20 | 11 | 10 |
| 1908 | CHN | 2B | 22 | 20 | 41 | 55 | 6 | 5 |
| 1908 | CHN | 3B | 9 | 7 | 16 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 1908 | CHN | OF | 50 | 55 | 118 | 9 | 6 | 1 |
| 1909 | CHN | OF | 153 | 153 | 347 | 16 | 13 | 5 |
| 1910 | CHN | 1B | 24 | 18 | 212 | 8 | 5 | 10 |
| 1910 | CHN | 3B | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1910 | CHN | OF | 110 | 115 | 249 | 19 | 7 | 4 |
| 1911 | CHN | 1B | 36 | 0 | 353 | 17 | 6 | 17 |
| 1911 | CHN | OF | 107 | 0 | 230 | 11 | 8 | 5 |
| 1912 | CHN | 1B | 9 | 0 | 77 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 1912 | CHN | OF | 27 | 0 | 67 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| 1912 | PIT | OF | 15 | 0 | 39 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1913 | PIT | OF | 24 | 0 | 50 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 1914 | BRF | 1B | 22 | 0 | 173 | 16 | 4 | 13 |
| 1914 | BRF | 2B | 108 | 0 | 232 | 289 | 27 | 39 |
| 1914 | BRF | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1914 | BRF | OF | 21 | 0 | 37 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| 1915 | BUF | 1B | 11 | 0 | 86 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| 1915 | BUF | 2B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1915 | BUF | 3B | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1915 | BUF | SS | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1915 | BUF | OF | 82 | 0 | 132 | 16 | 6 | 5 |
| 1916 | CHN | OF | 4 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1916 | NYA | OF | 6 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 191 |
| Second Base | 199 |
| Third Base | 26 |
| Shortstop | 63 |
| Left Field | 77 |
| Center Field | 566 |
| Right Field | 80 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1909 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | RF |