Billy Klaus
Born: 12/9/1928 in Spring Grove, IL, USA
Died: 12/3/2006 in Sarasota, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 1952-04-16 | Final Game: 1963-05-17
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 160 lbs
Full name: William Joseph Klaus
Biography
Billy Klaus was a professional baseball player born in 1928, who played in Major League Baseball from 1952 until his retirement on May 17, 1963. A versatile position player, Klaus made a significant impact during his career, appearing in a total of 821 games. He recorded 626 hits, including 40 home runs, and drove in 250 runs, all while maintaining a batting average of .249. Known for his speed on the bases, he also successfully stole 14 bases throughout his time in the league.
Klaus's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, characterized by the transition from the tail end of the deadball era into a time of increasing offensive output. Throughout his tenure, he played for several teams, demonstrating adaptability and resilience. His contributions on the field were marked by a strong work ethic and a competitive spirit, attributes that endeared him to fans and teammates alike. As a player who navigated the challenges of the early 1960s, Klaus remains a notable figure for his era and continues to be remembered for his contributions to the game.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 821 | 2513 | 357 | 626 | 106 | 15 | 40 | 250 | 14 | 331 | 285 | 0.249 | 0.335 | 0.351 | 0.686 | -1332.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | BSN | NL | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1953 | ATL | NL | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1955 | BOS | AL | 135 | 541 | 83 | 153 | 26 | 2 | 7 | 60 | 6 | 60 | 44 | 0.283 | 115.6 |
| 1956 | BOS | AL | 135 | 520 | 91 | 141 | 29 | 5 | 7 | 59 | 1 | 90 | 43 | 0.271 | 806.2 |
| 1957 | BOS | AL | 127 | 477 | 76 | 120 | 18 | 4 | 10 | 42 | 2 | 55 | 53 | 0.252 | -209.3 |
| 1958 | BOS | AL | 61 | 88 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 0.159 | -610.2 |
| 1959 | BAL | AL | 104 | 321 | 33 | 80 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 2 | 51 | 38 | 0.249 | -260.2 |
| 1960 | BAL | AL | 46 | 43 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0.209 | -10.8 |
| 1961 | WS2 | AL | 91 | 251 | 26 | 57 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 30 | 2 | 30 | 34 | 0.227 | -365.2 |
| 1962 | PHI | NL | 102 | 248 | 30 | 51 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 1 | 29 | 43 | 0.206 | -798.5 |
| 1963 | PHI | NL | 11 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.056 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 43 | 10 | 40 | 51 | 2 | 16 |
| 3B | 272 | 244 | 253 | 536 | 38 | 33 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 425 | 340 | 606 | 1169 | 83 | 203 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | BSN | SS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1955 | BOS | 3B | 8 | 8 | 7 | 20 | 3 | 0 |
| 1955 | BOS | SS | 126 | 121 | 207 | 391 | 28 | 55 |
| 1956 | BOS | 3B | 106 | 105 | 120 | 242 | 21 | 18 |
| 1956 | BOS | SS | 26 | 25 | 35 | 64 | 6 | 8 |
| 1957 | BOS | SS | 118 | 116 | 204 | 417 | 25 | 93 |
| 1958 | BOS | SS | 27 | 8 | 18 | 35 | 7 | 2 |
| 1959 | BAL | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | BAL | 3B | 49 | 45 | 43 | 84 | 6 | 7 |
| 1959 | BAL | SS | 59 | 41 | 77 | 147 | 7 | 21 |
| 1960 | BAL | 2B | 30 | 3 | 19 | 29 | 2 | 9 |
| 1960 | BAL | 3B | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | BAL | SS | 12 | 5 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 5 |
| 1961 | WS2 | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1961 | WS2 | 3B | 51 | 43 | 40 | 107 | 6 | 3 |
| 1961 | WS2 | SS | 18 | 16 | 24 | 47 | 2 | 8 |
| 1961 | WS2 | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | PHI | 2B | 11 | 7 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 6 |
| 1962 | PHI | 3B | 53 | 39 | 43 | 72 | 2 | 4 |
| 1962 | PHI | SS | 30 | 8 | 29 | 49 | 7 | 11 |
| 1963 | PHI | 3B | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1963 | PHI | SS | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 43 |
| Third Base | 272 |
| Shortstop | 425 |
| Left Field | 1 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 13th | 27.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1955 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 2nd | 5.0 | 24 | 5 |