Bill Knickerbocker
Born: 12/29/1911 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
Died: 9/8/1963 in Sebastopol, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1933-04-12 | Final Game: 1942-09-17
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: William Hart Knickerbocker
Biography
Bill Knickerbocker was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1933 to 1942. Born in 1911, he played primarily as a position player, appearing in 907 games throughout his career. Known for his solid hitting ability, Knickerbocker accumulated 943 hits and posted a batting average of .276. He showcased a balanced offensive game, contributing 28 home runs and driving in 368 runs, while also demonstrating speed on the base paths with 25 stolen bases.
Playing during the pre-World War II era, Knickerbocker was part of a transformative time in baseball that saw the game evolving with the introduction of more dynamic offensive strategies. His consistent performance and versatility made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for. Although he may not be as widely remembered today, his contributions on the field during a competitive period in baseball history reflect the talent and dedication of players of his era. Knickerbocker’s legacy remains a testament to the skill and resilience of athletes who played through the challenges of the 1930s and early 1940s.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38.0 | 36.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0.111 | 0.158 | 0.222 | 0.380 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 22.0 | 20.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.100 | 0.182 | 0.150 | 0.332 |
| 1934 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0.125 | 0.125 | 0.312 | 0.437 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 907 | 3418 | 423 | 943 | 198 | 27 | 28 | 368 | 25 | 244 | 238 | 0.276 | 0.326 | 0.374 | 0.700 | -2900.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | CLE | AL | 80 | 279 | 20 | 63 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 32 | 1 | 11 | 30 | 0.226 | -979.0 |
| 1934 | CLE | AL | 146 | 593 | 82 | 188 | 32 | 5 | 4 | 67 | 6 | 25 | 40 | 0.317 | 179.2 |
| 1935 | CLE | AL | 132 | 540 | 77 | 161 | 34 | 5 | 0 | 55 | 2 | 27 | 31 | 0.298 | -485.6 |
| 1936 | CLE | AL | 155 | 618 | 81 | 182 | 35 | 3 | 8 | 73 | 5 | 56 | 30 | 0.294 | 37.2 |
| 1937 | SLA | AL | 121 | 491 | 53 | 128 | 29 | 5 | 4 | 61 | 3 | 30 | 32 | 0.261 | -1105.4 |
| 1938 | NYY | AL | 46 | 128 | 15 | 32 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 0.250 | -181.6 |
| 1939 | NYY | AL | 6 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.154 | 0.0 |
| 1940 | NYY | AL | 45 | 124 | 17 | 30 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 14 | 8 | 0.242 | -109.8 |
| 1941 | CHW | AL | 89 | 343 | 51 | 84 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 29 | 6 | 41 | 27 | 0.245 | 40.8 |
| 1942 | PHA | AL | 87 | 289 | 25 | 73 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 29 | 30 | 0.253 | -296.5 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 211 | 0 | 480 | 544 | 32 | 132 |
| 3B | 17 | 0 | 11 | 34 | 5 | 6 |
| SS | 649 | 0 | 1205 | 2043 | 152 | 395 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | CLE | SS | 80 | 0 | 151 | 233 | 25 | 37 |
| 1934 | CLE | SS | 146 | 0 | 262 | 451 | 28 | 106 |
| 1935 | CLE | SS | 128 | 0 | 247 | 453 | 32 | 82 |
| 1936 | CLE | SS | 155 | 0 | 313 | 486 | 40 | 97 |
| 1937 | SLA | 2B | 6 | 0 | 15 | 11 | 1 | 5 |
| 1937 | SLA | SS | 115 | 0 | 205 | 368 | 25 | 59 |
| 1938 | NYA | 2B | 34 | 0 | 78 | 86 | 3 | 23 |
| 1938 | NYA | SS | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 1939 | NYA | 2B | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 1939 | NYA | SS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940 | NYA | 3B | 17 | 0 | 11 | 34 | 5 | 6 |
| 1940 | NYA | SS | 19 | 0 | 22 | 43 | 1 | 12 |
| 1941 | CHA | 2B | 88 | 0 | 204 | 221 | 13 | 58 |
| 1942 | PHA | 2B | 81 | 0 | 178 | 220 | 15 | 45 |
| 1942 | PHA | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 211 |
| Third Base | 17 |
| Shortstop | 649 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | SS |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 19th | 2.0 | 80 | 0 |