John Knight
Born: 10/6/1885 in Philadelphia, PA, USA
Died: 12/19/1965 in Walnut Creek, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1905-04-14 | Final Game: 1913-10-04
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: John Wesley Knight
Biography
John Knight was a professional baseball player born in 1885 who played as a position player from 1905 until his retirement on October 4, 1913. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 767 games, showcasing his versatility and dedication on the field. Knight accumulated 636 hits, contributing to a batting average of .239, while also driving in 270 runs. Known for his speed, he successfully stole 86 bases, highlighting his ability to impact games not just with his bat, but also with his agility on the base paths.
Knight's career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, marked by the rise of the deadball style, where pitching dominated and offensive statistics were generally lower than in later periods. His contributions to his teams were significant, as he provided consistent performance and reliability, which was essential in an era where players often played through injuries and fatigue. With 14 home runs to his name, Knight demonstrated power in addition to his speed, adding a well-rounded skill set that made him a valuable asset. His legacy is remembered as part of the early 20th-century game that laid the groundwork for the modern era of baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 767 | 2664 | 301 | 636 | 96 | 24 | 14 | 270 | 86 | 211 | 360 | 0.239 | 0.300 | 0.309 | 0.609 | -2353.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 | PHA | AL | 88 | 325 | 28 | 66 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 29 | 4 | 9 | 68 | 0.203 | -1208.8 |
| 1906 | PHA | AL | 74 | 253 | 29 | 49 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 6 | 19 | 63 | 0.194 | -675.7 |
| 1907 | BOS | AL | 98 | 360 | 31 | 78 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 29 | 8 | 19 | 53 | 0.217 | -881.6 |
| 1907 | PHA | AL | 40 | 139 | 6 | 29 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 26 | 0.209 | -881.6 |
| 1909 | NYY | AL | 116 | 360 | 46 | 85 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 40 | 15 | 37 | 68 | 0.236 | -138.4 |
| 1910 | NYY | AL | 117 | 414 | 58 | 129 | 25 | 4 | 3 | 45 | 23 | 34 | 55 | 0.312 | 1628.7 |
| 1911 | NYY | AL | 132 | 470 | 69 | 126 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 62 | 18 | 42 | 0 | 0.268 | 59.1 |
| 1912 | WSN | AL | 32 | 93 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 0.161 | -424.8 |
| 1913 | NYY | AL | 70 | 250 | 24 | 59 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 7 | 25 | 27 | 0.236 | -474.2 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 124 | 42 | 1207 | 100 | 22 | 62 |
| 2B | 100 | 36 | 221 | 277 | 42 | 26 |
| 3B | 211 | 206 | 269 | 442 | 69 | 25 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 320 | 224 | 660 | 894 | 158 | 100 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 | PHA | 3B | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 1905 | PHA | SS | 79 | 77 | 139 | 185 | 38 | 9 |
| 1906 | PHA | 2B | 7 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| 1906 | PHA | 3B | 67 | 65 | 71 | 130 | 17 | 6 |
| 1907 | BOS | 3B | 92 | 92 | 129 | 211 | 28 | 13 |
| 1907 | BOS | SS | 4 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 3 |
| 1907 | PHA | 3B | 40 | 40 | 49 | 82 | 21 | 5 |
| 1909 | NYA | 1B | 19 | 20 | 190 | 17 | 3 | 11 |
| 1909 | NYA | 2B | 17 | 21 | 38 | 46 | 7 | 4 |
| 1909 | NYA | 3B | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1909 | NYA | SS | 76 | 65 | 141 | 204 | 38 | 19 |
| 1910 | NYA | 1B | 23 | 22 | 247 | 8 | 3 | 9 |
| 1910 | NYA | 2B | 7 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| 1910 | NYA | 3B | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 1910 | NYA | SS | 79 | 79 | 169 | 247 | 32 | 39 |
| 1910 | NYA | OF | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1911 | NYA | 1B | 27 | 0 | 236 | 26 | 5 | 14 |
| 1911 | NYA | 2B | 21 | 0 | 54 | 80 | 17 | 8 |
| 1911 | NYA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1911 | NYA | SS | 82 | 0 | 200 | 247 | 46 | 30 |
| 1912 | WS1 | 1B | 5 | 0 | 40 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| 1912 | WS1 | 2B | 27 | 0 | 55 | 45 | 8 | 8 |
| 1913 | NYA | 1B | 50 | 0 | 494 | 45 | 11 | 26 |
| 1913 | NYA | 2B | 21 | 0 | 50 | 70 | 6 | 6 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 126 |
| Second Base | 107 |
| Third Base | 217 |
| Shortstop | 314 |
| Right Field | 1 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1911 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 4.0 | 64 | 0 |