Gene Lillard
Born: 11/12/1913 in Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Died: 4/12/1991 in Goleta, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1936-05-08 | Final Game: 1940-05-20
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 178 lbs
Full name: Robert Eugene Lillard
Biography
Gene Lillard, born in 1913, was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1936 to 1940. He made his mark in the sport during a transitional period marked by the evolution of pitching styles and strategies. Lillard played in an era when baseball was experiencing a shift from the deadball era to a more offensive-minded game, which influenced the way pitchers approached their craft.
Throughout his career, Lillard achieved a record of 3-6 and posted an earned run average (ERA) of 7.09. He recorded a total of 33 strikeouts, showcasing his ability to overpower batters despite the challenges he faced on the mound. Though he did not secure any saves, Lillard's contributions to his teams during his playing days reflected the resilience and determination characteristic of many players from that era. His time in Major League Baseball remains a testament to the diverse paths athletes have taken within the sport's rich history.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.0 | 41.0 | 9.0 | 11.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0.268 | 0.302 | 0.659 | 0.961 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 27.0 | 26.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.308 | 0.333 | 0.808 | 1.141 |
| 1934 | 13.0 | 12.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0.083 | 0.154 | 0.333 | 0.487 |
| 1935 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.667 | 0.667 | 0.667 | 1.334 |
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 6 | 22 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 59.7 | 76 | 47 | 3 | 40 | 33 | 7.09 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | CHC | NL | 3 | 5 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 55.0 | 68 | 40 | 36 | 31 | 6.55 | - |
| 1940 | STL | NL | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.7 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 13.50 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 44 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 0.182 | 0.321 | 0.205 | 0.525 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | CHC | NL | 19 | 34 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0.206 | 0.0 |
| 1939 | CHC | NL | 23 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0.100 | 0.0 |
| 1940 | STL | NL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| P | 22 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 4 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | CHN | 3B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1936 | CHN | SS | 4 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| 1939 | CHN | P | 20 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940 | SLN | P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 22 |
| Third Base | 3 |
| Shortstop | 4 |