Wid Matthews
Born: 10/20/1896 in Raleigh, IL, USA
Died: 10/5/1965 in Hollywood, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1923-04-18 | Final Game: 1925-06-07
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 155 lbs
Full name: Wid Curry Matthews
Biography
Wid Matthews was a professional baseball player who graced the diamond during the early 1920s. Born in 1896, Matthews played primarily as a position player from April 18, 1923, until June 7, 1925. Over the course of his brief career, he participated in 192 games and recorded 188 hits, showcasing his ability to make consistent contact at the plate with a respectable batting average of .284. His offensive contributions included 39 runs batted in and one home run, highlighting his role as a reliable hitter during a time when the game was transitioning from the deadball era to a more power-oriented style.
In addition to his batting prowess, Matthews was known for his speed on the bases, accumulating 19 stolen bases throughout his career. His ability to steal bases added an extra dimension to his game, reflecting the strategic importance of speed in baseball during the 1920s. Despite a career that spanned only a few seasons, Matthews left his mark on the game, and his performance in the early stages of professional baseball contributed to the evolving landscape of the sport in a period characterized by rapid changes and growing fan engagement.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 192 | 663 | 79 | 188 | 21 | 10 | 1 | 39 | 19 | 61 | 32 | 0.284 | 0.348 | 0.350 | 0.697 | -714.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | PHA | AL | 129 | 485 | 52 | 133 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 25 | 16 | 50 | 27 | 0.274 | -786.1 |
| 1924 | WSN | AL | 53 | 169 | 25 | 51 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 0.302 | 71.4 |
| 1925 | WSN | AL | 10 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.444 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 172 | 0 | 438 | 10 | 20 | 2 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | PHA | OF | 127 | 0 | 316 | 3 | 18 | 0 |
| 1924 | WS1 | OF | 44 | 0 | 121 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| 1925 | WS1 | OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 3 |
| Center Field | 169 |