Bill Mueller
Born: 3/17/1971 in Maryland Heights, MO, USA
MLB Debut: 1996-04-18 | Final Game: 2006-05-11
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: William Richard Mueller
Biography
Bill Mueller was a professional baseball player who made significant contributions to the sport during his career from 1996 to 2006. Born in 1971, Mueller established himself as a reliable position player, known for his exceptional batting skills and versatile fielding ability. Over the course of 1,216 games, he amassed 1,229 hits, 85 home runs, and 493 RBIs, achieving a commendable batting average of .291. His performance on the field was marked not only by his offensive prowess but also by his ability to get on base and contribute to his team's success.
Mueller's career unfolded during a dynamic era in Major League Baseball, characterized by a shift toward offensive power and the emergence of advanced metrics. He demonstrated a keen eye at the plate, which, paired with his solid contact skills, allowed him to maintain a consistent presence in the lineup. In addition to his offensive contributions, he also showcased speed on the bases, recording 20 stolen bases throughout his career. Bill Mueller's legacy in baseball is defined by his well-rounded abilities and his impact on the teams he played for, particularly noted for his time with the Boston Red Sox, where he became a key player during the franchise's resurgence in the early 2000s.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1216 | 4223 | 663 | 1229 | 265 | 22 | 85 | 493 | 20 | 543 | 571 | 0.291 | 0.373 | 0.425 | 0.797 | 5308.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | SFG | NL | 55 | 200 | 31 | 66 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 24 | 26 | 0.330 | 303.7 |
| 1997 | SFG | NL | 128 | 390 | 51 | 114 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 44 | 4 | 48 | 71 | 0.292 | 488.3 |
| 1998 | SFG | NL | 145 | 534 | 93 | 157 | 27 | 0 | 9 | 59 | 3 | 79 | 83 | 0.294 | 629.5 |
| 1999 | SFG | NL | 116 | 414 | 61 | 120 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 36 | 4 | 65 | 52 | 0.290 | -30.0 |
| 2000 | SFG | NL | 153 | 560 | 97 | 150 | 29 | 4 | 10 | 55 | 4 | 52 | 62 | 0.268 | -968.2 |
| 2001 | CHC | NL | 70 | 210 | 38 | 62 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 1 | 37 | 19 | 0.295 | 613.9 |
| 2002 | CHC | NL | 103 | 353 | 51 | 94 | 19 | 4 | 7 | 37 | 0 | 51 | 41 | 0.266 | 141.2 |
| 2002 | SFG | NL | 8 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.154 | 141.2 |
| 2003 | BOS | AL | 146 | 524 | 85 | 171 | 45 | 5 | 19 | 85 | 1 | 59 | 77 | 0.326 | 2703.6 |
| 2004 | BOS | AL | 110 | 399 | 75 | 113 | 27 | 1 | 12 | 57 | 2 | 51 | 56 | 0.283 | 569.2 |
| 2005 | BOS | AL | 150 | 519 | 69 | 153 | 34 | 3 | 10 | 62 | 0 | 59 | 74 | 0.295 | 845.8 |
| 2006 | LAD | NL | 32 | 107 | 12 | 27 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 0.252 | 11.3 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 145 | 14 | 34 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 19 | 0.234 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | ALDS1 | BOS | 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.000 |
| 2004 | ALCS | BOS | 7 | 30 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0.267 |
| 2004 | WS | BOS | 4 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0.429 |
| 2004 | ALDS1 | BOS | 3 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.333 |
| 2003 | ALDS2 | BOS | 5 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.105 |
| 2003 | ALCS | BOS | 7 | 27 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0.222 |
| 2000 | NLDS2 | SFN | 4 | 20 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.250 |
| 1997 | NLDS1 | SFN | 3 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 53 | 43 | 90 | 99 | 7 | 26 |
| 3B | 1128 | 1030 | 726 | 1987 | 119 | 190 |
| SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | SFN | 2B | 8 | 8 | 17 | 20 | 2 | 8 |
| 1996 | SFN | 3B | 45 | 40 | 34 | 79 | 4 | 10 |
| 1997 | SFN | 3B | 122 | 98 | 85 | 218 | 14 | 18 |
| 1998 | SFN | 2B | 10 | 6 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 4 |
| 1998 | SFN | 3B | 137 | 126 | 83 | 273 | 18 | 32 |
| 1999 | SFN | 2B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | SFN | 3B | 108 | 103 | 81 | 195 | 12 | 17 |
| 2000 | SFN | 2B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | SFN | 3B | 145 | 129 | 99 | 244 | 9 | 24 |
| 2001 | CHN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | CHN | 3B | 64 | 56 | 33 | 96 | 8 | 6 |
| 2002 | CHN | 3B | 101 | 88 | 60 | 156 | 6 | 19 |
| 2002 | SFN | 3B | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | BOS | 2B | 10 | 10 | 22 | 17 | 0 | 7 |
| 2003 | BOS | 3B | 135 | 124 | 76 | 235 | 16 | 22 |
| 2003 | BOS | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | BOS | 2B | 14 | 14 | 22 | 34 | 3 | 6 |
| 2004 | BOS | 3B | 96 | 94 | 71 | 162 | 14 | 15 |
| 2005 | BOS | 2B | 5 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| 2005 | BOS | 3B | 142 | 140 | 87 | 265 | 10 | 20 |
| 2006 | LAN | 3B | 30 | 30 | 15 | 61 | 8 | 7 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 53 |
| Third Base | 1128 |
| Shortstop | 1 |
| Designated Hitter | 3 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Silver Slugger | 3B |
| 2003 | This Year in Baseball Performance of the Year | MLB.com GIBBY |
| 2003 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | LAN | NL | $4,569,443 |
| 2005 | BOS | AL | $2,500,000 |
| 2004 | BOS | AL | $2,100,000 |
| 2003 | BOS | AL | $2,100,000 |
| 2002 | CHN | NL | $3,450,000 |
| 2001 | CHN | NL | $2,750,000 |
| 2000 | SFN | NL | $1,325,000 |
| 1999 | SFN | NL | $525,000 |
| 1998 | SFN | NL | $300,000 |
| 1997 | SFN | NL | $160,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $19,779,443 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri State University | Springfield | MO | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 12th | 45.0 | 392 | 0 |