Big Jeff Pfeffer
Born: 3/31/1882 in Champaign, IL, USA
Died: 12/19/1954 in Kankakee, IL, USA
MLB Debut: 1905-04-15 | Final Game: 1911-10-09
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Francis Xavier Pfeffer
Biography
Big Jeff Pfeffer was a professional baseball pitcher who played in the Major Leagues from 1905 to 1911. Born in 1882, Pfeffer made his debut during an era that was marked by the early evolution of the game, as baseball transitioned from the deadball era into a period that would soon embrace more offensive strategies. Throughout his career, Pfeffer was known for his durability and ability to take the mound in various situations, accumulating a record of 31 wins and 39 losses, alongside an earned run average (ERA) of 3.3.
Pfeffer's performance on the field included 317 strikeouts and 2 saves, showcasing his capability as a strikeout pitcher who could effectively handle pressure situations. His contributions were particularly valuable during a time when pitching styles were beginning to diversify, and he played a significant role in shaping the competitive landscape of baseball during his active years. Through his career, Pfeffer left a lasting impression on the game, exemplifying the determination and skill of early 20th-century pitchers.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 39 | 113 | 70 | 59 | 6 | 2 | 695.7 | 660 | 255 | 14 | 292 | 317 | 3.30 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 | CHC | NL | 4 | 4 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 101.0 | 84 | 28 | 36 | 56 | 2.50 | - |
| 1906 | BSN | NL | 13 | 22 | 36 | 36 | 33 | 4 | 0 | 302.3 | 270 | 99 | 114 | 158 | 2.95 | -1032.2 |
| 1907 | BSN | NL | 6 | 8 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 144.0 | 129 | 48 | 61 | 65 | 3.00 | -1720.5 |
| 1908 | BSN | NL | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.0 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 12.60 | -710.4 |
| 1910 | CHC | NL | 1 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 41.3 | 43 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 3.27 | - |
| 1911 | BSN | NL | 7 | 5 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 97.0 | 116 | 51 | 57 | 24 | 4.73 | -2661.2 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 147 | 323 | 20 | 66 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 4 | 13 | 54 | 0.204 | 0.255 | 0.285 | 0.540 | -550.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 | CHC | NL | 15 | 40 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1906 | BSN | NL | 60 | 158 | 10 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 29 | 0.196 | -396.1 |
| 1907 | BSN | NL | 21 | 60 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0.250 | -47.4 |
| 1908 | BSN | NL | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1910 | CHC | NL | 14 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.176 | 0.0 |
| 1911 | BSN | NL | 33 | 46 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0.196 | -106.8 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 18 | 9 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| P | 113 | 64 | 29 | 189 | 6 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 | CHN | P | 15 | 11 | 4 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| 1906 | BSN | P | 36 | 36 | 13 | 91 | 4 | 0 |
| 1906 | BSN | OF | 14 | 8 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1907 | BSN | P | 19 | 16 | 4 | 38 | 2 | 0 |
| 1908 | BSN | P | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1910 | CHN | P | 13 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 1910 | CHN | OF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1911 | BSN | P | 26 | 0 | 8 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| 1911 | BSN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1911 | BSN | OF | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 113 |
| First Base | 1 |
| Left Field | 6 |
| Center Field | 6 |
| Right Field | 6 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Champaign | IL | 1904 |