Dick Phelan, baseball player, 1884-1885

Dick Phelan

Born: 12/10/1854 in Towanda, PA, USA

Died: 2/13/1931 in San Antonio, TX, USA

MLB Debut: 1884-04-17 | Final Game: 1885-10-03

Bats: R

Full name: James Dickson Phelan

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Biography

Dick Phelan was a professional baseball player who played as a position player during the mid-1880s. Born in 1854, Phelan's career spanned from April 17, 1884, to October 3, 1885. Over the course of 107 games, he recorded 102 hits and demonstrated his power at the plate with 4 home runs. Phelan finished his career with a batting average of .242 and drove in 4 runs, reflecting the offensive challenges faced during a period that was transitioning from the deadball era to a more power-centric game. Phelan’s contributions on the field were emblematic of a time when baseball was still solidifying its identity in American sports culture. While he may not have been a dominant player statistically, his presence in the lineup illustrated the growing complexity of the game as it evolved. With no stolen bases recorded in his brief career, Phelan's playing style may have leaned more toward contact hitting rather than speed on the bases. His involvement in the league during its formative years adds to the rich tapestry of baseball history, showcasing the diverse backgrounds and skills of players in the sport's early days.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
107 422 66 102 14 3 4 4 0 12 5 0.242 0.263 0.318 0.580 -257.8

Career AVG .242 vs. league average .244 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .263 vs. league average .282 across their career seasons — 6.9% below league average.

Career SLG .318 vs. league average .326 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.580 vs. league average 0.609 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1884 BLU UA 101 402 63 99 13 3 3 0 0 12 0 0.246 .243 (+1%) .278 (-4%) .327 (-3%) .606 (-4%) -257.8
1885 BFN NL 4 16 2 2 0 0 1 3 0 0 3 0.125 — — — — 0.0
1885 SL5 NL 2 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0.250 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
2B 104 0 278 266 82 35
3B 7 0 7 5 3 1
OF 1 0 0 0 0 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1884 BLU 2B 100 0 272 251 77 33
1884 BLU 3B 5 0 5 5 3 1
1884 BLU OF 1 0 0 0 0 0
1885 BFN 2B 4 0 6 15 5 2
1885 SL5 3B 2 0 2 0 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Second Base 104
Third Base 7
Center Field 1