Billy Purtell
Third Baseman · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1908-1914)
Billy Purtell was a third baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1908 to 1914 for the Chicago White Sox, the Boston Red Sox, and the Detroit Tigers, a span of 7 seasons. In 335 career games, he hit .227 with 255 hits, 2 home runs, and 104 RBI.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Third Baseman
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'9" / 170 lb
- Died
- 3/17/1962 in Bradenton, FL, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1908-04-16
- Last Game
- 1914-09-22
Full name: William Patrick Purtell
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 335 | 1,124 | 82 | 255 | 26 | 11 | 2 | 104 | 24 | 63 | 92 | .227 | .275 | .275 | .550 | -2,323 |
Career AVG .227 vs. league average .252 across their career seasons — 9.9% below league average.
Career OBP .275 vs. league average .317 across their career seasons — 13.4% below league average.
Career SLG .275 vs. league average .330 across their career seasons — 16.6% below league average.
Career OPS .550 vs. league average .647 across their career seasons — 15.0% below league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | CHA | AL | 26 | 69 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | .130 | .240 (-46%) | .298 (-48%) | .306 (-48%) | .605 (-48%) | -458.4 |
| 1909 | CHA | AL | 103 | 361 | 34 | 93 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 40 | 14 | 19 | 27 | .258 | .244 (+5%) | .306 (-1%) | .312 (-4%) | .618 (-3%) | -158.1 |
| 1910 | CHA | AL | 102 | 368 | 21 | 82 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 36 | 5 | 21 | 30 | .223 | .249 (-11%) | .317 (-14%) | .326 (-20%) | .644 (-17%) | -927.5 |
| 1910 | BOS | AL | 49 | 168 | 15 | 35 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 18 | 17 | .208 | .249 (-17%) | .317 (-9%) | .326 (-22%) | .644 (-15%) | -927.5 |
| 1911 | BOS | AL | 27 | 82 | 5 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .280 | .266 (+5%) | .336 (-11%) | .356 (+16%) | .693 (+3%) | -17.4 |
| 1914 | DET | AL | 28 | 76 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | .171 | .255 (-33%) | .322 (-37%) | .339 (-34%) | .661 (-36%) | -413.7 |
| Career · 6 seasons | 335 | 1,124 | 82 | 255 | 26 | 11 | 2 | 104 | 24 | 63 | 92 | .227 | — | — | — | — | -2,903 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (336 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 178 | 573 | 42 | 123 | 1 | 56 | .215 |
| Away | 158 | 553 | 40 | 132 | 1 | 43 | .239 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914-09-22 | DET | BOS | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1914-07-27 | DET | PHA | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1914-07-25 | DET | PHA | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1914-07-22 | DET | NYY | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1914-07-21 | DET | NYY | L | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1914-07-20 | DET | BOS | L | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1914-07-18 | DET | BOS | W | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1914-07-17 | DET | BOS | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1914-07-16 | DET | BOS | W | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1914-07-15 | DET | MIN | L | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 36 | 32 | 77 | 97 | 5 | 13 |
| 3B | 270 | 233 | 307 | 602 | 84 | 37 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 13 | 7 | 12 | 29 | 6 | 2 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | CHA | 3B | 25 | 22 | 18 | 60 | 5 | 5 |
| 1909 | CHA | 2B | 32 | 32 | 72 | 90 | 5 | 13 |
| 1909 | CHA | 3B | 71 | 68 | 90 | 158 | 19 | 11 |
| 1910 | CHA | 3B | 102 | 102 | 117 | 233 | 36 | 16 |
| 1910 | BOS | 3B | 41 | 41 | 41 | 87 | 13 | 2 |
| 1910 | BOS | SS | 8 | 7 | 8 | 21 | 3 | 2 |
| 1911 | BOS | 2B | 3 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1911 | BOS | 3B | 15 | 0 | 22 | 30 | 8 | 1 |
| 1911 | BOS | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1911 | BOS | SS | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 1914 | DET | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1914 | DET | 3B | 16 | 0 | 19 | 34 | 3 | 2 |
| 1914 | DET | SS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 37 |
| Third Base | 271 |
| Shortstop | 14 |
| Center Field | 1 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Billy Purtell (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Billy Purtell: the record in brief
The profile opens with Billy Purtell's first major league game on April 16, 1908; the last one listed came on September 22, 1914. Purtell played for the Chicago White Sox (1908 through 1910), the Boston Red Sox (1910 to 1911), and the Detroit Tigers (1914). At 5 feet, 9 inches and 170 pounds, Purtell is listed as a third baseman. Purtell batted and threw right-handed, per the bio block. Purtell was born on January 6, 1886, in Columbus, OH, USA. Purtell died on March 17, 1962, in Bradenton, FL, USA. Purtell's full given name, per the bio, is William Patrick Purtell.
Purtell collected 255 hits in 1,124 at bats across 335 games, good for a .227 batting average, along with 2 home runs, 104 runs batted in, and 24 stolen bases. Reaching base at a .275 clip and slugging .275, Purtell finished with a .550 OPS. Over the seasons Purtell played, league hitters batted .252; the .227 career figure is 9.9% below that. In OPS terms, Purtell's .550 stands 15.0% below the league's .647. The highest hit total in a season was 93, in 1909.
Frequently Asked Questions about Billy Purtell
- What years did Billy Purtell play?
- Billy Purtell played in Major League Baseball from 1908 to 1914.
- Was Billy Purtell a pitcher?
- No. Billy Purtell was a position player (Third Baseman).
- How many home runs did Billy Purtell hit?
- Billy Purtell hit 2 career home runs with 255 hits.
- What teams did Billy Purtell play for?
- Billy Purtell played for 3 teams: the Chicago White Sox (1908–1910), the Boston Red Sox (1910–1911), and the Detroit Tigers (1914).
- What were Billy Purtell's career stats?
- In 335 games, Billy Purtell had 255 hits, 2 home runs, 104 RBI, 82 runs, and 24 stolen bases, with a .227 batting average.
- What position did Billy Purtell play?
- Billy Purtell played primarily as a third baseman, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Billy Purtell and how much did he weigh?
- Billy Purtell was listed at 5 feet 9 inches and 170 pounds.
- How many home runs did Billy Purtell hit each season?
- Billy Purtell's home runs by season: 0 in 1908, 0 in 1909, 2 in 1910, 0 in 1911, and 0 in 1914. His most in one season was 2, in 1910.
- What was Billy Purtell's career batting average?
- Billy Purtell batted .227 over his career, with 255 hits in 1,124 at bats.
- How many RBI did Billy Purtell have?
- Billy Purtell drove in 104 runs in his career.
- Is Billy Purtell in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Billy Purtell has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.