Billy Riley

Born: 1855 in Cincinnati, OH, USA

Died: 11/9/1887 in Cincinnati, OH, USA

MLB Debut: 1875-05-04 | Final Game: 1879-09-30

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 160 lbs

Full name: William James Riley

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Biography

Billy Riley was a professional baseball player who played during the early years of the sport, specifically from 1875 to 1879. Born in 1855, Riley was part of a burgeoning baseball landscape that was still defining itself in the post-Civil War era. As a position player, he participated in 51 games throughout his career, where he accumulated 28 hits and recorded 10 runs batted in, finishing with a batting average of .144. Notably, Riley did not hit any home runs and did not have any stolen bases, reflecting the different offensive dynamics of the time when the game was transitioning from its early, less power-centric style. Riley's career spanned a period when baseball was still developing its identity, moving towards the professional leagues that would dominate the sport in the decades to come. While his statistics may not have positioned him among the game's greats, his participation in the early days of professional baseball contributed to the foundational narrative of the sport. Players like Riley helped pave the way for future generations, showcasing the raw talent and dedication that would eventually evolve into the modern game we recognize today.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
51	194	18	28	3	0	0	10	0	3	27	0.144	0.157	0.160	0.317	-1093.8

Career AVG .144 vs. league average .255 across their career seasons — 43.3% below league average.

Career OBP .157 vs. league average .266 across their career seasons — 40.7% below league average.

Career SLG .160 vs. league average .319 across their career seasons — 49.9% below league average.

Career OPS 0.317 vs. league average 0.584 across their career seasons — 45.7% below 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
1875	KEO		8	33	4	5	1	0	0	1	0	1	1	0.152	—	—	—	—	0.0
1879	CL2	NL	43	161	14	23	2	0	0	9	0	2	26	0.143	.255 (-44%)	.270 (-43%)	.328 (-53%)	.599 (-49%)	-1093.8

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
OF	51	0	89	14	22	1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1875	KEO	OF	8	0	10	2	6	0
1879	CL2	OF	43	0	79	12	16	1

Career Games by Position

Position	Games
Left Field	43
Right Field	8