Bill Salkeld
Born: 3/8/1917 in Pocatello, ID, USA
Died: 4/22/1967 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1945-04-18 | Final Game: 1950-04-21
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: William Franklin Salkeld
Biography
Bill Salkeld, born in 1917, was a notable position player in Major League Baseball who played from 1945 to 1950. His career spanned the post-World War II era, a time when baseball experienced a resurgence in popularity as returning soldiers re-engaged with the sport. Over the course of his career, Salkeld appeared in 356 games, showcasing his versatility and skill on the field. He recorded 232 hits, 31 home runs, and 132 RBIs, finishing with a respectable batting average of .273. Salkeld also demonstrated speed on the bases, contributing 6 stolen bases to his overall performance.
Salkeld's playing style was characterized by a solid offensive presence, as evidenced by his ability to drive in runs and hit for average. His contributions during a transformative period in baseball history helped pave the way for future generations of players. Though not a household name, Salkeld's impact on the game during his tenure reflects the competitive spirit and talent that defined the era. His career remains a testament to the determination and skill of athletes in the post-war years.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.250 | .000 | 0.250 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.250 | .000 | 0.250 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 356 | 850 | 111 | 232 | 39 | 2 | 31 | 132 | 6 | 182 | 101 | 0.273 | 0.402 | 0.433 | 0.835 | 3581.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | PIT | NL | 95 | 267 | 45 | 83 | 16 | 1 | 15 | 52 | 2 | 50 | 16 | 0.311 | 2113.4 |
| 1946 | PIT | NL | 69 | 160 | 18 | 47 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 2 | 39 | 16 | 0.294 | 791.8 |
| 1947 | PIT | NL | 47 | 61 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0.213 | -264.6 |
| 1948 | BSN | NL | 78 | 198 | 26 | 48 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 28 | 1 | 42 | 37 | 0.242 | 457.9 |
| 1949 | BSN | NL | 66 | 161 | 17 | 41 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 1 | 44 | 24 | 0.255 | 482.5 |
| 1950 | CHW | AL | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0.222 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | WS | BSN | 5 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0.222 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 275 | 0 | 972 | 128 | 24 | 19 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | PIT | C | 86 | 0 | 279 | 40 | 9 | 8 |
| 1946 | PIT | C | 51 | 0 | 176 | 31 | 6 | 3 |
| 1947 | PIT | C | 15 | 0 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1948 | BSN | C | 59 | 0 | 254 | 32 | 3 | 5 |
| 1949 | BSN | C | 63 | 0 | 230 | 21 | 5 | 3 |
| 1950 | CHA | C | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 276 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 24th | 6.0 | 336 | 0 |