Orator Shafer
Born: 10/4/1851 in Philadelphia, PA, USA
Died: 1/22/1922 in Philadelphia, PA, USA
MLB Debut: 1874-05-23 | Final Game: 1890-09-13
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: George W. Shafer
Biography
Orator Shafer, born in 1851, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball who played from 1874 until his retirement in 1890. Over the course of his career, he participated in 871 games, amassing a total of 1,000 hits and achieving a batting average of .282. Shafer was known for his offensive prowess, contributing 11 home runs and 317 RBIs, while also demonstrating base-running skills with 34 stolen bases. His ability to hit for average and drive in runs made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for during the late 19th century.
Shafer's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, as the sport began to evolve from its early, more rudimentary stages into a more organized and competitive endeavor. His achievements on the field reflected the growing emphasis on batting skill and offensive strategy of the time. As a player who navigated the complexities of the game's development, Orator Shafer left a lasting mark on baseball history, exemplifying the talents and abilities that would pave the way for future generations of players.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 871 | 3552 | 601 | 1000 | 164 | 53 | 11 | 317 | 34 | 227 | 226 | 0.282 | 0.326 | 0.367 | 0.692 | 7363.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1874 | HR1 | 9 | 35 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.229 | 0.0 | |
| 1874 | NY2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.200 | 0.0 | |
| 1875 | PH2 | 19 | 70 | 10 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0.243 | -50.1 | |
| 1877 | LS1 | NL | 61 | 260 | 38 | 74 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 34 | 0 | 9 | 17 | 0.285 | 464.3 |
| 1878 | IN1 | NL | 63 | 266 | 48 | 90 | 19 | 6 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 13 | 20 | 0.338 | 1491.0 |
| 1879 | CHC | NL | 73 | 316 | 53 | 96 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 6 | 28 | 0.304 | 554.9 |
| 1880 | CL2 | NL | 83 | 338 | 62 | 90 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 17 | 36 | 0.266 | 674.5 |
| 1881 | CL2 | NL | 85 | 343 | 48 | 88 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 23 | 20 | 0.257 | 167.0 |
| 1882 | CL2 | NL | 84 | 313 | 37 | 67 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 27 | 27 | 0.214 | -129.0 |
| 1883 | BFN | NL | 95 | 401 | 67 | 117 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 27 | 39 | 0.292 | 604.2 |
| 1884 | SLU | UA | 106 | 467 | 130 | 168 | 40 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0.360 | 3689.8 |
| 1885 | PH4 | AA | 2 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.222 | 0.0 |
| 1885 | SL5 | NL | 69 | 257 | 30 | 50 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 19 | 31 | 0.195 | 0.0 |
| 1886 | PH4 | AA | 21 | 82 | 15 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.268 | 142.9 |
| 1890 | PH4 | AA | 100 | 390 | 55 | 110 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 58 | 29 | 47 | 0 | 0.282 | 446.9 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 7 | 0 | 48 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 2B | 7 | 0 | 22 | 16 | 6 | 1 |
| 3B | 6 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| OF | 854 | 10 | 1309 | 290 | 259 | 32 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1874 | HR1 | OF | 9 | 9 | 22 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 1874 | NY2 | OF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1875 | PH2 | 1B | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1875 | PH2 | 3B | 5 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 1875 | PH2 | OF | 12 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 1877 | LS1 | 1B | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1877 | LS1 | OF | 60 | 0 | 121 | 21 | 28 | 1 |
| 1878 | IN1 | OF | 63 | 0 | 105 | 28 | 25 | 2 |
| 1879 | CHN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1879 | CHN | OF | 72 | 0 | 99 | 50 | 37 | 3 |
| 1880 | CL2 | OF | 83 | 0 | 128 | 35 | 18 | 5 |
| 1881 | CL2 | OF | 85 | 0 | 122 | 24 | 20 | 4 |
| 1882 | CL2 | OF | 84 | 0 | 111 | 17 | 31 | 2 |
| 1883 | BFN | OF | 95 | 0 | 182 | 41 | 36 | 3 |
| 1884 | SLU | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1884 | SLU | 2B | 7 | 0 | 22 | 16 | 6 | 1 |
| 1884 | SLU | OF | 100 | 0 | 110 | 24 | 20 | 3 |
| 1885 | PH4 | OF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1885 | SL5 | OF | 69 | 0 | 106 | 28 | 12 | 0 |
| 1886 | PH4 | OF | 21 | 0 | 40 | 4 | 10 | 2 |
| 1890 | PH4 | 1B | 3 | 0 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1890 | PH4 | OF | 98 | 0 | 143 | 17 | 7 | 6 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 7 |
| Second Base | 7 |
| Third Base | 6 |
| Left Field | 20 |
| Center Field | 31 |
| Right Field | 810 |