Joe Sommer
Born: 11/20/1858 in Covington, KY, USA
Died: 1/16/1938 in Cincinnati, OH, USA
MLB Debut: 1880-07-08 | Final Game: 1890-10-15
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: Joseph John Sommer
Biography
Joe Sommer, born in 1858, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball during the late 19th century. His career spanned from 1880 to 1890, a time characterized by the transition from the deadball era to a more offensive-oriented game. Over the course of 920 games, Sommer amassed 911 hits, demonstrating a consistent ability to make contact at the plate. He recorded 11 home runs and drove in 342 runs, showcasing his capacity to contribute to his team's scoring efforts. With a career batting average of .248 and 101 stolen bases, Sommer was known for his agility and speed, which were valuable assets during a period when base running was a crucial aspect of the game.
Sommer played in an era where the game was evolving, and his performance reflected the skills demanded of players at the time. While not one of the most celebrated stars of his day, he left a notable mark in the history of baseball through his durability and contributions on the field. His career, which extended until October 15, 1890, positioned him as a steady presence in the lineups of his teams, and he remains a part of the rich tapestry of early professional baseball history.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14.0 | 33 | 15 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 9.64 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1883 | CN2 | AA | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.0 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5.40 | 0.0 |
| 1885 | BL2 | AA | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3.0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 | 0.0 |
| 1886 | BL2 | AA | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 18.00 | 0.0 |
| 1887 | BL2 | AA | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9.00 | 0.0 |
| 1890 | CL4 | NL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.0 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 920 | 3675 | 617 | 911 | 109 | 42 | 11 | 342 | 101 | 238 | 118 | 0.248 | 0.297 | 0.309 | 0.607 | -2789.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | CN1 | NL | 24 | 88 | 10 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.182 | -422.0 |
| 1882 | CN2 | AA | 80 | 354 | 82 | 102 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 29 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0.288 | 943.6 |
| 1883 | CN2 | AA | 97 | 413 | 79 | 115 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 52 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0.278 | 376.7 |
| 1884 | BL2 | AA | 107 | 479 | 96 | 129 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0.269 | 546.3 |
| 1885 | BL2 | AA | 110 | 471 | 84 | 118 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 44 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0.251 | 103.3 |
| 1886 | BL2 | AA | 139 | 560 | 79 | 117 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 52 | 31 | 24 | 0 | 0.209 | -2121.9 |
| 1887 | BL2 | AA | 131 | 463 | 88 | 123 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 65 | 29 | 63 | 36 | 0.266 | -164.5 |
| 1888 | BL2 | AA | 79 | 297 | 31 | 65 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 13 | 18 | 29 | 0.219 | -677.2 |
| 1889 | BL2 | AA | 106 | 386 | 51 | 85 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 18 | 42 | 49 | 0.220 | -1227.5 |
| 1890 | BL3 | AA | 38 | 129 | 13 | 33 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 0.256 | -146.6 |
| 1890 | CL4 | NL | 9 | 35 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.229 | -146.6 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 2 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2B | 48 | 0 | 125 | 138 | 26 | 13 |
| 3B | 124 | 0 | 158 | 210 | 73 | 12 |
| C | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 713 | 0 | 1325 | 109 | 157 | 26 |
| P | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| SS | 43 | 0 | 59 | 116 | 26 | 13 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | CN1 | C | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1880 | CN1 | 3B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1880 | CN1 | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1880 | CN1 | OF | 22 | 0 | 38 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| 1882 | CN2 | OF | 80 | 0 | 188 | 9 | 16 | 2 |
| 1883 | CN2 | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1883 | CN2 | 3B | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 1883 | CN2 | OF | 94 | 0 | 171 | 11 | 31 | 1 |
| 1884 | BL2 | 2B | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1884 | BL2 | 3B | 97 | 0 | 118 | 168 | 54 | 10 |
| 1884 | BL2 | OF | 9 | 0 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| 1885 | BL2 | P | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1885 | BL2 | 1B | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1885 | BL2 | 3B | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1885 | BL2 | SS | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1885 | BL2 | OF | 107 | 0 | 229 | 14 | 21 | 2 |
| 1886 | BL2 | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1886 | BL2 | 2B | 32 | 0 | 84 | 86 | 14 | 9 |
| 1886 | BL2 | 3B | 11 | 0 | 18 | 16 | 3 | 0 |
| 1886 | BL2 | SS | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 1 |
| 1886 | BL2 | OF | 95 | 0 | 186 | 12 | 22 | 4 |
| 1887 | BL2 | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1887 | BL2 | 2B | 13 | 0 | 35 | 48 | 11 | 4 |
| 1887 | BL2 | 3B | 10 | 0 | 14 | 18 | 10 | 2 |
| 1887 | BL2 | SS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1887 | BL2 | OF | 110 | 0 | 187 | 15 | 22 | 4 |
| 1888 | BL2 | 1B | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1888 | BL2 | 2B | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1888 | BL2 | SS | 34 | 0 | 53 | 98 | 20 | 12 |
| 1888 | BL2 | OF | 44 | 0 | 54 | 7 | 9 | 1 |
| 1889 | BL2 | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1889 | BL2 | OF | 105 | 0 | 172 | 24 | 15 | 7 |
| 1890 | BL3 | OF | 38 | 0 | 69 | 5 | 9 | 3 |
| 1890 | CL4 | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1890 | CL4 | OF | 9 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 6 |
| Catcher | 1 |
| First Base | 2 |
| Second Base | 48 |
| Third Base | 124 |
| Shortstop | 43 |
| Left Field | 567 |
| Center Field | 15 |
| Right Field | 132 |