Bill Sowders
Born: 11/29/1864 in Louisville, KY, USA
Died: 2/2/1951 in Indianapolis, IN, USA
MLB Debut: 1888-04-24 | Final Game: 1890-06-19
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 155 lbs
Full name: William Jefferson Sowders
Biography
Bill Sowders, born in 1864, was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1888 to June 19, 1890. He played during a transitional period in baseball, marked by the shift from the deadball era to a more offensive-oriented game. Sowders made a name for himself with a career record of 29 wins and 30 losses, showcasing his competitive spirit on the mound. His earned run average (ERA) stood at 3.34, reflecting a solid performance in an era where scoring was often limited, and pitchers relied heavily on skill and strategy.
Over his career, Sowders accumulated a total of 205 strikeouts, demonstrating his ability to dominate hitters and secure crucial outs. Additionally, he recorded 3 saves, highlighting his capacity to perform under pressure and contribute to his team's success in tight situations. Although he may not have achieved the fame of some of his contemporaries, Sowders' contributions to the game during the late 19th century remain a testament to the evolving nature of baseball and the competitive landscape of the sport during his playing days.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 30 | 71 | 61 | 55 | 2 | 3 | 517.7 | 542 | 192 | 8 | 149 | 205 | 3.34 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1888 | BSN | NL | 19 | 15 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 317.0 | 278 | 73 | 73 | 132 | 2.07 | 2520.9 |
| 1889 | BSN | NL | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 42.0 | 53 | 24 | 23 | 10 | 5.14 | -1390.5 |
| 1889 | PIT | NL | 6 | 5 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 52.7 | 94 | 43 | 29 | 33 | 7.35 | 71.4 |
| 1890 | PIT | NL | 3 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 106.0 | 117 | 52 | 24 | 30 | 4.42 | 1833.5 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 237 | 23 | 44 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 9 | 43 | 0.186 | 0.215 | 0.198 | 0.414 | -1255.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1888 | BSN | NL | 36 | 122 | 14 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 24 | 0.148 | -818.6 |
| 1889 | BSN | NL | 7 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.235 | 0.0 |
| 1889 | PIT | NL | 15 | 48 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0.271 | 0.0 |
| 1890 | PIT | NL | 17 | 50 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 0.180 | -344.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P | 71 | 0 | 41 | 108 | 14 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1888 | BSN | P | 36 | 0 | 23 | 69 | 8 | 1 |
| 1889 | BSN | P | 7 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 1889 | PIT | P | 13 | 0 | 8 | 19 | 3 | 0 |
| 1889 | PIT | OF | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1890 | PIT | P | 15 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| 1890 | PIT | OF | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 71 |
| Center Field | 2 |
| Right Field | 2 |