Lou Sylvester
Outfielder · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1884-1887)
Lou Sylvester was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1884 to 1887 for 4 teams, including the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds, a span of 4 seasons. In 173 career games, he hit .243 with 159 hits, 6 home runs, and 43 RBI. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 646.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Outfielder
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'6" / 165 lb
- Died
- 5/5/1936 in Brooklyn, NY, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1884-04-18
- Last Game
- 1887-08-14
Full name: Louis J. Sylvester
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 173 | 654 | 138 | 159 | 22 | 14 | 6 | 43 | 18 | 67 | 24 | .243 | .315 | .347 | .662 | 646 |
Career AVG .243 vs. league average .252 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OBP .315 vs. league average .301 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career SLG .347 vs. league average .342 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OPS .662 vs. league average .643 across their career seasons — near league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1884 | CNU | UA | 82 | 333 | 67 | 89 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | .267 | .243 (+10%) | .278 (+9%) | .327 (+14%) | .606 (+12%) | 589.9 |
| 1886 | LS2 | AA | 45 | 154 | 41 | 35 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 29 | 0 | .227 | .246 (-8%) | .302 (+16%) | .331 (-10%) | .634 (+2%) | 179.8 |
| 1886 | CN2 | AA | 17 | 55 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .182 | .246 (-26%) | .302 (-6%) | .331 (+4%) | .634 (-1%) | 179.8 |
| 1887 | SL4 | AA | 29 | 112 | 20 | 25 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 24 | .223 | .270 (-18%) | .331 (-7%) | .373 (-9%) | .705 (-8%) | -137.1 |
| Career · 4 seasons | 173 | 654 | 138 | 159 | 22 | 14 | 6 | 43 | 18 | 67 | 24 | .243 | — | — | — | — | 812 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Season-by-Season Pitching
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Lg ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1884 | CNU | UA | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 32.2 | 32 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 3.58 | 3.11 (-15%) | -235.2 |
| Career · 1 season | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 32.2 | 32 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 3.58 | — | -235 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 6 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Shortstop | 2 |
| Left Field | 73 |
| Center Field | 62 |
| Right Field | 38 |
Lou Sylvester: the record in brief
The profile opens with Lou Sylvester's first major league game on April 18, 1884; the last one listed came on August 14, 1887. The team column moves through the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds (1884), the Louisville Colonels (1886), the Cincinnati Red Stockings (1886), and the St. Louis Browns (1887). Sylvester played primarily as an outfielder and threw and hit right-handed. Born on February 14, 1855, in Springfield, IL, USA, Sylvester was listed at 165 pounds on a 5-foot-6 frame. Sylvester died on May 5, 1936, in Brooklyn, NY, USA. The given name on file is Louis J. Sylvester.
In 173 games and 654 at bats, Sylvester batted .243 with 159 hits, plus 6 homers and 43 RBI. Sylvester got on base at a .315 rate and slugged .347 (.662 OPS). Against a .252 league average for those years, Sylvester's .243 average was near the norm. The hits column peaks at 89, in 1884.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lou Sylvester
- What years did Lou Sylvester play?
- Lou Sylvester played in Major League Baseball from 1884 to 1887.
- Was Lou Sylvester a pitcher?
- No. Lou Sylvester was a position player (Outfielder), though he did pitch in 6 career games.
- How many home runs did Lou Sylvester hit?
- Lou Sylvester hit 6 career home runs with 159 hits.
- What teams did Lou Sylvester play for?
- Lou Sylvester played for 4 teams: the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds (1884), the Louisville Colonels (1886), the Cincinnati Red Stockings (1886), and the St. Louis Browns (1887).
- What were Lou Sylvester's career stats?
- In 173 games, Lou Sylvester had 159 hits, 6 home runs, 43 RBI, 138 runs, and 18 stolen bases, with a .243 batting average.
- What position did Lou Sylvester play?
- Lou Sylvester played primarily as an outfielder, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Lou Sylvester and how much did he weigh?
- Lou Sylvester was listed at 5 feet 6 inches and 165 pounds.
- How many home runs did Lou Sylvester hit each season?
- Lou Sylvester's home runs by season: 2 in 1884, 3 in 1886, and 1 in 1887. His most in one season was 3, in 1886.
- What was Lou Sylvester's career batting average?
- Lou Sylvester batted .243 over his career, with 159 hits in 654 at bats.
- How many RBI did Lou Sylvester have?
- Lou Sylvester drove in 43 runs in his career.
- What was Lou Sylvester's career ERA?
- Lou Sylvester finished with a 3.58 career ERA, going 0-1 with 7 strikeouts.
- Is Lou Sylvester in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Lou Sylvester has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.