Bill Terry
⭐ Hall of Fame 1954
Born: 10/30/1898 in Atlanta, GA, USA
Died: 1/9/1989 in Jacksonville, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 1923-09-24 | Final Game: 1936-09-22
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 200 lbs
Full name: William Harold Terry
Biography
Bill Terry, born in 1898, was a prominent figure in Major League Baseball during the 1920s and 1930s. He played his entire career with the New York Giants from 1923 until his retirement in 1936. A left-handed first baseman, Terry was known for his exceptional batting prowess, finishing his career with a remarkable .341 batting average, which placed him among the elite hitters of his time. Over the course of 1,721 games, he accumulated 2,193 hits, 154 home runs, and 1,078 RBIs, solidifying his reputation as a key offensive player in the National League.
Terry's accomplishments on the field earned him significant recognition, including three All-Star selections and the TSN Guide MVP award. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1954, a testament to his enduring impact on the game. Beyond his individual achievements, Terry played a vital role in the Giants' success during an era characterized by fierce competition and the emergence of legendary players. His combination of skill, dedication, and sportsmanship made him a beloved figure in baseball history, and his legacy continues to be celebrated by fans and historians alike.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.0 | 8.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0.125 | 0.125 | 0.125 | 0.250 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0.125 | 0.125 | 0.125 | 0.250 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1721 | 6428 | 1120 | 2193 | 373 | 112 | 154 | 1078 | 56 | 537 | 449 | 0.341 | 0.393 | 0.506 | 0.899 | 27224.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | NY1 | NL | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.143 | 0.0 |
| 1924 | NY1 | NL | 77 | 163 | 26 | 39 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 24 | 1 | 17 | 18 | 0.239 | -158.0 |
| 1925 | NY1 | NL | 133 | 489 | 75 | 156 | 31 | 6 | 11 | 70 | 4 | 42 | 52 | 0.319 | 1081.1 |
| 1926 | NY1 | NL | 98 | 225 | 26 | 65 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 43 | 3 | 22 | 17 | 0.289 | 381.9 |
| 1927 | NY1 | NL | 150 | 580 | 101 | 189 | 32 | 13 | 20 | 121 | 1 | 46 | 53 | 0.326 | 2602.1 |
| 1928 | NY1 | NL | 149 | 568 | 100 | 185 | 36 | 11 | 17 | 101 | 7 | 64 | 36 | 0.326 | 2729.0 |
| 1929 | NY1 | NL | 150 | 607 | 103 | 226 | 39 | 5 | 14 | 117 | 10 | 48 | 35 | 0.372 | 2953.0 |
| 1930 | NY1 | NL | 154 | 633 | 139 | 254 | 39 | 15 | 23 | 129 | 8 | 57 | 33 | 0.401 | 5046.8 |
| 1931 | NY1 | NL | 153 | 611 | 121 | 213 | 43 | 20 | 9 | 112 | 8 | 47 | 36 | 0.349 | 3213.8 |
| 1932 | NY1 | NL | 154 | 643 | 124 | 225 | 42 | 11 | 28 | 117 | 4 | 32 | 23 | 0.350 | 3823.2 |
| 1933 | NY1 | NL | 123 | 475 | 68 | 153 | 20 | 5 | 6 | 58 | 3 | 40 | 23 | 0.322 | 1234.0 |
| 1934 | NY1 | NL | 153 | 602 | 109 | 213 | 30 | 6 | 8 | 83 | 0 | 60 | 47 | 0.354 | 2559.2 |
| 1935 | NY1 | NL | 145 | 596 | 91 | 203 | 32 | 8 | 6 | 64 | 7 | 41 | 55 | 0.341 | 1586.3 |
| 1936 | NY1 | NL | 79 | 229 | 36 | 71 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 39 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 0.310 | 172.5 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 61 | 7 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 0.295 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | WS | NY1 | 6 | 25 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0.240 |
| 1933 | WS | NY1 | 5 | 22 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.273 |
| 1924 | WS | NY1 | 5 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0.429 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1579 | 0 | 15972 | 1108 | 138 | 1334 |
| OF | 15 | 0 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | NY1 | 1B | 2 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1924 | NY1 | 1B | 35 | 0 | 325 | 14 | 4 | 30 |
| 1925 | NY1 | 1B | 126 | 0 | 1270 | 77 | 14 | 83 |
| 1926 | NY1 | 1B | 38 | 0 | 391 | 31 | 9 | 36 |
| 1926 | NY1 | OF | 14 | 0 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1927 | NY1 | 1B | 150 | 0 | 1621 | 105 | 12 | 135 |
| 1928 | NY1 | 1B | 149 | 0 | 1584 | 78 | 12 | 148 |
| 1929 | NY1 | 1B | 149 | 0 | 1575 | 111 | 11 | 146 |
| 1929 | NY1 | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1930 | NY1 | 1B | 154 | 0 | 1538 | 128 | 17 | 128 |
| 1931 | NY1 | 1B | 153 | 0 | 1411 | 105 | 16 | 108 |
| 1932 | NY1 | 1B | 154 | 0 | 1493 | 137 | 14 | 125 |
| 1933 | NY1 | 1B | 117 | 0 | 1246 | 76 | 11 | 103 |
| 1934 | NY1 | 1B | 153 | 0 | 1592 | 105 | 10 | 131 |
| 1935 | NY1 | 1B | 143 | 0 | 1379 | 99 | 6 | 105 |
| 1936 | NY1 | 1B | 56 | 0 | 525 | 41 | 2 | 55 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1578 |
| Left Field | 2 |
| Right Field | 13 |
Awards & Honors
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 6th | 20.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1934 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 7th | 30.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1933 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 4th | 35.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1932 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 6th | 25.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1931 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 3rd | 53.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1929 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 3rd | 48.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1927 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 13th | 6.0 | 80 | 0 |