Happy Townsend
Born: 4/9/1879 in Townsend, DE, USA
Died: 12/21/1963 in Wilmington, DE, USA
MLB Debut: 1901-04-19 | Final Game: 1906-09-21
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: John Townsend
Biography
Happy Townsend, born in 1879, was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1901 to 1906. Known for his durability on the mound, Townsend played during an era when baseball was evolving, moving away from the deadball era into a more offensive game. He finished his career with a record of 34 wins and 82 losses, with a commendable earned run average of 3.59. Over the course of his time in Major League Baseball, he struck out 473 batters, showcasing his ability to miss bats and challenge hitters.
Despite not achieving significant accolades, Townsend's contributions to the teams he played for were notable. His role as a pitcher was defined by his resilience and competitive spirit, characteristics that were essential in the early 20th century when the game was still finding its identity. While he did not record any saves during his career, his overall performance reflected the challenges pitchers faced in an era that demanded both stamina and strategic thinking on the mound. Townsend's legacy remains a part of baseball history, representing the hard-working players who laid the groundwork for future generations.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 82 | 153 | 125 | 107 | 5 | 0 | 1137.7 | 1154 | 454 | 24 | 416 | 473 | 3.59 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | PHI | NL | 9 | 6 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 143.7 | 118 | 55 | 64 | 72 | 3.45 | -552.9 |
| 1902 | WSN | AL | 8 | 16 | 27 | 26 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 220.3 | 233 | 109 | 89 | 71 | 4.45 | - |
| 1903 | WSN | AL | 2 | 11 | 20 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 126.7 | 145 | 67 | 48 | 54 | 4.76 | - |
| 1904 | WSN | AL | 5 | 26 | 36 | 34 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 291.3 | 319 | 116 | 100 | 143 | 3.58 | - |
| 1905 | WSN | AL | 7 | 16 | 34 | 24 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 263.0 | 247 | 77 | 84 | 102 | 2.63 | - |
| 1906 | CLE | AL | 3 | 7 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 92.7 | 92 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 2.91 | -899.0 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 155 | 427 | 26 | 71 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 29 | 3 | 12 | 118 | 0.166 | 0.196 | 0.220 | 0.417 | -1629.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | PHI | NL | 19 | 64 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0.109 | -612.0 |
| 1902 | WSN | AL | 27 | 87 | 11 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0.264 | -114.3 |
| 1903 | WSN | AL | 20 | 44 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0.045 | 0.0 |
| 1904 | WSN | AL | 38 | 119 | 6 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 34 | 0.168 | -613.9 |
| 1905 | WSN | AL | 34 | 83 | 6 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 32 | 0.181 | -289.2 |
| 1906 | CLE | AL | 17 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0.133 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P | 153 | 70 | 61 | 295 | 21 | 14 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | PHI | P | 19 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 3 | 2 |
| 1901 | PHI | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1902 | WS1 | P | 27 | 0 | 12 | 57 | 6 | 1 |
| 1903 | WS1 | P | 20 | 0 | 6 | 37 | 0 | 2 |
| 1904 | WS1 | P | 36 | 34 | 15 | 81 | 4 | 8 |
| 1904 | WS1 | OF | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1905 | WS1 | P | 34 | 24 | 21 | 64 | 5 | 1 |
| 1906 | CLE | P | 17 | 12 | 2 | 31 | 3 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 153 |
| Left Field | 1 |
| Right Field | 2 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington College | Chestertown | MD | 1898, 1899 |