Bill Dahlen: Baseball Pioneer

Bill Dahlen: Baseball Pioneer

Bill Dahlen: Baseball Pioneer

A game young in age at the time of the late 1800’s, baseball was in need of an identity, and while there were plenty of other names who filled valuable roles there was one player who created a reputation of being consistent in all facets of the game. One example of a consistently good baseball player in the turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries would be Bill Dahlen.

Bill Dahlen’s name may be lost in the shuffle of most impressive baseball players in history, but taking a look at his long 21-year career, fans would realize just how much he actually contributed to the game. Mainly playing as either a shortstop or a third baseman, Dahlen began his career with the Chicago Colts of the National League. Playing in 135 games in 1891 Dahlen had 9 home runs and 76 RBI’s off 143 hits, 18 doubles, 13 triples and 21 stolen bases. In 1892 Dahlen played in 143 games and batted .293 with 170 hits, 23 doubles, 19 triples and an amazing 60 stolen bases. Playing in 116 games in 1893 Dahlen batted .301 with 64 RBI’s off 146 hits, 28 doubles, 15 triples and 31 stolen bases.

1894 would be the best year of Dahlen’s career as he contributed more than just solid stats. Playing in 122 games Dahlen batted .359 with 15 home runs and 108 RBI’s off 132 hits, 32 doubles, 14 triples and 43 stolen bases. During the course of the regular season Dahlen cemented himself in the baseball record books as he first went on an amazing 42-game hitting streak which began on June 20 in a 7-3 loss to the Cleveland Spiders, and the streak would end on August 6 in a 12-9 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

In the very next game on August 7 Dahlen went 0-for-6 at the plate to snap his streak, but then on August 8 in a 14-11 loss to the Reds, Dahlen began another impressive hitting streak of 28 consecutive games. This second streak ended on September 8 in a 3-1 loss to the Boston Beaneaters. Had he gotten a hit on August 7 Dahlen would have continued his original streak and would have ended up at the very top of the baseball record books with a 61-game hitting streak, which would have been 5 more games than the famous 56-game hitting streak made by legendary New York Yankees outfielder Joe DiMaggio.

Playing in 129 games in 1895 Dahlen had 62 RBI’s, 131 hits, 19 doubles, 10 triples and 38 stolen bases. In 1896 Dahlen played in 125 games and batted .352 with 9 home runs and 74 RBI’s off 167 hits, 30 doubles, 19 triples and an impressive 51 stolen bases. In 1897 Dahlen played in just 75 games but he batted .290 with 80 hits, 18 doubles, 8 triples and 15 stolen bases. In 1898 Dahlen would play 142 games, batting .290 with 79 RBI’s, 151 hits, 35 doubles, 8 triples and 27 stolen bases.

In 1899 Bill Dahlen would be traded by the Chicago Orphans and wound up with the Brooklyn Superbas after another deal, and he wouldn’t skip a beat. Playing in 121 games Dahlen batted .283 with 76 RBI’s, 121 hits, 22 doubles, 7 triples and 29 stolen bases. In 1900 Dahlen played in 133 games and had 69 RBI’s, 125 hits, 16 doubles, 11 triples and 31 stolen bases. Playing in 131 games in 1901 Dahlen had 82 RBI’s, 136 hits, 17 doubles, 9 triples and 23 stolen bases. Playing in 138 games in 1902 Dahlen had 74 RBI’s, 139 hits, 25 doubles, 8 triples and 20 stolen bases. Playing in 138 games again in 1903 Dahlen had 64 RBI’s, 124 hits, 17 doubles, 9 triples and 34 stolen bases.

Dahlen would be traded again, and this time he was sent from the Superbas to the New York Giants in 1904, which would be one of the best things to ever happen to Dahlen. In 145 games Dahlen led the National League in RBI’s with 80 as he had 140 hits, 26 doubles and 47 stolen bases. The following year in 1905 Dahlen played in 148 games and had 81 RBI’s, 126 hits, 20 doubles, 4 triples and 37 stolen bases. In the very 2nd World Series ever played in 1905 Dahlen and the Giants would go on to defeat the Philadelphia Athletics of the American League 4 games to 1. This would be Dahlen’s only World Championship victory.

1906 signaled the beginning of the end for Dahlen’s storied career as he played in 143 games and had 113 hits, 18 doubles, 3 triples and 16 stolen bases. The Giants would trade Dahlen to the Boston Doves in 1907 where he would play 143 games, recording 96 hits, 20 doubles and 11 stolen bases. In 1908 Dahlen played in 144 games and had 125 hits, 23 doubles and 10 stolen bases. Dahlen would be limited to pinch hitting duties and emergency starts from 1909 to 1911 before officially retiring from the game of baseball.

For his career Bill Dahlen batted .272 and his 84 home runs ranked in the top 15 for the most home runs in history at the time of his retirement. Along with the 1905 World Series run with the New York Giants, Dahlen also experienced great victories such as National League Championships with the Brooklyn Superbas in 1899 and 1900, and a National League Championship with the Giants in 1904 where the World Series wouldn’t be played.

Another part of Bill Dahlen’s game that may have gone overlooked was his defensive skills. During his time he set major league records for career games (2,132), putouts (4,850), assists (7,500), total chances (13,325) and double plays (881) at the shortstop position. To this day Dahlen still holds the record for most total chances, which are assists, putouts and errors combined. A baseball pioneer in every sense of the word minus a trip to Cooperstown, Bill Dahlen’s legacy is a unique one.