Baldy Louden
Encyclopedia
William P. "Baldy" Louden (August 27, 1883 – December 8, 1935), was a Major League Baseball
infielder who played six seasons in the Major Leagues with the New York Highlanders (1907), Detroit Tigers
(1912–1913), Buffalo Buffeds
(1914–1915), and Cincinnati Reds
(1916). Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, Louden played mostly at second base (313 games) and shortstop (176 games). Over six years, Louden played in 603 Major League games and had a .261 batting average and a .355 on base percentage.
Louden was earning $2,700 a year with the Tigers when he chose to join Buffalo of the Federal League
in 1914. Louden had his most productive seasons with the "Buffeds." In 1914, he was among the Federal League's leaders with a .313 batting average (8th highest), .391 on base percentage (10th highest), and 35 stolen bases (8th highest).
When the Federal League folded in 1916, Louden moved to the Cincinnati Reds
, where he hit .219 while leading National League second basemen in fielding average.
In 1912 with Detroit, his Range factor
was 5.61 in 87 games at 2nd base—0.86 points higher than the league average for second basemen. His Range factor
in 1916 with Cincinnati was 5.40—0.66 points higher than the National League average.
Louden died in 1935 at age 52 in Piedmont, West Virginia
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
infielder who played six seasons in the Major Leagues with the New York Highlanders (1907), Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1912–1913), Buffalo Buffeds
Buffalo Buffeds/Blues
The Buffalo Blues were a professional baseball club that played in the short-lived Federal League, which was a minor league in 1913 and a full-fledged outlaw major league the next two years. It was the last major league baseball team to be based in the city of Buffalo...
(1914–1915), and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1916). Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Louden played mostly at second base (313 games) and shortstop (176 games). Over six years, Louden played in 603 Major League games and had a .261 batting average and a .355 on base percentage.
Louden was earning $2,700 a year with the Tigers when he chose to join Buffalo of the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
in 1914. Louden had his most productive seasons with the "Buffeds." In 1914, he was among the Federal League's leaders with a .313 batting average (8th highest), .391 on base percentage (10th highest), and 35 stolen bases (8th highest).
When the Federal League folded in 1916, Louden moved to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, where he hit .219 while leading National League second basemen in fielding average.
In 1912 with Detroit, his Range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
was 5.61 in 87 games at 2nd base—0.86 points higher than the league average for second basemen. His Range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
in 1916 with Cincinnati was 5.40—0.66 points higher than the National League average.
Louden died in 1935 at age 52 in Piedmont, West Virginia
Piedmont, West Virginia
Piedmont is a town in Mineral County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the 'Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census. Piedmont was chartered in 1856...
.