Ed Irvin
Full Name: William Edward Irvin
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: -- Weight: --
Born: 1882, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died: Feb 18, 1916 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
College: None
Major League Debut: May 18, 1912

CAREER BATTING STATISTICS
 BATTING
YEAR TEAM LG AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K OBP SLG
1912
 Det
 AL
 .667
 1
 3
 0
 2
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0
 --
 .667
 2.000
Totals AVG
.667		 G
1		 AB
3		 R
0		 H
2		 2B
0		 3B
2		 HR
0		 RBI
0		 BB
0		 K
--		 OBP
.667		 SLG
2.000

 BATTINGBASERUNNINGMISC
YEAR TEAM LG HBP GDP TB IBB SH SF SB CS SB% AB/HR AB/K
1912
 Det
 AL
 0
 --
 6
 --
 0
 --
 0
 --
 -.---
 --.-
 --.-
Totals HBP
0		 GDP
--		 TB
6		 IBB
--		 SH
0		 SF
--		 SB
0		 CS
--		 SB%
-.---		 AB/HR
--.-		 AB/K
--.-


CAREER FIELDING STATISTICS
YEAR TEAM LG POS G Ch PO A E DP FPCT
1912
 Det
 AL
 3B-C
 1
 2
 0
 1
 1
 0
 0.500
Totals G
1		 Ch
2		 PO
0		 A
1		 E
1		 DP
0		 FPCT
0.500


Ed Irvin only played one game in the majors, May 18, 1912. He was a part of the hastily-assembled team the Tigers put on the field to avoid a forfeit when the entire team walked out to protest Ty Cobb's suspension. His team lost to the Philadelphia A's 24-2.

Irwin is sometimes listed as having merely played third base. In fact, he didn't even start the game. But, other accounts say that Irvin caught at least part of the game. The Tigers started 48-year old coach Deacon McGuire behind the plate, but he was definitely replaced by a third baseman named John Coffee (playing name of Hap Smith) at some point. Irvin switched to catcher (from third) in the seventh. So, he probably had two innings on defense, because the A's didn't bat in the 9th. Irvin went 2-for-3 (.667 average) with two triples and, hence, is technically the sluggingest catcher ever at 2.000 SLG. He fielded only .500, but it is not known whether his assist or his error (a wild throw) happened at third or catcher.

SOURCES: SABR Members Joe Naiman (BRJ #25 1996) and Don Mankowski