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tm1681 · 08-15-2023, 07:57 PM

JAMES OLSON BECOMES 1ST PLAYER TO WIN BotY & HotY DURING CAREER

Longtime Memphis Showboats star James Olson made baseball history at the end of the 1900 Southeastern & Atlantic League season. The Memphis starting pitcher & first baseman put up a season unlike any in baseball history, as not only did he lead the league in ERA (2.28) and Pitching WAR (8.3) but he also lead the SEAL in batting WAR among players at his secondary position: first base (3.8).

Olson’s numbers on the year:

23-12, 2.28 ERA (161 ERA+), 319.2 IP, 34 CG, 1 SHO, 79 BB, 181 K, 2.2 BB/9, 5.1 K/9, 1.25 WHIP, 3.5 WPA, 8.3 WAR

457 PA, .336/.408/.424, .833 OPS (118 OPS+), 133 H, 17 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 65 RBI, 47 BB, 19 K, 2.95 WPA, 3.8 oWAR, 2.8 WAR

His reward: the SEAL Hurler of the Year, a spot on the SEAL Team of the Year, second place in the SEAL M.V.P. vote to Horace Farley of champions Charleston (SEAL M.V.P. typically goes to a member of the title winners), and there were discussions about giving him the first base spot in addition to the pitcher spot on the Team of the Year in recognition of his performance.

In winning HotY, Olson completed a “double” no two-way player had ever done before: winning Batsman of the Year and Hurler of the Year over the course of his career.

Earlier in his career Olson was a better hitter than pitcher, and in the 1893 SEAL season, during which he only started five games for Memphis as a pitcher, Olson led the league with a .380 Average and .946 OPS (179 OPS+). That level of performance saw him named Batsman of the Year after the end of the season, and at the time many thought he would end up transitioning to first base full time. However, Olson would become a regular starting pitcher again the next season and go 23-8 (3.70 ERA) in addition to hitting .334 over 112 games, and his status as an elite two-way player was reestablished.

Since then, James Olson has won 122 games over the past six seasons as a starting pitcher for Memphis, putting up a pitching WAR of 37.5 over that time. In addition, he's added another batting title (.388 in 1898) and become the first SEAL player to reach double-digit home runs in a season (10 in 1896).

There have been numerous two-way players who have excelled at both hitting and pitching, examples of which can be seen at times ranging from the amateur-only days (Delbert Hodges) to the current (Jurgen Schultz, Aaron Molloy). However, James Olson’s achievement means his name goes to the top of a new category in the history books, and it will stay there forever.

08-15-2023, 07:57 PM	#85
tm1681 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 1,428	JAMES OLSON BECOMES 1ST PLAYER TO WIN BotY & HotY DURING CAREER Longtime Memphis Showboats star James Olson made baseball history at the end of the 1900 Southeastern & Atlantic League season. The Memphis starting pitcher & first baseman put up a season unlike any in baseball history, as not only did he lead the league in ERA (2.28) and Pitching WAR (8.3) but he also lead the SEAL in batting WAR among players at his secondary position: first base (3.8). Olson’s numbers on the year: 23-12, 2.28 ERA (161 ERA+), 319.2 IP, 34 CG, 1 SHO, 79 BB, 181 K, 2.2 BB/9, 5.1 K/9, 1.25 WHIP, 3.5 WPA, 8.3 WAR 457 PA, .336/.408/.424, .833 OPS (118 OPS+), 133 H, 17 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 65 RBI, 47 BB, 19 K, 2.95 WPA, 3.8 oWAR, 2.8 WAR His reward: the SEAL Hurler of the Year, a spot on the SEAL Team of the Year, second place in the SEAL M.V.P. vote to Horace Farley of champions Charleston (SEAL M.V.P. typically goes to a member of the title winners), and there were discussions about giving him the first base spot in addition to the pitcher spot on the Team of the Year in recognition of his performance. In winning HotY, Olson completed a “double” no two-way player had ever done before: winning Batsman of the Year and Hurler of the Year over the course of his career. Earlier in his career Olson was a better hitter than pitcher, and in the 1893 SEAL season, during which he only started five games for Memphis as a pitcher, Olson led the league with a .380 Average and .946 OPS (179 OPS+). That level of performance saw him named Batsman of the Year after the end of the season, and at the time many thought he would end up transitioning to first base full time. However, Olson would become a regular starting pitcher again the next season and go 23-8 (3.70 ERA) in addition to hitting .334 over 112 games, and his status as an elite two-way player was reestablished. Since then, James Olson has won 122 games over the past six seasons as a starting pitcher for Memphis, putting up a pitching WAR of 37.5 over that time. In addition, he's added another batting title (.388 in 1898) and become the first SEAL player to reach double-digit home runs in a season (10 in 1896). There have been numerous two-way players who have excelled at both hitting and pitching, examples of which can be seen at times ranging from the amateur-only days (Delbert Hodges) to the current (Jurgen Schultz, Aaron Molloy). However, James Olson’s achievement means his name goes to the top of a new category in the history books, and it will stay there forever. Last edited by tm1681; 08-16-2023 at 12:18 AM.