| Jim Holdsworth | |
|---|---|
| Shortstop | |
| Born:(1850-07-14)July 14, 1850New York, New York, U.S. | |
| Died: March 22, 1918(1918-03-22) (aged 67)New York, New York, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 14, 1872, for the Cleveland Forest Citys | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 9, 1884, for the Indianapolis Hoosiers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Games played | 319 |
| Runs scored | 221 |
| Hits | 432 |
| Batting average | .291 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
James Holdsworth (July 14, 1850 – March 22, 1918), nicknamed "Long Jim", was an American professional baseball player who played shortstop in Major League Baseball for seven different teams during his nine-season career from 1872 to 1884.[1][2] Holdsworth died in his hometown of New York City, and is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery.[2] He played in the National Association, National League, and briefly the American Association.
In 1877, the Brooklyn Eagle described Holdsworth as "a good honest player, an excellent bat and a fine outfielder."[3] Holdsworth went through an elaborate wind-up in preparation to hit pitches, such that the press dubbed him "the dancing batter."[4]
Holdsworth carries the distinction of the lowest walk rate in history; he walked just 8 times in 1,489 plate appearances.[5] (A walk was not earned with four balls until 1889, for several years in the 1870s taking as many as nine.[6])
In 1885, he played for the Rochester Flour Cities of the New York State League.[7]
After his retirement, he continued to play in old-timers' games.[8]