Bill Collins (collibi01)

William J. Collins

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• Debut August 1, 1887
• Final Game September 12, 1892
• Born 1863 in Dublin, Ireland
• Died June 8, 1893 in New York, NY USA

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Biographical Information

It has been determined that Bill Collins was also the player formerly known as "Collins" who played one game for the St. Louis Browns in 1892. He had earlier played a total of five major league games for three different teams over four seasons, starting with the New York Metropolitans of the American Association in 1887. Collins played one major league game with the Metropolitans in 1887, one with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1889 and another with the same team in 1890, and then moved on up to two major league games with the Cleveland Spiders in 1891 before settling back into his normal one game routine for the Browns in 1892.

Sporting Life, when reporting his signing with the 1887 New York Metropolitans, stated that he was "late of the New Yorks", presumably the New York Giants. He did not appear with the Giants. The August 10 issue said he had been with the New York reserves, but in his debut with the Mets had trouble catching Jack Lynch (who won 37 games that year). He may have been an early user of catcher's plate equipment - a baseball card from 1887 exists showing him wearing the gear. His minor league record is almost as sparse (although not complete), with no more than 15 games in a season.

This is Bill Collins the catcher, who occasionally played right field. He is not to be confused with the later Bill Collins who played left field. He should also not be confused with Hub Collins, a player who was prominent in the major league American Association when Bill first came up, and who was later in the National League from 1891-1892 when Bill was also there.