Sam Weaver

Samuel H. Weaver
(Buck)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 175 lb.

• Debut October 25, 1875
• Final Game May 29, 1886
• Born July 20, 1855 in Philadelphia, PA USA
• Died February 1, 1914 in Philadelphia, PA USA

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Biographical Information

Sam Weaver was known as "Buck Weaver" during his professional career. Presumably, the second Buck Weaver got his nickname from the first one, and quite possibly baseball people started referring to the first one as Sam to avoid confusion with the scandal-plagued second Buck Weaver. Sam died in 1914, so he wasn't around to see his namesake banned from baseball.

Sam, for his part, had a terrific rookie season for the major-league Milwaukee Grays in 1878. One might not notice it at first, because Sam led the National League in losses, but he also had the best WHIP in the league. Various sources credit Sam with one of the best pitching seasons in the decade of the 1870s. One of his games may have been a no-hitter - it has been disputed over the years whether batter John Clapp should have been credited with a hit or reached base on an error. In any case, the victory was the Grays' first win of the year.

However, Sam wasn't always that good, and as a result he moved around a lot from team to team - although in several cases he was forced to move because his team, or his league, folded after the year he was with them. Weaver, who was from Philadelphia, PA, pitched for teams based in Philly that belonged to several different leagues - the National Association, the major league American Association and the Union Association.

After baseball, he worked as a policeman.

Main source: Major League Baseball Profiles, 1871-1900.

Notable Achievements

• 20 Wins Seasons: 2 (1882 & 1883)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1878, 1882 & 1883)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1878, 1882 & 1883)
• 400 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1883)