Will Foley

William Brown Foley

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9½", Weight 150 lb.

• Debut August 23, 1875
• Final Game May 22, 1884
• Born November 15, 1855 in Chicago, IL USA
• Died November 12, 1916 in Chicago, IL USA

BR page

Biography

Will Foley, who played a number of different positions, also played in three different leagues in his major league career. He started in the last year of the National Association in 1875, and then was in the first year of the new National League in 1876.

He was the youngest player on the 1875 Chicago White Stockings team, and then was one of three players of age 20 on the 1876 Cincinnati Reds.

He wasn't to play on a team that finished over .500 until 1879, which was also the only year he played on a team that was over .500.

While always primarily a third baseman, he also played a lot of catcher in 1876 and a lot of the outfield in 1879. One source says he committed 12 errors in a game in 1876 while playing catcher; his overall major league fielding average was .821, although that was not far below average.

Not a strong hitter, his best year was his last, in the Union Association which was an easier league in which to hit.

He was the second of seven major leaguers named "Foley" (through 2008). The first was his brother, Tom Foley.

His obituary appeared in Sporting Life, November 25, 1916. He was found dead in the loft of his brother's barn near Chicago. The obituary said he started his career with the Chicago club in 1870 (although the book When Johnny Came Sliding Home doesn't seem to mention him). His last professional stint was with Omaha (the year was not mentioned).