Win Mercer

George Barclay Mercer

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 154 lb.

• Debut April 21, 1894
• Final Game September 27, 1902
• Born June 20, 1874 in Chester, WV USA
• Died January 12, 1903 in San Francisco, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Win Mercer Sheet Music

Win Mercer was a solid pitcher for 9 years in the majors, but was also a good enough hitter that he played other positions as well. In 1899 as a pitcher he started 21 games, but also appeared in 62 games at third base. He also played outfield and shortstop.

His lifetime major league win/loss record was 131-164, spending his entire career with teams that finished under .500 - often well under .500. His lifetime major league batting average was .286, and he hit over .300 three times. In 1898, when he hit .321 in 249 at-bats, the team hit .271. His first six seasons, from 1894 to 1899 were with the Washington Senators before they were contracted out of the National League. He then played for the New York Giants in 1900, returned to the Senators when they were re-formed as a team in the brand-new American League in 1901, and finally played his last season with the Detroit Tigers in 1902. He won in double figures in seen of his nine seasons, although he usually had a losing record given the quality of the teams playing behind him.

He won 25 games in 1896, and his 3.85 ERA in 1894 was third in the National League. Saves were not an official statistic then, but he often finished games and sometimes got what would today be called saves. It is said that he led the league in saves in 1897, with 3, but then no one in 1897 would have known that.

He umpired one National League game in 1896.

He was set to manage the Detroit Tigers in 1903, but died in the off-season, apparently a suicide. His exact reason for doing this remains a mystery to this day, however he reportedly left behind a note about how women are evil and why gambling is bad. This led people to assume that he had lost a bet and owed someone a great deal of money, however it was quickly discovered that Mercer owed no money to anyone.

A composer known simply by his last name and initial, N. Dunning composed a musical piece, the "Win Mercer Caprice", in his honor. It was published in Washington, DC around 1896, when he was at the height of his fame, and a copy of the full score in the collection of the Library of Congress.

Notable Achievements

• NL Games Pitched Leader (1897)
• NL Saves Leader (1897)
• NL Shutouts Leader (1897)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 4 (1894, 1896, 1897 & 1902)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 2 (1896 & 1897)
• 25 Wins Seasons: 1 (1896)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 7 (1894-1898, 1900 & 1902)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 4 (1894-1897)

Related Sites

• Win Mercer at the SABR Bio Project