Bill Hoffer
William Leopold Hoffer (November 8, 1870 – July 21, 1959) was a professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of six seasons (1895–1899, 1901) with the Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Blues. For his career, he compiled a 92–46 record in 161 appearances, with a 3.75 earned run average and 314 strikeouts. In 1901 he archived the dubious honor of being the losing pitcher in the American League's first game. In his rookie year, 1895, he compiled 31 wins (including a league-leading four shutouts) for the League-winning Orioles. He led the National League in Winning Percentage in 1895 and 1896. He was born and later died in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the age of 88. See also List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders References External links Bill Hoffer at SABR (Baseball BioProject) 1870 births 1959 deaths Major League Baseball pitchers Baseball players from Iowa Baltimore Orioles (NL) players Cleveland Blues (1901) players Pittsburgh Pirates players Minor league baseball managers Cedar Rapids Canaries players Joliet Convicts players Toledo Black Pirates players Marinette Badgers players Nashville Tigers players Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Sacramento Senators players Cleveland Lake Shores players Des Moines Midgets players Des Moines Prohibitionists players Des Moines Undertakers players Oklahoma City Mets players Cedar Rapids Rabbits players 19th-century baseball players