Joe Hornung

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#af0039
bgcolor2=#af0039
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Joe Hornung
position=Left field
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=June 12, 1857
city-state|Carthage|New York
deathdate=death date and age|1931|10|30|1857|6|12
city-state|Howard Beach|New York
debutdate=May 1
debutyear=by|1879
debutteam=Buffalo Bisons
finaldate=October 3
finalyear=by|1890
finalteam=New York Giants
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.257
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=1,230
stat3label=Runs
stat3value=788
teams=
*Buffalo Bisons (by|1879-by|1880)
*Boston Red Caps/Beaneaters (by|1882-by|1888)
*Baltimore Orioles (by|1889)
*New York Giants (by|1890)
highlights=

Joe Hornung (June 12 1857 – October 30 1931) was an American baseball player and one the greatest fielders of the 19th century.Fact|date=November 2007 Michael Joseph Hornung was born in Carthage, New York in 1857.

Prior to starting his career in Major League Baseball in 1879 with the Buffalo Bisons, Hornung played for the 1877 and 1878 London Tecumsehs in London, Ontario, Canada, winning the International Association title in 1877.

Hornung ended his baseball career in 1890 with the New York Giants, but he spent most of his career (1881-1888) with the Boston Red Caps/Beaneaters. He also spent one season (1889) in the now extinct American Association.

He was remarkable for his nearly flawless playFact|date=November 2007 in left field and also known for his peculiar habit of shouting "ubbo ubbo" whenever he got a hit or made a good fielding play. Due to this peculiarity, "Ubbo Ubbo" became Hornung's nickname.

In addition to being an exceptional fielder, Hornung was also a fast baserunner, stealing 39 bases in his final season, and was a fair hitter, batting .302 in 1882. He led all National League outfielders in fielding percentage in 1881, 1882, 1883 and 1886, fielding as high as .948, a very high mark for a time in which most players (including Hornung), didn't wear gloves in the field. Hornung died in 1931 in Howard Beach, New York.

Assorted statistics

* .257 Career Batting Average
* 31 Home Runs
* .929 Fielding Percentage

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions

References

* " [http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hornujo01.shtml Joe Hornung Statistics] " at Baseball-Reference.com
*"Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia"