Bill Craver

Infobox MLB retired
name=Bill Craver
position=Infielder/Catcher
bgcolor1=black
bgcolor2=black
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=June, 1844
city-state|Troy|New York
deathdate=death date and age|1901|6|17|1844|6|00
city-state|Troy|New York
debutdate= May 9
debutyear= by|1871
debutteam= Troy Haymakers
finaldate= October 6
finalyear= by|1877
finalteam= Louisville Grays
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.291
stat2label=Runs scored
stat2value=330
stat3label=RBIs
stat3value=228
teams=As Player
* Troy Haymakers (by|1871)
* Baltimore Canaries (by|1872–by|1873)
* Philadelphia White Stockings (by|1874)
* Philadelphia Centennials (by|1875)
* Philadelphia Athletics (by|1875)
* New York Mutuals (by|1876)
* Louisville Grays (by|1877)As Manager
* Troy Haymakers (by|1871)
* Baltimore Canaries (by|1872)
* Philadelphia Centennials (by|1875)
* New York Mutuals (by|1876)
highlights=

William H. Craver (June 1844 – June 17 1901) was an American Major League Baseball player from Troy, New York who played mainly as an infielder, but did play many games at catcher as well during his seven year career. He played for seven different teams, in two leagues.cite web| title = Bill Craver's Stats | work = retrosheet.org | url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/Pcravb101.htm | accessdate = 2008-04-14 ] He was later expelled from the Major Leagues in the infamous Lousville gambling scandal in by|1877.cite web| title = 1877: The Spectre of Gambling | work = by David Pietrusza | url=http://www.davidpietrusza.com/1877.html | accessdate = 2008-04-14 ]

Early life

Before his baseball career, he had served in the military during the Civil War with the 13th Heavy Artillery Regiment out of New York. He enlisted on January 21, 1864, at age of 18, as a Private in Company K, and mustered out on June 28 in Norfolk, Virginia.cite web| title = Catchers Who Served in the Military | work = members.tripod.com | url=http://members.tripod.com/bb_catchers/catchers/military.htm | accessdate = 2008-04-14 ]

When the war, and his military career was over, he began his organized baseball career as a catcher in 1866 with the Union Baseball Club of Rensselaer County, which became the Unions of Lansingburgh. The Unions gained the nickname of Haymakers in August of that year after a visit to the Capitoline Grounds and the Elysian Fields. Later, in 1870, while playing for a Chicago team, he is accused of breaking his contract with the team.cite web| title = Capital Region Baseball Timeline Part I: 1819-1899 | work = by David Pietrusza | url=http://www.davidpietrusza.com/capital-reg-baseball-1.html | accessdate = 2008-04-14 ]

Career

In by|1871, he joined the Troy Haymakers, who entered the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players in the league's first season. He played second base, and after just four games, he replaced Lip Pike as manager. He played well, batting .322, but the team finished in seventh place. For the next two seasons, he joined the Baltimore Canaries, the first of which he was player-manager. He was replace at manager later in the year by Everett Mills, but stayed with the team through the by|1873 season. Playing for the Philadelphia White Stockings in by|1874, he led the league in games played, and as a second baseman, he led the league in putouts and errors. Craver had his best offensive season that year, batting .343, and leading the league in stolen bases. In by|1875, he moved over the Philadelphia Centennials. He played in just 13 games for them when, together with George Bechtel, he was traded to the Philadelphia Athletics to replace injured players Dave Eggler and Wes Fisler in exchange for $1,500.

The National Association folded following the by|1875 season, and Bill joined the by|1876 New York Mutuals, a team that he also managed. It was his only season in New York, as the Mutuals were expelled from the league for not making the required western trip. It was during this season that Bill was reputedly savagely beaten by a gambler for doublecrossing him on a fix. He gained infamy the following season, his final season, when playing for the Louisville Grays.

Expulsion

In by|1877, The Grays were ahead in the league standings, with a 27-13 record with only 15 games left to play, but instead they lost their lead through horrible play, losing eight straight games at one point. The trouble reportedly began when third baseman Bill Hauge was injured and needed to be replaced. George Hall suggested that team pick up his former Mutuals teammate Al Nichols. The errors by Nichols, Hall, and Craver began to accumulate, and owner Charles Chase became suspicious when he noticed that Nichols was still in the line-up, even though Hauge was fully healthy. The players were soon seen around town with new clothes and jewelry. Chase confronted pitcher Jim Devlin and didn't receive a confession, but Hall thought Devlin did confess and he made a full confession. Hall claimed that Nichols was the person in contact with the gamblers and all three had thrown games. Chase requested from each member of the team permission to see all the Western Union telegrams sent and received. Craver is the only man on the team to refuse, which caused him to be suspended. The telegrams proved the three were in open communication with the gamblers. The National League subsequently expelled all four players “for conduct in contravention of the objects of this League.” Craver was banned even though it was not actually proven that he participated in throwing any games, but there were reports of his gambling and insubordination in his past, along with his refusal to cooperate with this investigation.

Post-career

After his forced retirement, Craver became a police officer, along with fellow "criminal" Devlin.cite web| title = Ninety Feet from Fame: Close Calls with Baseball Immortality, pg. 123 | work = by Mike Robbins | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=dgE6gFL-FjMC&pg=PA122&lpg=PA122&dq=%22bill+craver%22+baseball&source=web&ots=LgdESAJBQD&sig=_VB2hhT9rKzIBg9vdpQfHZzgS9c&hl=en#PPA123,M1 | accessdate = 2008-04-14 ] He began to receive military disability on July 1, 1892, as a result of time as a soldier, which would continue on to his widow, Catherine C. Craver. Craver died at the age of 57 of heart disease in his hometown of Troy, and is interred at Oakwood Cemetery.

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball triples champions

References

External links

*
* [http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/artillery/13thArtHvy/13thArtHvyMain.htm New York State Military Museum] - 13th Heavy Artillery Regiment

Persondata
NAME = Craver, Bill
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Craver, William H.
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Major League Baseball player, manager
DATE OF BIRTH = 1844
PLACE OF BIRTH = Troy, New York
DATE OF DEATH = June 17, 1901
PLACE OF DEATH = Troy, New York