Births on January 22

Bill O'Neill, Canadian-American baseball player (d. 1920)

William John O'Neill (January 22, 1880 – July 20, 1920) was a professional baseball player who made his mark, albeit briefly, in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a versatile outfielder and shortstop. Known for his ability to bat from both sides of the plate as a switch-hitter and throw right-handed, O'Neill's career spanned parts of two seasons with the Boston Americans, Washington Senators, and the World Champion Chicago White Sox.

Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, O'Neill represents one of the early instances of international talent in American professional baseball, paving the way for future generations of players from outside the United States.

A Noteworthy Rookie Season and an Unprecedented Record

O'Neill began his Major League career in 1904 with the Boston Americans, who would later become known as the Boston Red Sox. During his rookie season, he primarily played shortstop, a demanding defensive position requiring quick reflexes and accurate throws.

On May 21, 1904, O'Neill etched his name into baseball's historical records, though perhaps not in the way most players aspire. In a challenging 13-inning, 5–3 loss to the St. Louis Browns, he committed an astonishing six errors while playing shortstop. This performance made William O'Neill the sole Major League player in the entire 20th century to record six errors in a single game, a unique and infamous statistical outlier. An error in baseball is a defensive misplay that allows a batter to reach base, an advance of a base runner, or an extension of a player's at-bat without the benefit of a hit or walk.

Mid-Season Transition and Championship Glory

Later in the 1904 season, O'Neill was part of a significant mid-season transaction, being traded from Boston to the Washington Senators. This same deal brought veteran outfielder Kip Selbach to the Boston Americans, highlighting the strategic player movements common in early MLB.

The pinnacle of O'Neill's professional career came in 1906 when he joined the Chicago White Sox. This legendary team, famously dubbed the "Hitless Wonders" due to their reliance on exceptional pitching and stellar defense rather than high-scoring offense, achieved one of baseball's greatest upsets. They faced the formidable Chicago Cubs in the World Series, a Cubs team that had dominated the regular season with an incredible 116 wins – a National League record that stood for nearly a century until matched in 2001 and remains an MLB record for most wins in a 154-game season. Against all odds, O'Neill and the "Hitless Wonders" defeated their cross-town rivals in six games, securing the World Championship for Chicago and solidifying their place in baseball lore.

Career Overview and Final Years

William O'Neill's Major League Baseball career, though brief, spanned two seasons (1904 and 1906). Across 206 games played, he compiled a career batting average of .243. In baseball, a batting average of .243 means he successfully got a hit in 24.3% of his official at-bats. He also recorded two home runs, which are hits that allow the batter to circle all bases and score, and contributed 42 Runs Batted In (RBI), meaning his hits or other plays directly led to 42 runs being scored by his team.

William John O'Neill passed away in Woodhaven, New York, on July 20, 1920, at the age of 40, concluding a life that included a unique chapter in Major League Baseball history.

Frequently Asked Questions about William O'Neill

What made William O'Neill's 1904 season notable?

During his rookie season with the Boston Americans in 1904, William O'Neill committed six errors in a single game on May 21, becoming the only Major League Baseball player in the entire 20th century to achieve this dubious record.

What was the significance of the 1906 Chicago White Sox team O'Neill played for?

The 1906 Chicago White Sox, known as the "Hitless Wonders," famously upset the heavily favored Chicago Cubs in the World Series. The Cubs had achieved a then-record 116 regular-season wins, making the White Sox's championship victory one of the biggest surprises in baseball history, primarily relying on strong pitching and defense.

What does it mean that O'Neill was a "switch-hitter"?

Being a switch-hitter means William O'Neill had the rare ability to bat from both the left and right sides of home plate, a valuable skill that can give a player an advantage against different types of pitchers.