| Bill Craver | |
|---|---|
 Craver in 1866 | |
| Middle infielder /Catcher | |
| Born: June 1844 (1844-06) Troy, New York, U.S. | |
| Died: June 17, 1901(1901-06-17) (aged 56–57) Troy, New York, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 9, 1871, for the Troy Haymakers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 6, 1877, for the Louisville Grays | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .290 |
| Home runs | 2 |
| Runs batted in | 228 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
William H. Craver (June 1844 – June 17, 1901) was an AmericanMajor League Baseball player fromTroy, New York who played mainly as amiddle infielder, but did play many games atcatcher as well during his seven-year career. He played for seven different teams, in two leagues.[1] He was laterexpelled from the Major Leagues in the infamousLouisville gambling scandal in1877.[2]
Before his baseball career, Craver had served in themilitary during theCivil War with the 13th Heavy Artillery Regiment out ofNew York. He enlisted on January 21, 1864, as aPrivate in Company K, and mustered out on June 28 inNorfolk, Virginia.[3]
When the war, and his military career were over, he began his organized baseball career as acatcher in 1866 with the Union Baseball Club ofRensselaer County, which became the Unions of Lansingburgh. The Unions gained the nickname of Haymakers in August of that year after a visit to theCapitoline Grounds and theElysian Fields. Later, in 1870, while playing for aChicago team, he was accused of breaking his contract with the team.[4]
In1871, Craver joined theTroy Haymakers, who entered theNational Association of Professional Base Ball Players in the league's first season. He playedsecond base, and after just four games, he replacedLip Pike asmanager.[1][4] He played well,batting .322, but the team finished in seventh place.[1] For the next two seasons, he joined theBaltimore Canaries, the first of which he wasplayer-manager. He was replaced at manager later in the year byEverett Mills, but stayed with the team through the1873 season.[1] Playing for thePhiladelphia White Stockings in1874, he led the league ingames played, and as a second baseman, he led the league inputouts anderrors. Craver had his best offensive season that year, batting .343 and leading the league instolen bases.[1] In1875, he moved over thePhiladelphia Centennials. He played in just 13 games for them when, together withGeorge Bechtel, he was traded to thePhiladelphia Athletics to replace injured playersDave Eggler andWes Fisler in exchange for $1,500.[1] He led the NA in triples in 1875 with 13.[5]
The National Association folded following the1875 season, and Craver joined the1876New York Mutuals, a team that he also managed.[1] 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 Craver was reputedly savagely beaten by a gambler for doublecrossing him on a fix.[4] He gained infamy the following season, his final season, when playing for theLouisville Grays.[1]
In1877, the Grays were ahead in the league standings, with a 27–13 record with only 15 games left to play, but then lost their lead through horrible play, losing eight straight games at one point.[2] The trouble reportedly began whenthird basemanBill Hague was injured and needed to be replaced.George Hall suggested that the team pick up his former Mutuals teammateAl Nichols.[2] 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 lineup, even though Hague was fully healthy.[2] The players were soon seen around town with new clothes and jewelry. Chase confronted pitcherJim Devlin and did not receive a confession, but Hall thought Devlin had confessed. Hall claimed that Nichols was the person in contact with the gamblers and all three had thrown games.[2] Chase requested from each member of the team permission to see all theWestern Uniontelegrams sent and received.[2] Craver was 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. TheNational League subsequently expelled all four players "for conduct in contravention of the objects of this League." Craver was banned even though it was not 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.[2]
After his forced retirement from baseball, Craver became apolice officer,[where?][when?] along with fellow "criminal" Devlin.[6] He began to receive militarydisability on July 1, 1892, as a result of time as asoldier, which would continue on to his widow, Catherine C. Craver.[3] Craver died at the age of 57 ofheart disease[6] in his hometown of Troy, and is interred atOakwood Cemetery.[1]
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| Preceded by | Troy Haymakers managers 1871 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by First manager | Baltimore Canaries managers 1872 | Succeeded by |