Art Whitney

Who was Art Whitney?

Arthur Wilson Whitney was an American professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1877 to 1893. He played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball, principally as a third baseman and shortstop, for eight different major league clubs.

Whitney's longest stretches were with the Pittsburg Alleghenys and New York Giants. He helped the Giants win the 1888 and 1889 World Series.

In 11 major league seasons, Whitney compiled a .223 batting average and a .285 on-base percentage, scored 475 runs, and had 820 hits, including 137 extra base hits. Whitney's true value, however, was as a defensive player on the infield. He four times led his league in fielding percentage, three times as a third baseman and once as a shortstop. In 1886, his Defensive WAR rating of 1.6 was the fourth highest among all position players in the American Association. His career range factor of 3.39 at third base remains the 23rd highest in major league history.