Dave Eggler
PositionCenter fielder
BatsRight
ThrowsRight
Birth dateApril 30, 1849
Birth placeBrooklyn, New York, U.S.
Death dateApril 5, 1902 (aged 52)
Death placeBuffalo, New York, U.S.
DebutleagueMLB
DebutdateMay 18
Debutyear1871
DebutteamNew York Mutuals
FinalleagueMLB
FinaldateJune 9
Finalyear1885
FinalteamBuffalo Bisons
StatleagueMLB
Stat1labelBatting average
Stat1value.274
Stat2labelRuns scored
Stat2value491
Stat3labelRuns batted in
Stat3value242
Teams
  National Association of Base Ball Players
Brooklyn Eckfords (1868)
New York Mutuals (1869–1870)
  League player
New York Mutuals (1871–1873)
Philadelphia White Stockings (1874)
Athletic of Philadelphia (1875–1876)
Chicago White Stockings (1877)
Buffalo Bisons (1879)
Baltimore Orioles (1883)
Buffalo Bisons (1883–1885)
Highlights
  • Led NA in runs scored (1872)

David Daniel Eggler (April 30, 1849 – April 5, 1902) was an American Major League Baseball center fielder. He was born in Brooklyn, New York.

Eggler's career began in the National Association of Base Ball Players with the New York Mutuals in , and was a member of the Mutuals when they joined the professional National Association in . He went on to play for the Philadelphia White Stockings and Athletic of Philadelphia in the NA.

After the formation of the National League, Eggler remained with Philadelphia, then went on to play for the Chicago White Stockings, Buffalo Bisons, and Baltimore Orioles before his career ended.

Dave Eggler now holds an unfortunate record, as his 2,544 at-bats and 2,593 plate appearances are the most by any player with 0 career home runs, statistically making him the game's least prolific home run hitter. However, because his career began before the formation of the modern National League, the record isn't universally recognized as Eggler's. Also, the rarity of the home run during his career means that his inability to hit one was understandable; in 1871 (the first year of his career), his entire league combined to hit 47 home runs - a single-season home run mark that has been equalled or surpassed by 62 different individuals a combined 107 times since then.

He died after being hit by a train in Buffalo, New York.

See also