About Darby O'Brien
Lived 1863 – 1893 (aged 29). Darby O'Brien was an American baseball player.
William D. "Darby" O'Brien (September 1, 1863 – June 15, 1893) was an American Major League Baseball player in the late 19th century. He played outfield for the New York Metropolitans in 1887 and the Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Grooms from 1888–1892. O'Brien developed lung problems during his playing career and continued to play, despite his ill health. When he reported to spring training for the 1893 season, the team found that he was too ill to play and sent him to Colorado to try to recover. They played a benefit game to raise money for him.
In 709 games over six seasons, O'Brien posted a .282 batting average (805-for-2856) with 577 runs, 20 home runs, 394 runs batted in, 321 stolen bases and 231 bases on balls. He finished his career with a .933 fielding percentage.
O'Brien died later that year of typhoid fever at the age of 29.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Darby O'Brien's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Darby O'Brien?
American baseball player
When was Darby O'Brien born?
Darby O'Brien was born on 1 September 1863 in Peoria.
When did Darby O'Brien die?
Darby O'Brien died on 15 June 1893 in Peoria.
What was Darby O'Brien's occupation?
Darby O'Brien was a baseball player.
What nationality was Darby O'Brien?
Darby O'Brien was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Darby O'Brien. https://biography.guide/darby-o-brien/
MLA: "Darby O'Brien." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/darby-o-brien/.
Chicago: "Darby O'Brien." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/darby-o-brien/.
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