Harry Lochhead

Robert Henry "Harry" Lochhead (March 29, 1876 – August 22, 1909), sometimes spelled "Lockhead", was an American baseball shortstop. A native of Stockton, California, he played professional baseball from 1896 to 1903, including two years in Major League Baseball with the Cleveland Spiders in 1899 and the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Athletics in 1901. He compiled a .231 batting average in 158 major league games. He ranked second in the National League with 81 errors in 146 games at shortstop during the 1899 season.

Early years Lochhead was born in 1876 in Stockton, California. His father died in 1878, leaving Lochhead's mother to raise him and his three siblings. He grew up in Stockton and attended Stockton High School.

Professional baseball Stockton and Sacramento (1896-1900) Lochhead began playing professional baseball in 1896 as a pitcher and shortstop for the Stockton team in the California League.

Cleveland Spiders (1899) Lochhead made his major league debut as the starting shortstop for the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, widely regarded as the worst baseball team in history. The 1899 Spiders had a 20–134 record (.130 winning percentage), scoring 529 runs and allowing 1,252. Lochhead has the dubious distinction of sometimes being referred to as the worst regular player on the worst team in history. His .238 batting average was 43 points lower than the league average (.281) and among the lowest among all starters in the National League in 1899. His 81 errors was by far the highest on the Spiders, though his .909 fielding percentage was on par with other National League shortstops that year. He led the team in appearances, playing in 148 of the Spiders' 154 games. However, Lochhead did not join the Tigers in 1900, opting instead to return to California where he played for the Stockton Wasps in the California League. He sustained an ankle injury during the 1900 season that slowed him for the remainder of his career.