Andy Oyler

Andy Oyler (born January 29, 1869, died December 2, 1960) was a Major League Baseball infielder who played from 1902 to 1905. He played for the Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds.

Oyler is primarily remembered for a bizarre and widely recounted baseball anecdote that occurred during a game in 1902. While playing shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles (then a team in the American League, not the modern Orioles franchise), Oyler reportedly hid in the outfield grass, hoping to surprise an opposing batter with an unexpected fielding attempt. The batter, however, saw him, and upon hitting the ball, deliberately hit it at Oyler, striking him. This incident solidified Oyler's place in baseball lore, often cited as an example of unusual and perhaps unsportsmanlike tactics in the early days of the sport. While the veracity of the tale has been debated over time, it continues to be retold in various baseball history compilations.

Beyond this singular incident, Oyler had a relatively unremarkable baseball career. He played 218 games, had a career batting average of .219, and accumulated 140 hits.