Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Stovey played for fourteen seasons in the majors and was appointed player-manager on two separate occasions during his career.

He stole 509 bases in his career, which is tied for 35th all-time; among players who played in fifteen seasons or less, he ranks sixth.

[6] He made an immediate impact that first season, leading the league with 14 triples and six home runs, while also finishing in the top ten in many other offensive categories.

[4] On July 17, he hit his first major league home run off Jim McCormick of the Cleveland Blues.

[7] In 1882, his last season for the Worcesters, his batting average saw an increase, up to .289 from .270 the year before, but his numbers in relation to the rest of the league took a slight dip.

[1] He had a good season, batting .299, hit eleven triples, and twelve home runs while totaling 97 stolen bases.

[4] On September 3, 1890, Stovey became the first player to hit 100 homers for a career, off Jersey Bakley in a game against Cleveland, a significant milestone in a day when home runs were relatively rare.

Stovey‚ who played with the Athletics in 1889, was not claimed by that club through a clerical error, so on February 5, 1891, he signed with the Boston Beaneaters of the National League.

[7] In 134 games, he led the league that season with sixteen home runs and twenty triples, while also hitting .279 with 31 doubles as well.

He finished the season with a .272 batting average with the Orioles and hit eleven triples,[4] including three in one game on July 21 in a 10–3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.