The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-26
CATCHER'S PART In BASEBALL
FIRST CLASS BACKSTOPS NEEDED
TO WIN REMNANTS.

Headwerk Behind the n.t IN Esseat!sl
Bennett, Ewing, Kelly, Flint, Robin,
son. Farrell, BushOng. Bergen, Bresna.
han. Sullivan and Other Star Receivers
Crack pitchers are all right-a base
ball team has to have them to win q pennant.
So also are strong batters handy TO have
eround-a pennant winner needs them
in Its business as well as players who think
speedy base runners, clever team play
and skilful felders. All Of these things
60 to make championship combinations
on the diamond. Nevertheless teams that
have won pennants and have not had
capable. brainy oatohers are as scarce
as hens teeth. OF the long list Of pennant
winning teams dating back into the '7os,
hardly one has not had a first class catcher,
a catcher who backs up mechanical skill
with an alert mind that takes in all that
Is going oil and In a measure oversees
and the plan OF battle.
The catcher stands there behind the bRt
inning after mining and game after game
taking a pounding and filling o less spectacu-
lar role than any other member OF the
nine. His work Is not snowy. Specifically
viewed, he is more Of a dray horse than any
Of his fellows. but in reality he ia q great
power in a teams success. though often
he doeaat come in for as much credit as
the players who work more in the open,
so to speak.
CatcherS Of the strictly first class are
scarcer than the occupants OF any other
position, and the records show that the
teams. that have had heady catohers TO
coach and steady pitchers. to study the
weakness Of batters. to stop plays on the
bases and to keep a supervising eye on the
adjustment of the infietd and outfieid as
the batting pecullarities Of the different
opponents require are the teams that have
won championships.
In the old National League days OF 20
the Chicagos won the pennant. and they
had for chief catcher Jim White, a backstop
who used his head. Lew Brown. who
caught for the champion Bostons of 1877,
was another thinking catcher, as was
Charley Snyder. who caught for the Bostons
when they won the pennant in 1878. Here
is a list Of the pennant winners from that
day down TO the present. together with the
principal catoheTs, and there isn't a back
stop in the list who did not Use his head as
we'll as his hands:
1870, Pro violence. Lew Brown: so and 81,
tnlCuKO, SILVER ElluI. NJ, bOftOn, MNTtlt
Hackett and Mike Hines: 80, Providence,
Gilligsn and Nava; 81 and SO. Chica go,
Flint; SO. Chicago. Mike Kelly; 81. Detroit.
Bennett and Camel; 'Ss and 80. New York,
Buck Ewing; 90, Brooklyn. Doc Bushong
and Tom DAILY; al. 81 and 'eS. Boston, Ben
nett. CAMEL and Kelly; %. '95 and 90. Balti-
more, Robinson: 80 and 'as. Boston. Martin
Bergen; 30 and 1900. Brooklyn. Charlie
Farrell and Jim Mcclure: '01. 'G2 and 's. Pitts
lns, i'm m 4. tnI aud tng NAU NnrI nHauna
han: '06. Chicago. King.
Thus il will be seen that each pennant
winner was equipped with at least one back
stop OF the first c~lass-irst class particu-
larly in gray matter; good generals as we'll
as good receivers. The records show
that in one year Flint had 81 passed balls.
and fewer games we're played then. Now
adays catcher haven't nearly as many
passed balls. but the increased size Of the
glove has had a great deal to do with the i'm
proved fielding records Of the catcher.
Flint had one fielding average Of $40,
Ewing one Of SOL, with 65 passed balls;
Bushoug one Of .s?e. with only IL passed
balls; whereas among more recent averages
rell. and Kings exceptional average Of
.9s2, made last ear.
Great catohers we're Bennett. Ewing,
Bushong, Kelly. Gilligan, Hackett. Martin
Bergen, Robinson and Farrell; and great
huy CUtSiAClb Wv tNOkCt |
and Johnny King. both identified strongly
with pennaut winners and pronounced
factors in the success OF the New York
and Chicago teams.
Mike Kelly caught for the Boston Brother
hood team, which team won the pennaut
OF that organization In 1890, the only year
of its existence. Apropos OF Flint, there X
in one Of the Did guides the interesting
statement that in a period OF thirteen years
he caught SIS games OF the SIS that his
team played. Jim MCGUIRE must ave a
still more extended record Of service.
Doc Bushong was with the 81. Louis Amer
lean Association team when IL won the pen
under Comiskey In 1886, and Charley
Snyder with the Cincinnatis when they
won the American Association flag In 1887.
Not all the great catchers have been CON-
fined 10 championship teams, but a material
share OF the success Of the various pennant
was due 10 the presence behind
the bat Of experts with whom the mere phys
duties Of their position was a matter
Of secondary import. They were generals,
planners, o~riginators. |
American League sucoesses. too. have
been made by teams that possessed this
shrewd, capable type % backstop.
A star 10 every department 10 Billy Sullivan