The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20
CATCHERS OF
OLD AND MODERN SCHOOL
Ewing Is Still Regarded as Without Peer
Bennett Not Forgotten-Dooin Ranks
with the Best of BackStopS.

New York March 19.-When Gibson, oi
the Pittsburg worlds champions. caught
80 games last year. he hung up 8
Irecord that may not be surpassed for
many years TO come and also created q
general belief that he possessed more
skill than many great backstops In days
gone by.
Still, the studiors critics OF the game
were not ready to admit that Gibson was
the equal of the famous John King. Of
the victorious Cubs, who in spite OF a
year OF idieness is even now considered
the star catcher Of modern times.
It Is only natural for the new crop Of
baseball fans to regard such backstops
as King, Gibson, Doom, Carrigan. OF the
Boston Red sox. Roger Bresnahan. once
OF the Giants. and now OF the St Louis
Cardinals; Sullivan of the White sox, and
others unequaled in point of playing
skill. but old timers are always ready TO
disagree with them when looking back
over the pages Of diamond history.
You can find many veteran baseball
enthusiasts who will tell you that
greater catcher than Buck Ewing never
/ lived; that Charley Bennett. Jim Mcclure,
Duke Farrell, Jack Boyle Charley Camel.
Lou Criger. Charley thinner, Jack o'Con-
ner, Tom Daily, Doc Bushong, Wilbert
Robinson, Dick Buckley, Charley Snyder,
Calliope Miller. John Clement. Emil
Gross. Mike Kelly, Silver Flint. Vincent
Nava, Jim White. and Cal MeVey were
among the most famous backstops that
ever stood behind the plate.
All these stars did phenomenal work,
as the records viii show. and those
who saw them in action VIII stick to
the belief that no better catchers are
wearing the mask and chest protector
az the present time.
Some Old Stars.
Going back more than thirty years
ago. the records show that Jim White,
Familiarity called Deacon. was a crack
receiver; also Cal McVey. They handled
the delivery Of A. G. Spaiding at differ
ent times and displayed rare skill Nc
Ney caught for Boston in 1872. and was
succeeded by White, who in 1870 took
part in seventy-nine games and in 1876
played in sixty-four games. leading the
National League catchers IN the latter
year with a fielding average OF .7s1.
II must be remembered that McVey
and White did not wear big mits or
chest protectors in those days. and there
were many occasions when they went be-
hind the bat without masks, so that
their work was all the more remarkable,
as they caught game after game suffer-
ing from bone sores in their hands and
other bruises. White later gave up catch |
ing and became a star third baseman, |
playing that corner OF the diamond for |
Buffalo. Detroit. and Pittsburg.
The Deacon was always a heavy hitter |
leading the league in 1871. with an aver
age Of $50. MeVey. too. was big sticker, /
and ranked third in the averages of 1876 !
with .345. when he played first base for |
the Chicago team.
Charley Snyder became famous as a |
catcher in Louisville in 1877. and the next !
year he set the baseball world on FIRE |
with his splendid work in Boston. when /
he led the league catchers with an aver I
age Of .s41 for ffty-four games. and 1
handled the curves of the renowned /
Thomas Bond with great skill.
Emil Gross. a big man physically, made
an excellent record with the Providence
ciub as John NJ Wards receiver in 1879,
bat he was excelled In the aveTs ges by
Silver Flint. OF Chicago. who led the
eague backstops with an average Of $50
FOR seventy-four games. Flint was a /
horse for work. His stamina caused a
feeling OF awe among players and fans,
ha
many broken fingers and a smashed nose.
He was the mainstay of the Chicagos
when they won the pennant in 1850, ISL.
$50, 1855. and 1856, though in the last two
seasons he was helped out to 8 great ex-
ent by Nike Kelly. Flint handled some
celebrated pitchers with the Chicagos, in
luding Larry Corcoran. Fred Goldsmith.
i'm Mccormick, and John Clarkson. He
aught sixty-two games in 1850 seventy
even in 1881. and seventy-nine in ISs2. and I
vas continually on the job In the remain !
ng years of his engagement. u
When Providence won the pennant in {
$50 with Radbourne and Sweeney as I
itchers. Barney Gilligan and Vincent !
Java were the catchers. They were little $
acn physically, but they did not fear
FORK. Gilligan caught seventy-nine games
hat year, handling Radbourne's curves c
D a majority Of the games, and making I
sterling record.
But Charley Bennett. Of the Detroits, c
-as the champion receiver in those days, v
Or he led the league not only in 1881, 1SS2. :
nd 1885, but kept up his good work by
arriving of first hOnors in the fielding [
verages of 1855. 1856. 1857. 1883, 1882 1890, Il
nd 1898. Bennett caught never less than Il
fly games in any of those years, and in S
80 he played in eighty-five, for an aver a
&c OF 9A y
He worked like machine having very 81
W passed balls. and throwing TO bases b
18th the aim OF a sharpshooter. Further e.
ore, Bennett never fused with the UNI b
re. He held his tongue. even when
scisions were rendered against him. and Y
as one Of the model players of his time. el
His career was cut short when he was n,
member OF the Bostons He was run c
Ter by locomotive and lost both lego P
mong the well-known pitchers handled ia