Backstop
Subtitle: a history of the catcher and a sabermetric ranking of 50 all-time greats
By: William F. McNeil ; foreword by Pete Palmer.
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Jefferson, N.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 257
Subjects: Catchers (Baseball) -- United States.; Catching (Baseball) -- Statistics.; Catchers (Baseball) -- United States -- Biography.
Genres: Statistics.; Biography.
Description: "In Part I the history of catching and catchers is discussed. Part II, the author employs sabermetric formulas to rank the 50 greatest catchers since 1920. Also included is a chapter on catchers of the 19th century, deadball era, and Negro Leagues, whose career statistics are either incomplete, inaccurate, or produced under different playing conditions and rules"--Provided by publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Meet the candidates; title: The catcher-baseball's quarterback; title: Great catchers who are out of the loop; title: From Hartnett to Lombardi-1920 to 1940; title: Baseball's golden age-1940 to 1960; title: Johnny Bench and the modern catcher-1960 to 1980; title: Piazza and the big sluggers-1980 to 2000; title: A statistical analysis of baseball's greatest catchers; title: Sabermetrics-devising a statistical system for comparing catchers; title: The game's best-hitting catcher; title: The number one defensive catcher of all time; title: Baseball's greatest all-around catcher.