Roger Bresnahan
Encyclopedia
Roger Philip Bresnahan nicknamed "The Duke of Tralee" for his Irish roots
, was an American
player in Major League Baseball
who starred primarily as a catcher
and a player-manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945
.
Bresnahan introduced the use of the catcher's shin guard
in 1907.
, he began his major league career as a pitcher
, throwing a six-hit shutout
on August 27, 1897. However, he eventually moved to catcher
(although he could play all nine positions), and was labeled one of the best at that position by managers John McGraw
and Branch Rickey
. Despite taunts by other players, he experimented with head and thigh protection gear which had been introduced by some college teams, which included the first MLB batting helmet
, and this led to the widespread use of more protection for catchers in the early 20th century.
Bresnahan played for the Washington Senators
(1897), Chicago Orphans/Cubs
(1900, 1913–15), Baltimore Orioles
(1901–02), New York Giants
(1902–08), St. Louis Cardinals
(1909–12), and the Cubs again (1913–1915). In 1446 games, he had a batting average
of .279 in 4480 at-bats.
Bresnahan had managed the Cardinals while playing for them, and the Cubs in 1915. His overall record was 328-432.
Bresnahan died of a heart attack at his home in Toledo at age 65, and was elected to the Hall of Fame the following year.
Bresnahan was buried in Calvary (Roman Catholic) Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio.
from Philadelphia to Boston. Fourteen passengers were killed after the train derailed and plunged down an 18 feet (5.5 m) embankment outside Bridgeport, Connecticut
. None of the Cardinals were seriously injured, due to a fortuitous pre-trip change in the location of their Pullman car that Bresnahan had requested. The Cardinals helped remove bodies and rescue the injured.
Despite posting their first winning season since 1901, the Cardinals never recovered from the incident, finishing a distant fifth.
by Ogden Nash
:
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
player in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who starred primarily as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and a player-manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1945
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1945 included the first regular election conducted in three years and a strong response to criticism of the slow pace of honors....
.
Bresnahan introduced the use of the catcher's shin guard
Shin guard
A shin guard or shin pad is a piece of equipment worn on the front of a player’s shin to protect them from injury. These are commonly used in sports including association football, baseball, ice hockey, field hockey, lacrosse, rugby, cricket, and other sports...
in 1907.
Biography
Born in Toledo, OhioToledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, he began his major league career as a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, throwing a six-hit shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
on August 27, 1897. However, he eventually moved to catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
(although he could play all nine positions), and was labeled one of the best at that position by managers John McGraw
John McGraw
John McGraw may refer to:* John McGraw , , New York lumber tycoon, and one of the founding trustees of Cornell University* John McGraw , , Governor of Washington state from 1893–1897...
and Branch Rickey
Branch Rickey
Wesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967...
. Despite taunts by other players, he experimented with head and thigh protection gear which had been introduced by some college teams, which included the first MLB batting helmet
Batting helmet
A batting helmet is the protective headgear worn by batters in the game of baseball or softball. It is meant to protect the batter's head from errant pitches thrown by the pitcher...
, and this led to the widespread use of more protection for catchers in the early 20th century.
19th century National League teams
The following is a list of United States Major League Baseball teams that played in the National League during the 19th century.-Major league:*Boston Red Stockings 1876–1900 – now Atlanta Braves...
(1897), Chicago Orphans/Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1900, 1913–15), Baltimore Orioles
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1901–02), New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1902–08), St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1909–12), and the Cubs again (1913–1915). In 1446 games, he had a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .279 in 4480 at-bats.
Bresnahan had managed the Cardinals while playing for them, and the Cubs in 1915. His overall record was 328-432.
Bresnahan died of a heart attack at his home in Toledo at age 65, and was elected to the Hall of Fame the following year.
Bresnahan was buried in Calvary (Roman Catholic) Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio.
1911 train wreck
On July 11, 1911, with the Cards only three games out of first place, the team was involved in a train wreck while riding the Federal ExpressFederal Express (passenger train)
The Federal Express was an overnight named passenger train run by the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad between Washington, DC's Union Station and Boston, Massachusetts's South Station from 1912 to 1971. Train numbers on both railroads were 172 northbound and...
from Philadelphia to Boston. Fourteen passengers were killed after the train derailed and plunged down an 18 feet (5.5 m) embankment outside Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
. None of the Cardinals were seriously injured, due to a fortuitous pre-trip change in the location of their Pullman car that Bresnahan had requested. The Cardinals helped remove bodies and rescue the injured.
Despite posting their first winning season since 1901, the Cardinals never recovered from the incident, finishing a distant fifth.
Commemorations
Bresnahan was mentioned in the poem Line-Up for YesterdayLine-Up for Yesterday
Line-Up for Yesterday: An ABC of Baseball Immortals is a poem written by Ogden Nash for the January 1949 issue of SPORT Magazine. In the poem, Nash dedicates each letter of the alphabet to an iconic Major League Baseball player...
by Ogden Nash
Ogden Nash
Frederic Ogden Nash was an American poet well known for his light verse. At the time of his death in 1971, the New York Times said his "droll verse with its unconventional rhymes made him the country's best-known producer of humorous poetry".-Early life:Nash was born in Rye, New York...
: