Quote:
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Originally Posted by KronoRed
Who did he have pictures of?
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Bergen has always interested me, he couldn't hit but I don't thing anyone really cared. Bergen was a fine fielding catcher in an era that demanded fine fielders.
The game loses fielding luster when hitting is at the apex, it becomes less important and less of a need when the conditions to create runs are more than convenient. Teams in the struggle to keep up with jones will sacrifice a little fielding in todays game for any increased offense. the payoff is larger due to the current conditions.
When the parks where huge and the ball a wad of paper in a cowskin the game called for different skillsets, often making defense at a position extra important, especially when looking at the game 100 years later.
In the deadball era a catcher made more assists on average, they had a waffle iron for a glove and the pitchers were doing everything to the ball before they threw it. IMO at no time was offense less important to a catcher as it was during the deadball era, with the 60's not far behind.
Code:
CAREER
1900-1912
C
GAMES displayed only--not a sorting criteria
FIELDING PERCENTAGE displayed only--not a sorting criteria
ASSISTS A G PCT
1 Johnny Kling 1458 1105 .971
2 Bill Bergen 1444 941 .972
3 Red Dooin 1421 1034 .956
4 Billy Sullivan 1288 1096 .977
5 Lou Criger 1109 789 .975
6 George Gibson 1001 859 .978
7 Pat Moran 990 696 .976
8 Roger Bresnahan 920 763 .969
9 Ossee Schreckengost 857 677 .973
10 John Warner 816 613 .975
ERRORS E G PCT
1 Red Dooin 289 1034 .956
2 Johnny Kling 201 1105 .971
3 Bill Bergen 161 941 .972
4 Billy Sullivan 142 1096 .977
5 Roger Bresnahan 138 763 .969
6 Ossee Schreckengost 137 677 .973
7 Frank Bowerman 131 644 .967
8 Lou Criger 123 789 .975
9 Admiral Schlei 111 561 .968
10 Deacon McGuire 110 509 .963
PASSED BALLS PB G PCT
1 Billy Sullivan 134 1096 .977
2 Red Dooin 123 1034 .956
3 Johnny Kling 120 1105 .971
4 Roger Bresnahan 109 763 .969
5 Frank Bowerman 107 644 .967
T6 Pat Moran 97 696 .976
T6 Lou Criger 97 789 .975
8 Bill Bergen 84 941 .972
9 George Gibson 79 859 .978
10 Ed Phelps 72 528 .969