#1 All-Time Worst Hitter

[Cyclone792]

Bill Bergen (catcher), 1901-1911

That dude had over 3,000 PA and put up a whopping career line of .170/.194/.201, good for a career OPS+ of 20. And yes, he did play for the Reds for three seasons from 1901-1903. Apparently Brooklyn found Bergen to be productive enough to purchase him from the Reds, and they held onto to him for eight seasons.

[KronoRed]

Who did he have pictures of?

[savafan]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/clinety01.shtml

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by KronoRed

Who did he have pictures of?

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.

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

[IslandRed]

I can understand why there are players like Perez and Castro in the majors; there's still a place for the slick-fielding backup middle infielder. Even in the current offensive era, there aren't enough good-hitting shortstops to go around. But unless their defense is Ozzie-like off-the-charts good, that doesn't mean you should give them a starting job or pay them like anything but the easily replaced part they are.

Guys like Neifi Perez stay in the big leagues and get paid more money because guys like Dusty Baker would rather have him than a kid who can do the same things for the league minimum but doesn't yet have the Proven Veteran Seal of Approval.

[remdog]

Originally Posted by Spitball

Back in the 1960's, pitcher Hank Aguirre (pronounce: ah-gary) was reputed to be the worst hitter ever. He really had a feeble swing, but I do believe he had a hit or two in his career. Dean Chance and Gaylord Perry had pretty pathetic swings, also.

I saw Aguirre pitch (and, therefore, hit) a couple of times when he was with the Indians. His swing was so bad that a foul ball was known to draw a standing ovation.

Rem

[camisadelgolf]

Necro-bump alert. This thread's from 2006. At what point do we start to talk about Wilson Valdez? He has to be a worse hitter than many pitchers in the league. And in retrospect, it's funny to see Neifi Perez brought up seeing as how Dusty's the manager now.