Roger Bresnahan was born on Wednesday, June 11, 1879, in Toledo, Ohio. Bresnahan was 18 years old when he broke into the big leagues on August 27, 1897, with the Washington Senators. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Roger Bresnahan baseball stats page.
"Roger (Bresnahan) is a fighter; he was a fighter when a pupil of (John) McGraw's and he has instilled this fighting spirit into his team." - Lieb, Fred. Sportswriter. Baseball Magazine. 1911. Page 16.
Roger Bresnahan |
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Roger BresnahanRoger Bresnahan Pitching Stats |
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Year | Age | Team | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD |
1897 | 18 | Senators | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | 3.95 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 41.0 | 0 | 52 | 18 | 21 | 1 | 10 | - | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - |
1901 | 22 | Orioles | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 6.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 4 | - | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
1910 | 31 | Cardinals | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.1 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
Career | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD | ||
3 Years | 9 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 | .800 | 3.93 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 50.1 | 16 | 68 | 22 | 30 | 1 | 15 | - | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - |
Roger BresnahanRoger Bresnahan Hitting Stats |
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Year | Age | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG |
1897 | 18 | Senators | 6 | 16 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | - | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | .375 | .412 | .375 |
1900 | 21 | Orphans | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | .000 | .000 | .000 |
1901 | 22 | Orioles | 86 | 295 | 40 | 79 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 23 | - | 33 | 4 | 0 | 1 | - | .268 | .323 | .369 |
1902 | 23 | Orioles | 65 | 235 | 30 | 64 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 34 | 21 | - | 26 | 4 | 0 | 2 | - | .272 | .337 | .409 |
1902 | 23 | Giants | 51 | 178 | 16 | 51 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 16 | - | 26 | 6 | 0 | 2 | - | .287 | .352 | .388 |
1903 | 24 | Giants | 113 | 406 | 87 | 142 | 30 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 55 | 61 | - | 45 | 12 | 0 | 7 | - | .350 | .443 | .493 |
1904 | 25 | Giants | 109 | 402 | 81 | 114 | 22 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 33 | 58 | - | 40 | 3 | 0 | 5 | - | .284 | .381 | .410 |
1905 | 26 | Giants | 104 | 331 | 58 | 100 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 50 | - | 21 | 7 | 0 | 11 | - | .302 | .411 | .375 |
1906 | 27 | Giants | 124 | 405 | 69 | 114 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 81 | - | 43 | 5 | 0 | 15 | - | .281 | .419 | .356 |
1907 | 28 | Giants | 110 | 328 | 57 | 83 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 38 | 61 | - | 26 | 6 | 0 | 6 | - | .253 | .380 | .360 |
1908 | 29 | Giants | 140 | 449 | 70 | 127 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 83 | - | 33 | 24 | 0 | 6 | - | .283 | .401 | .359 |
1909 | 30 | Cardinals | 72 | 234 | 27 | 57 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 46 | - | 19 | 7 | 0 | 1 | - | .244 | .370 | .269 |
1910 | 31 | Cardinals | 88 | 234 | 35 | 65 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 55 | - | 17 | 8 | 0 | 2 | - | .278 | .419 | .368 |
1911 | 32 | Cardinals | 81 | 227 | 22 | 63 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 45 | - | 19 | 6 | 0 | 3 | - | .278 | .404 | .463 |
1912 | 33 | Cardinals | 48 | 108 | 8 | 36 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 14 | - | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | .333 | .419 | .463 |
1913 | 34 | Cubs | 69 | 162 | 20 | 37 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 21 | - | 11 | 4 | 0 | 2 | - | .228 | .324 | .302 |
1914 | 35 | Cubs | 101 | 248 | 42 | 69 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 49 | - | 20 | 12 | 0 | 2 | - | .278 | .401 | .351 |
1915 | 36 | Cubs | 77 | 221 | 19 | 45 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 29 | - | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | - | .204 | .296 | .262 |
Career | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ||
17 Years | 1,446 | 4,481 | 682 | 1,252 | 218 | 71 | 26 | 1 | 530 | 714 | 0 | 413 | 112 | 0 | 67 | - | .279 | .386 | .377 |
Roger BresnahanRoger Bresnahan Fielding Stats |
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Team | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
1897 Senators | CF | 1 | - | - | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .000 | 0.00 |
1897 Senators | P | 6 | 5 | 123 | 9 | 1.5 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.98 |
1900 Orphans | C | 1 | - | - | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | - | .000 | 0.00 |
1901 Orioles | 2B | 2 | - | 3 | 12 | 6.0 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .917 | 99.00 |
1901 Orioles | 3B | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1.3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 0.00 |
1901 Orioles | C | 69 | - | - | 285 | 4.1 | 262 | 199 | 63 | 23 | 3 | 14 | - | - | .919 | 0.00 |
1901 Orioles | OF | 8 | - | - | 12 | 1.5 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .833 | 0.00 |
1901 Orioles | P | 2 | 1 | 18 | 3 | 1.5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .667 | 3.00 |
1902 Orioles | 3B | 30 | - | 36 | 100 | 3.3 | 88 | 33 | 55 | 12 | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .880 | 66.00 |
1902 Orioles | C | 22 | - | - | 94 | 4.3 | 89 | 67 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 2 | - | - | .947 | 0.00 |
1902 Orioles | CF | 15 | - | - | 34 | 2.3 | 29 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .853 | 0.00 |
1902 Giants | 1B | 4 | - | 6 | 46 | 11.5 | 44 | 41 | 3 | 2 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .957 | 198.00 |
1902 Giants | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .000 | 0.00 |
1902 Giants | C | 16 | - | - | 112 | 7.0 | 107 | 85 | 22 | 5 | 4 | 2 | - | - | .955 | 0.00 |
1902 Giants | RF | 27 | - | - | 37 | 1.4 | 35 | 29 | 6 | 2 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .946 | 0.00 |
1902 Giants | SS | 4 | - | 12 | 22 | 5.5 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .818 | 40.50 |
1903 Giants | 1B | 13 | - | 21 | 117 | 9.0 | 110 | 101 | 9 | 7 | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .940 | 141.43 |
1903 Giants | 3B | 4 | 3 | 9 | 18 | 4.5 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .833 | 45.00 |
1903 Giants | C | 11 | - | - | 62 | 5.6 | 57 | 46 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 | - | - | .919 | 0.00 |
1903 Giants | OF | 84 | - | - | 170 | 2.0 | 164 | 150 | 14 | 6 | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .965 | 0.00 |
1904 Giants | 1B | 10 | - | 15 | 96 | 9.6 | 91 | 83 | 8 | 5 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .948 | 163.80 |
1904 Giants | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 0.00 |
1904 Giants | 3B | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .000 | 0.00 |
1904 Giants | OF | 93 | - | - | 173 | 1.9 | 165 | 151 | 14 | 8 | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .954 | 0.00 |
1904 Giants | SS | 4 | - | 0 | 14 | 3.5 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 0.00 |
1905 Giants | C | 87 | - | - | 625 | 7.2 | 606 | 492 | 114 | 19 | 15 | 18 | - | - | .970 | 0.00 |
1905 Giants | OF | 8 | - | - | 12 | 1.5 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 0.00 |
1906 Giants | C | 82 | - | - | 546 | 6.7 | 532 | 407 | 125 | 14 | 6 | 16 | - | - | .974 | 0.00 |
1906 Giants | OF | 40 | - | - | 80 | 2.0 | 77 | 71 | 6 | 3 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .963 | 0.00 |
1907 Giants | 1B | 6 | 6 | 135 | 63 | 10.5 | 60 | 58 | 2 | 3 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .952 | 12.00 |
1907 Giants | 3B | 1 | 1 | 27 | 6 | 6.0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .667 | 4.00 |
1907 Giants | C | 95 | 93 | 2,174 | 585 | 6.2 | 577 | 483 | 94 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 58 | 0 | .986 | 7.17 |
1907 Giants | CF | 2 | 2 | 54 | 7 | 3.5 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 3.50 |
1908 Giants | C | 139 | 139 | 3,019 | 809 | 5.8 | 797 | 657 | 140 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 75 | - | .985 | 7.13 |
1909 Cardinals | 2B | 9 | 9 | 204 | 38 | 4.2 | 36 | 11 | 25 | 2 | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .947 | 4.76 |
1909 Cardinals | 3B | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 3.0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .667 | 18.00 |
1909 Cardinals | C | 54 | 53 | 1,198 | 301 | 5.6 | 289 | 211 | 78 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 46 | 0 | .960 | 6.51 |
1909 Cardinals | CF | 5 | 5 | 108 | 9 | 1.8 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 2.25 |
1910 Cardinals | C | 77 | 75 | 1,682 | 411 | 5.3 | 395 | 295 | 100 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 76 | 0 | .961 | 6.34 |
1910 Cardinals | CF | 1 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.13 |
1910 Cardinals | LF | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .000 | 0.00 |
1910 Cardinals | P | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 8.10 |
1911 Cardinals | 2B | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 3.0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .833 | 22.50 |
1911 Cardinals | C | 77 | 76 | 1,656 | 441 | 5.7 | 427 | 325 | 102 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 83 | 24 | .968 | 6.96 |
1912 Cardinals | C | 29 | 28 | 678 | 192 | 6.6 | 187 | 138 | 49 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 41 | 0 | .974 | 7.45 |
1913 Cubs | C | 58 | 42 | 1,102 | 271 | 4.7 | 261 | 194 | 67 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 58 | 0 | .963 | 6.39 |
1914 Cubs | 2B | 7 | 6 | 168 | 30 | 4.3 | 29 | 11 | 18 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .967 | 4.66 |
1914 Cubs | C | 85 | 80 | 650 | 489 | 5.8 | 478 | 365 | 113 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 86 | 64 | .978 | 19.86 |
1914 Cubs | CF | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 3.00 |
1915 Cubs | C | 68 | 66 | 1,703 | 448 | 6.6 | 440 | 345 | 95 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 61 | 46 | .982 | 6.98 |
Career | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
C Totals | 970 | 652 | 13,862 | 5,671 | 5.8 | 5,504 | 4,309 | 1,195 | 167 | 96 | 129 | 584 | 134 | .971 | 10.72 | |
OF Totals | 233 | 0 | 0 | 447 | 1.9 | 428 | 392 | 36 | 19 | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .957 | 0.00 | |
3B Totals | 43 | 7 | 84 | 137 | 3.2 | 116 | 41 | 75 | 21 | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .847 | 37.29 | |
1B Totals | 33 | 6 | 177 | 322 | 9.8 | 305 | 283 | 22 | 17 | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .947 | 46.53 | |
RF Totals | 27 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 1.4 | 35 | 29 | 6 | 2 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .946 | 0.00 | |
CF Totals | 25 | 8 | 195 | 52 | 2.1 | 47 | 42 | 5 | 5 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .904 | 6.51 | |
2B Totals | 21 | 15 | 381 | 87 | 4.1 | 82 | 33 | 49 | 5 | 7 | 0 | n/a | n/a | .943 | 5.81 | |
P Totals | 9 | 6 | 151 | 15 | 1.7 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .933 | 2.50 | |
SS Totals | 8 | 0 | 12 | 36 | 4.5 | 32 | 16 | 16 | 4 | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .889 | 72.00 | |
LF Totals | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .000 | 0.00 | |
17 Years | 1,370 | 694 | 14,865 | 6,804 | 5.0 | 6,563 | 5,147 | 1,416 | 241 | 138 | 129 | 584 | 134 | .965 | 11.92 |
Roger BresnahanRoger Bresnahan Miscellaneous Stats |
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Baserunning Statistics | Other Positions | Common Hitting Ratios | Common Pitching Ratios | |||||||||
Team | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
1897 Senators | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 8.0 | 5.3 | 1.20 | 2.63 | 2.20 |
1900 Orphans | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | - | - | - |
1901 Orioles | 10 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 295.0 | 8.9 | 9.2 | 0.75 | 4.50 | 6.00 |
1902 Orioles | 12 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 58.8 | 9.0 | 6.9 | - | - | - |
1902 Giants | 6 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 178.0 | 6.8 | 8.1 | - | - | - |
1903 Giants | 34 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 101.5 | 9.0 | 7.4 | - | - | - |
1904 Giants | 13 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 80.4 | 10.1 | 12.2 | - | - | - |
1905 Giants | 11 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 15.8 | 7.2 | - | - | - |
1906 Giants | 25 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 9.4 | 9.4 | - | - | - |
1907 Giants | 15 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 82.0 | 12.6 | 8.6 | - | - | - |
1908 Giants | 14 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 449.0 | 13.6 | 8.3 | - | - | - |
1909 Cardinals | 11 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 12.3 | 10.2 | - | - | - |
1910 Cardinals | 13 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 13.8 | 8.7 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.70 |
1911 Cardinals | 4 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 75.7 | 11.9 | 5.5 | - | - | - |
1912 Cardinals | 4 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 108.0 | 12.0 | 7.2 | - | - | - |
1913 Cubs | 7 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 162.0 | 14.7 | 7.7 | - | - | - |
1914 Cubs | 14 | - | - | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 12.4 | 10.3 | - | - | - |
1915 Cubs | 19 | 3 | .864 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 221.0 | 9.6 | 11.6 | - | - | - |
Career | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
17 Years | 212 | 3 | .986 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 172.3 | 10.8 | 8.5 | 1.00 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
Roger BresnahanRoger Bresnahan Miscellaneous Items of Interest |
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Team | Roster | Uniform Numbers | Salary | All-Star | World Series |
1897 Washington Senators | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | n/a |
1900 Chicago Orphans | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | n/a |
1901 Baltimore Orioles | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | n/a |
1902 Baltimore Orioles | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | n/a |
1902 New York Giants | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | n/a |
1903 New York Giants | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | - |
1904 New York Giants | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | n/a |
1905 New York Giants | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | Stats |
1906 New York Giants | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | - |
1907 New York Giants | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | - |
1908 New York Giants | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | - |
1909 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | - |
1910 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $3,000.00 | n/a | - |
1911 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $6,500.00 | n/a | - |
1912 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $10,000.00 | n/a | - |
1913 Chicago Cubs | n/a | $10,000.00 | n/a | - |
1914 Chicago Cubs | n/a | $10,000.00 | n/a | - |
1915 Chicago Cubs | n/a | Undetermined | n/a | - |
Roger Bresnahan Stats by Baseball Almanac |
Roger Philip Bresnahan was a Major League Baseball player with the Washington Senators (1897), Chicago Orphans (1900), Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902), New York Giants (1902-1908), St. Louis Cardinals (1909-1912), and Chicago Cubs (1913-1915). While The Duke of Tralee (his nickname) was playing with the Cardinals and Cubs, he also served as manager for St. Louis (1909-1912) and Chicago (1915).
Roger Bresnahan Rookie Card | 1908 American Caramel E91 Set A Baseball Card (#NNO | Checklist)
Baseball Almanac Research Library
Did you know that Roger Bresnahan was such a versatile player that he took the field defensively in all nine possible positions at the Major League level? Join Baseball Almanac as we take a look beyond the stats:
ROGER BRESNAHAN BIOGRAPHY
Many times a manager tends to field a team with players that possess many of the qualities and abilities that made the skipper himself successful. There is no better example of a manager and one of his players being cut from the same mold then John McGraw and Roger Bresnahan. The fiery, burly, explosive McGraw knew baseball inside and out and upon his first encounter with the tough, no-nonsense Bresnahan knew the "The Duke of Tralee" had what it took to play the game his way and provide leadership as well. "He is one of the best players I’ve managed and one of the smartest as well," said McGraw.
Bresnahan began his career as a pitcher first for Washington then the Cubs before finally hooking up with McGraw in Baltimore in 1901. He impressed the Orioles field boss right from the start when, after giving up the mound, he played well as an infielder and outfielder before finally showing he was a top notch catcher when an injury to starting backstop Wilbert Robinson forced him behind the plate. When McGraw left Baltimore for the Giants in 1902 he brought Bresnahan with him. New York was blessed with depth at catcher, leading McGraw to take advantage of Roger’s versatility and play him in the outfield.
The following year Bresnahan blossomed as an every day player batting .350 and finished fourth in the National League batting race won by Honus Wagner. He finished in the top ten in eight offensive categories. In 1905 he became the Giants starting catcher and hit .302 as New York won the pennant and went on to participate in the World Series for the first time versus Connie Mack’s Philadelphia A’s. In the only World Series that saw every game end in a shutout Bresnahan was behind the plate for Christy Mathewson’s three blankings, caught Joe "Iron Man" McGinnity’s whitewashing and batted .312.
Along with being one of the finest catchers of his era, Bresnahan was also one of the game’s first innovators. After a serious beaning in 1905 he became the first known player to wear a batting helmet. Although wearing protective headgear didn’t catch on another Bresnahan experiment did in 1907: shin guards. The first ones he used were copied from those worn in the game of cricket. There were protests to wearing this kind of protection for many felt they endangered runners sliding into home plate, but eventually they were accepted and became standard equipment for catchers. Bresnahan the turned his attention to the catchers mask and in 1908 he added padding to the faceguard to absorb shock.Defensively, he is also credited with being the first to use the snap throw to first and the slide step style to block the plate.
After catching an unheard of 139 games in 1908 Bresnahan was traded to St. Louis where he became Cardinals player-manager. After four tumultuous seasons he was sold by St. Louis to the Cubs in 1913 and eventually became their player-manager for the 1915 season, his last. Bresnahan returned to the game as owner and manager of minor league Toledo in 1923 and later on returned to the majors for coaching stints with the Giants and Tigers. In 1945, Bresnahan became the first catcher to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Roger Bresnahan | National Baseball Hall of Fame Plaque | Class of 1945 (HOF)
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