Big Sam Thompson

Described by The Saint Paul Globe as "a physical giant [who] can hit the ball harder than a mule can kick," Sam Thompson was one of the 19th century's greatest sluggers. In fact, the big lefty's numbers are downright awe-inspiring. Sam compiled his first of several epic seasons with the 1887 Detroit Wolverines. That year he batted .372 with 203 hits, 23 triples, 10 home runs, and 166 RBI in only 127 games. He became the first big leaguer to collect 200 hits, and his 166 RBI—62 more than runner-up Roger Connor—stood as the single-season record until 1921, when Babe Ruth piled up 168 ribbies.

Upon joining the Philadelphia Quakers in 1889, Big Sam began launching home runs at a near-record pace, finishing the year with an NL-best 20 long balls to go along with 111 RBI and only 22 strikeouts. (According to historian Bill Jenkinson, Thompson hit several drives that traveled over 425-feet—quite an accomplishment considering the soft, lopsided spheroids that passed for baseballs in those days.)

Already a fearsome batsman, Thompson was unstoppable after the pitching distance was lengthened in 1893. That year he amassed 222 hits—37 doubles, 13 triples, 11 homers—126 RBI, and a .370 batting average. In 1894, Big Sam hit .415 with 13 big flies, 28 triples, 27 steals, and 149 RBI in only 102 games! Amazingly, the 35-year-old was just as impressive in 1895, batting .392 with 45 doubles, 21 triples, 27 stolen bases, and NL-leading totals in home runs (18) and RBI (165).

Thompson, who retired in 1898, later returned to play eight games with the 1906 Detroit Tigers—the 46-year-old hit .226 with a triple and four RBI. All told, Big Sam slashed .331/.384/.505 with 343 doubles, 161 triples, 126 home runs, 1,308 RBI, 232 stolen bases, and only 234 strikeouts over parts of 15 big-league seasons. To put it another way, he averaged 37 doubles, 14 home runs, 18 triples, 143 RBI, 25 steals, and 26 Ks per 154 games played. The 6-foot-2-inch, 207-pound basher ranked among the NL's top six in RBI on nine occasions; home runs and total bases eight times apiece.

Thompson's 126 long balls remained the NL record until the 1920s (Roger Connor hit 14 of his 138 homers in the Players' League). Sam's career ratio of one home run per every 47.6 at-bats ranks first among 19th-century sluggers. For his career, he amassed .926 RBI per game, which still stands as the all-time mark (Lou Gehrig ranks second with .922 RBI per game). Thompson was also one of the 19th century's top right fielders. He paced NL gardeners in fielding percentage twice and for his career, averaged an astonishing 31 assists per 154 games played. Big Sam still ranks among the all-time leaders with 283 outfield assists (12th) and 61 double plays turned (15th).

In March 1907, Thompson gave an interview in which he discussed his most memorable drives. "John Clarkson was the king pin of them all," he declared. "I remember my introduction to him. It was in Detroit in 1887. . . . He sent in a couple that were called strikes, and I asked him why he did not put them over the plate. He walked up about half way to the plate and said he did not see any medals on me giving me a license to hit any of his balls, and, going back into the box, sent a waist-high ball straight over the plate. I hit it on the nose; it went forty feet over the fence, and as I turned third base trotting in home, I told him that was where I got one medal anyhow. When I was feeling right, I could always hit John, but many is the time he made me bite the dust.

"[Amos] Rusie was always easy for me," continued Thompson. "The first ball he ever pitched to me was at Indianapolis, and I don't think I ever hit a ball further. It looked like it went a mile high. Frank Foreman was the hardest man for me I ever saw. One season I only made one hit off him from May to October, and that one hit his shin and I beat it out."

After his playing days, Thompson—who had lived in Detroit since 1888—made a small fortune in real estate and later worked as a U.S. Deputy Marshall. Among the Motor City's most respected and well-liked citizens, Sam was known for his civic-minded good works and unassailable character (not surprising for a man who was never fined or ejected from a game).

Tales of Thompson's long ball exploits appeared in the national press for years to come. In January 1922, sportswriter Sam Crane gushed about his former teammate in an article for The Washington Times:

"Sam Thompson, one of those heavy-hitting, big left-handed batters, who was in the same class as Dan Brouthers, Roger Connor, Mike Tiernan, and others, was outstanding as a premier slugger in his day and time. Thompson was one of those dangerous men at bat whom Pitcher 'Crazy' Schmidt [sic] kept tabs on in a little book he carried with him. . . . His pitching instructions for Thompson read: 'Walk him.' . . . The writer has the idea that if Sam Thompson had stepped up on the ball instead of shifting his left foot back, he might have been as heavy a hitter as Babe Ruth. I saw Sam hit a ball far over the right-field fence on the Cincinnati ball grounds. . . . It was a whale of a wallop—a regular Babe Ruth blow."

On November 7, 1922, Samuel Luther Thompson, age 62, passed away at his home in Detroit after suffering a massive heart attack while volunteering as an election inspector. In its coverage of Thompson's well-attended funeral, the Detroit Free Press wrote: "Michigan's foremost citizens—state and city officials, judges, bankers, doctors, millionaires, laborers—paid homage . . . to their beloved friend."

The Philadelphia Public Ledger ran a glowing obituary that read in part:

"The idol of another generation of baseball fans has made his final gesture to those who applauded him and passed into the beyond. Many wonderful hitters have held the spotlight since baseball graduated from its infancy—from the days of Cap Anson to the current ones of Babe Ruth. . . . For sheer murderous hitting power, Thompson never conceded first place to any of them. . . . Some had higher averages, but none hit more savagely. In Thompson's day, there were no plethora of home runs, as has been common during the last few years. Yet he crashed out 127 [sic] of them during his career. Among more modern National Leaguers, only Honus Wagner and Gavvy Cravath were able to pass the 100 mark in home runs."

Shortly after Thompson's death, sportswriter George Chadwick interviewed Babe Ruth, who was eager to learn more about the National League home run king:

▪️Ruth: "What kind of batter was this Sam Thompson? Did he hit like me?"

▪️Chadwick: "No, he had a different swing from yours. He was a left-hander, as you are, but he did not swing from over the shoulder."

▪️BR: "Some push, was he a big fellow?"

▪️GC: "Yes, bigger than you are—taller and not so big around but with more
massive legs."

▪️BR: "Could he hit as far as I have done?"

▪️GC: "Sometimes, although he may never have hit one as far as your farthest."

▪️BR: "Some bust I gave that old apple out in Detroit once. They say it was the longest ever made. Thompson died in Detroit. Maybe he saw me hit that one."


"Gentlemen, you all know Mr. Thompson. He is about to bat. You can kiss the ball goodbye." — Buck Ewing


✍️ Bobby King II

Harry Lord

One of the Deadball Era's top third basemen, Harry Lord was a scrappy fan favorite, noted for knocking down line drives with his body—which reportedly left his chest permanently discolored. A daring speedster, Lord—a left-handed batsman—was once timed going from home to first base in 3.4 seconds (a young Mickey Mantle did it in 3.1 seconds), and averaged 30-plus stolen bases per year. Though sturdily built (5-foot-10, 170 pounds), he preferred to slash the ball to the opposite field and rarely struck out or walked. A .278 career hitter, Harry twice topped the .300 mark—including 1909, when his .315 average ranked fourth in the American League.

In August 1911, manager Hughie Jennings—when asked to name the best active players at each position—didn't hesitate when it came to the hot corner. "Lord is a wonderful third baseman," said Jennings. "He is good on hard-hit balls to his left or right, fields bunts well, and is a hustler every minute during the game. He is a first-class hitter and fine base runner." Jennings wasn't alone in his assessment: A few weeks later, The Sporting News praised Lord as "the best third baseman in the [Ban] Johnson circuit."

Born on March 8, 1882, in Porter, Maine, Lord grew up in nearby Kezar Falls—a small community located along the banks of the Ossipee River. A highly intelligent lad, young Harry had dreams of becoming a lawyer. “As a little chap, I played the game," he later explained, "but never with any thought or desire to use baseball as a means of gaining a livelihood. In fact, I had ambitions in other fields." After high school, Lord enrolled in Bates College, where he fell in love with the game and spent countless hours honing his craft. Needless to say, he soon abandoned his studies to pursue a career in professional baseball.

Lord began his pro career with the New England League's Worcester Busters in 1906. The club was managed by Jesse Burkett, who had been one of the 19th century's greatest batsmen—he topped the magical .400 mark twice and finished with a career .338 average. A diminutive slap-hitter, Burkett encouraged Lord to employ a similar approach at the plate, and also tutored him on the finer points of the game: baserunning, bunting, and situational hitting among them. The youngster was a quick study; within a few years, he was considered one of the brainiest and most well-rounded players in all of baseball.

Having combined to hit .279 while performing admirably in the field during two minor league campaigns (1906-07), Lord was signed by the Boston Red Sox in September 1907. His first full season with the club came in 1908: The 26-year-old hit .259 with 15 doubles and 23 stolen bases; at third base, he committed a whopping 49 errors but finished among the league leaders in putouts, assists, and range factor.

In 1909, Lord blossomed into a star, hitting .315 with 36 steals while ranking second among AL third sackers in both putouts (180) and assists (268). By seasons end, Harry's all-out hustle, toughness, and keen judgment had endeared him to teammates and fans alike. On September 9, The Washington Times wrote: "Lord has hundreds of admirers who consider him the best third baseman in the land."

Harry got off to a blistering start in 1910. Batting out of the two-hole, he collected three hits in the season opener and didn't take his foot off the gas for nearly a month. Beginning on April 23, he enjoyed six consecutive multi-hit games, including a 4-for-6 performance versus Walter Johnson. Having collected hits in 22 of the season's first 27 games, many predicted that Lord—whose average had hovered around .400 for much of the year—would challenge Ty Cobb in the AL batting race. It wasn't to be, however: Lord's season was derailed on July 1, when his finger was broken by a Walter Johnson fastball. "The Big Train" rarely threw at hitters, though it's notable that Harry hit him at a .368 clip (7-for-19) with nary a strikeout in 1910.

Eager to get back into action, Lord taped up his ailing finger and returned to the lineup on July 15. After struggling to the tune of a .189 average during his first 13 games back, Boston unceremoniously traded their tough-as-nails team captain to the Chicago White Sox. Though still not 100 percent, Lord managed to hit .297 with 17 stolen bases in 44 games to finish out the 1910 season. What came next must have sickened baseball fans throughout New England, as Harry set career highs in hits (180), batting average (.327), doubles (18), triples (18), RBI (61), runs scored (103), and stolen bases (43) in 1911. On defense, his .941 fielding percentage was second-best among AL third basemen.

In November 1911, White Sox owner Charles Comiskey cited his star third baseman as one of the 20 greatest players of all-time. A few weeks later, Ty Cobb chose Lord and Frank Baker as the top-two third basemen in the league. Wildly popular in Chicago, the local papers were chock-full of Lord-related stories that off-season, one which speaks to his mischievous, but good-natured personality.

As the tale goes, Lord once purchased an oversized fake diamond at a 10-cent store and presented it to rookie Ping Bodie "in deference to his great feats on the diamond." Touched by the gesture, Bodie vowed he'd never sell the "valuable gemstone." After giving it some thought, however, the youngster began to suspect he had been hoodwinked.

"Here, if you think that is glass," said Lord, "I'll give you this money [$50] for your diamond." Bodie replied, "Not on your life. I wouldn't take a million bucks for that rock. I'm going to save it as a souvenir." Egged on by their team captain, several players offered Ping large sums of money—as much as $200—for the stone, at which point he became convinced of its authenticity. Finally, while waiting to catch a train, Harry asked if he could see the alleged diamond. "Sure," said Bodie, "but it's not for sale." After looking it over, Lord nonchalantly tossed the chunk of glass into a nearby fountain. Though at first dumbfounded, Bodie—realizing he was the victim of an elaborate prank—burst into laughter.

Though his batting average plummeted to .267 in 1912, Lord was still quite productive: He drew a career-high 54 walks, stole 30 bases, scored 83 runs, and ranked among the league's Top 10 sluggers with five long balls (7th) and 12 triples (9th). He followed that by hitting .263 with 12 triples and 24 stolen bases in 1913. Though things appeared fine on the surface, Lord—the undisputed team captain and a fan favorite—soon found himself at odds with Charles Comiskey and was released, at his own request, a few weeks into the 1914 season. The 33-year-old joined the upstart Federal League in 1915, serving as player-manger for the Buffalo Blues. He hit .270 with 20 extra-base hits and 15 steals while guiding the Buff-Feds to a 60-49 record during his tenure.

After the Federal League closed up shop, Harry decided to call it quits and returned home to Maine. All told, he amassed 1,026 hits—107 doubles, 70 triples, 14 home runs—294 RBI, 509 runs scored, and a .278/.326/.356 slash-line over parts of nine big-league seasons. Despite such a short career, he racked up 1,046 putouts at the hot corner, the 81st best total in MLB history.

Noted for his hot streaks, Lord enjoyed 13 four-hit games at the big-league level (he once accomplished the feat on back-to-back days). As mentioned earlier, one of these came at Walter Johnson's expense. In fact, Lord compiled five multi-hit games versus the otherwise fearsome fireballer. During their first 33 meetings, he combined to hit .303 with zero strikeouts. As you might expect, things quickly went downhill. For his career, Harry hit .227 (20-for-88) with one home run(!) and 14 Ks when playing chicken with the "Train."

Harry soon grew bored with retirement and, in 1917, returned to play one last season of pro ball with the Eastern League's Portland, Maine entry (he hit .267 in 102 games). Though he sporadically played on and managed semipro clubs, Lord—a devoted family man—was eager to find a less peripatetic way to spend his time. After running a grocery store for a few years, Lord used his substantial savings to purchase a half-stake in the Portland Lehigh Coal Company, which he helped oversee for 23 years.

On August 9, 1948, Harry Donald Lord passed away at a nursing home in Westbrook, Maine. The Associated Press ran an obituary that read in part:

"Harry D. Lord, 66, former third baseman and team captain of the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox, died last night. . . . In his heyday—he was up in the majors from 1906 to 1914—Lord was regarded as one of the American League's best base runners and most dangerous hitters. . . . He leaves his wife, a son, Donald, of South Portland, and a daughter, Mrs. Woodbury F. Howe of Portland."

✍️ Bobby King II

        

☑️Sources: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov + https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/7ef30196 + https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org + https://baseballhistorydaily.com + https://en.wikipedia.org

Pat Seerey: King for a Day

Every good baseball fan knows that the major league record for home runs in a game is four. Most fans can name a large percentage of the players on the list. Many are great Hall of Fame members: Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays, Mike Schmidt, Chuck Klein, and Big Ed Delahanty. Two are still active and have the small chance to achieve the feat an unprecedented second time: J. D. Martinez and Scooter Gennett, recently released by the Giants but only 29 years old. Some also had careers just short of Hall of Fame worthiness but still shined during their careers: Joe Adcock, Rocky Colavito, Gil Hodges, Josh Hamilton, and others. Some weren’t prolific home run hitters. But none was as unlikely to make this list as Pat Seerey. I know some very sharp baseball minds that could never come up with his name if asked to name the 18 players who have accomplished the feat.

Pat Seerey not only hit four in one game (1948), he came the closest of anyone to doing it twice. In 1945 Seerey hit three home runs and a triple in a game at Yankee Stadium. Those two games combined saw him amass 31 total bases. He shares this record with Willie Mays. Those seven home runs in only two games would be almost 10% of his final career total.

The 5’ 9”(maybe), 195 to 220-pound Seerey was a husky lad who earned the nickname “Fat Pat" and had great power, but also had a penchant for the strikeout. He was signed by the Cleveland Indians at 18 years of age. The Indians started him out in Class D where he hit 31 home runs in 104 games while batting .330. He also struck out 111 times. He was moved to their Class B franchise in 1942 where he batted .303 with 33 home runs. He also led that league in strikeouts.

In 1943, after only 31 games in Class A ball, the Indians brought him up to the big leagues at 20 years of age. He saw action in only 20 games, hitting one home run. The following season saw him start more than half of the Indians' games in the outfield. Seerey hit 15 home runs, but his 99 strikeouts led the American League. The fans loved him, and he was called “The People’s Choice” because he had the physique of the average guy and looked like a beer-guzzling softball player. The public identified with him.

It was more of the same in 1945: he hit 14 home runs, and his 97 strikeouts led the league again. But on July 13th, Seerey had the first of his two memorable games.

Playing in Yankee Stadium was almost certain death to right-handed hitters, but Seerey defied convention. In his first at-bat, he tripled into Death Valley, driving in the game’s first run and then scored on Jeff Heath’s home run as the Tribe began their assault on Atley Donald. Pat led off the third inning with a home run. In the fourth, he cleared the fences again with a grand slam. He batted again in the fifth with a runner on, but this time grounded into a double play to end the inning. In the seventh, he hit a three-run home run to extend his day’s total to three home runs, a triple and eight RBI. He would have one more at-bat in the ninth inning. With a chance to make history (no player ever hit four home runs and a triple in the same game), Pat hit a hard line drive directly at third baseman, Oscar Grimes, for the final out.

Although 1946 would see him up his home run total to 26, he again led the AL in strikeouts for the third consecutive season with 101. The 1947 season was one of injury, and he only played in 82 games. During this season, Hank Greenberg was hired by new Indians owner, Bill Veeck, to work with Pat and refine his batting skills. Veeck, who purchased the Indians in June of '46, thought he had the second coming of Hack Wilson in Seerey (in many ways he did). During the coming offseason, he hired Seerey to work on his ranch in Arizona, attempting to keep his often ballooning weight under control.

Cleveland enjoyed another great season in 1948, as they won the pennant and a World Championship; unfortunately, Seerey wouldn’t be there to see it. Veeck first put him on waivers, but four teams claimed him, so he was removed from the waiver wire. After only playing in 10 of their first 35 games, Cleveland traded him to the last place Chicago White Sox on June 2nd. (The Indians replaced him with, future Hall of Famer Larry Doby, who would become the first black player in the American League.)

Although he showed signs of greatness with Cleveland, his strikeouts and low batting average had tried the Indians' patience. But Pat would have one more day in the sun with Chicago.

On July 18, 1948, the White Sox played a doubleheader vs. the Athletics at Shibe Park. In the first game, Seerey came in batting .235 and started poorly with a second-inning strikeout. He then led off the fourth inning with a home run. In the fifth inning, he connected again for a two-run blast. In the sixth inning, Pat hit his third homer, this one a three-run belt. The game was becoming a slugfest, and he would see more at-bats. In the seventh inning, he fouled out to the catcher with two runners on base. But Philadelphia scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game. He had another shot at tying the record in the visitor's ninth inning, but Joe Coleman pitched around him. When the A’s went down without scoring in the ninth, the game was sent into extra innings. Seerey received the reprieve he needed to make history.

With two outs in the eleventh inning, Seerey hit his fourth home run of the afternoon to give Chicago a 12-11 lead. After the A’s were dispatched without scoring (they left the bases loaded) in the bottom half of the inning, the victory went to the Sox. His final totals were 4-for-6, four home runs and seven RBI. Seerey went 0-for-2 in the five-inning shortened second game of the twin bill.

After hitting four homers in one game, he would go on to hit only three more in his MLB career. This was Seerey’s last hurrah. Although he finished the year with 18 home runs in 95 games, his low batting average (.229) and high strikeout total (94) quickly put him in the dog house of manager Ted Lyons. He only appeared in four games the following season with the Sox and new manager Jack Onslow.

After being relegated to the minors, he would hit 66 home runs in only 654 at-bats for the Chicago minor league system over the next two seasons (1950-1951), but would never again be called up to the major leagues. At only 26 years of age, his major league career was over. Pat hung on, playing both minor league and semi-professional baseball before calling it quits after the 1952 season. After retirement from the game, Seerey worked as a school janitor in St. Louis.

In 1994 Ted Williams' company produced a 181 card set aptly named "Swinging for the Fences." The set included the most prolific power hitters in baseball history; Ted included Pat Seerey (card #152). Williams received much heat for putting Seerey in a set with Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and other immortals, but he would reply: "He did something I never did." It's true: In those two games, “The People’s Choice” had 12 at-bats, scored eight times, hit seven home runs, a triple, and drove in 15 runs.

✍️ Written by Skip Carpentier

Beals Becker

"Beals Becker of the Phillies is one of the heaviest swatsmen in the National League," wrote The Associated Press on July 5, 1915. "In almost every game he grabs off a couple of extra-base hits. . . . He is regarded as one of the greatest 'clean up' batsmen." The 1915 Phillies would, of course, go on to capture the National League pennant, and Becker—a 5-foot-9-inch, 170-pound outfielder whose powerful stroke belied his stature—played a big part in their success. Something of a poor man's Mel Ott, Becker was a left-handed pull hitter who did most of his damage at home. As an outfielder, he possessed good range, a great arm, and—according to numerous newspaper accounts—had quite a flair for the dramatic. 

 As of 1915, Becker had played parts of seven big-league seasons. Four times he had appeared in 100-plus games; in three of those years, he was one of the NL's top six home run hitters—including 1909, when he fell just short (one homer) in the race for long ball supremacy. At age 28, the future looked exceedingly bright. He was coming off his two best offensive campaigns. His 13 triples (6th), nine home runs (6th), .313 batting average (5th), and .502 slugging percentage (2nd) each ranked among the NL's best in 1913. Becker was even better in 1914, setting or tying career highs in hits (167), doubles (24), homers (9), and RBI (66). He hit .325, four points shy of league-leader Jake Daubert.

Philadelphia began the 1915 season on a tear, winning nine of their first ten ballgames. Giants manager John McGraw wasn't impressed and made some derogatory remarks about the Phillies and Becker, who had once played for the acerbic skipper (this wasn't the first time Mugsy had disparaged him in the press). Marred in an 0-for-12 slump, it was just the jolt Becker needed.

On April 20, the Giants hosted Philadelphia at the Polo Grounds. With Philly ahead, 3-2, in the fifth inning, Becker strode to the plate; the crowd, egged on by Mac's comments, booed lustily. The diminutive dynamo responded in kind by taking his vengeance out on a Rube Schauer fastball, connecting for a mighty two-run blow that sealed the game. The already stunned crowd looked on in amazement as Becker boldly snatched the megaphone away from an announcer behind home plate and shouted: “How do you like that, McGraw?”

Feeling ten feet tall, the cocky slugger—now batting third in the order—caught fire, collecting hits in 15 of his next 17 games. He enjoyed two three-hit games during the stretch and smacked three homers, including two more against the Giants. Becker's batsmanship and bravado weren't the only things making headlines. On April 29, the New-York Tribune gushed over the left fielder: "With Becker roving all over creation, it was not surprising that the visitors [Brooklyn] did not break into the run column. Becker made three sensational running catches, and one on [George] Cutshaw in the fourth inning killed a most promising bid for a home run."

Following an 11 at-bat dry spell, Becker began a seven-game hitting streak that saw him bat .387 (12-for-31) with eight RBI—six of which came on June 12 when he connected for a grand slam and a two-run double. In the ensuing 23 games, Becker's hitting cooled off considerably, and by mid-July, he was "sporting" a paltry .240 batting average. Beginning on August 7, the struggling slugger was relegated to a pinch-hitting role. With an insurmountable lead in the NL pennant race, Philadelphia began resting their regulars, allowing Becker to start the season finale on October 6. He smacked a three-run homer in the third inning—single-handedly beating the Brooklyn Robins, 3-2. Though he didn't know it at the time, this was the final hit of his all-too-short major league career.

The Phillies would lose to the Boston Red Sox, 4-1, in the 1915 World Series; Becker, playing in his third career Fall Classic, made two appearances as a defensive replacement. Despite slugging a career-high 11 home runs (4th in the NL) in only 112 games, Becker—who hit .246 and committed 11 errors in the field—was released at season's end. During his three seasons in Philadelphia, the quick-wristed lefty batted .301 with 60 doubles, 29 home runs, 145 RBI, and 137 Ks in 338 games played. All but nine of his long balls came at the Baker Bowl, noted for its short porch (279 feet) in right field.

All told, Becker amassed 763 hits—114 doubles, 43 triples, 45 home runs—296 RBI, 129 stolen bases, and a .276/.335/.397 slash-line over parts of eight big-league seasons. (He was only 29 years old at the time of his premature departure from the majors and might have captured a home run crown had he continued to play home games at the Baker Bowl, where he hit .316 with 22 long balls—49% of his career total—in 673 at-bats.)

In the outfield, Becker split time between the three positions, with 42% of his appearances (322 games) coming in right field. In terms of fielding percentage and range factor-per-game, he was most effective in center. For his career, Becker—who batted and threw left-handed—averaged 21 assists per 154 games played.

Aside from his glory years with the Phillies, Becker also spent time with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Doves (Braves), Cincinnati Reds, and—most notably—the New York Giants. During his three seasons in Gotham (1910-12), "the McGraw men" captured a pair of NL pennants. Initially used in a platoon role, he combined to hit .272 with 44 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 298 at-bats during the 1910 and 1911 seasons. On August 1, 1910, an unidentified United Press scribe offered this glowing assessment of the outfielder's overall skill set:

"Becker has been setting thing[s] afire. Some of his catches actually made the fans gasp. He broke up a game at the polo grounds by his terrific hitting, and he repeated over in Boston when he tied up the game in the ninth inning with a home run over the left-field fence. Becker is a daring base-runner, and there is not a faster man or a better slider on the team."

Becker was New York's starting center fielder for much of the 1912 season; he batted .264 with 18 doubles, eight triples, 30 stolen bases, and 62 RBI in 471 plate appearances. On the outs with McGraw after "Little Napoleon" called his hustle and intelligence into question, Becker was played sparingly over the final two months of the season; he was traded to Cincinnati the following spring. Described by teammates and the press as "having rabbit-ears" (slang for an overly sensitive player), one has to wonder if Mugsy was trying to elicit an insolent response as an excuse to release him. (Becker combined to go 0-for-9 in the 1911 and 1912 Fall Classics, both Giants' losses.)

Following his departure from the majors, Becker spent the next four years (1916-19) with the American Association's Kansas City Blues. He compiled several impressive seasons in the minors, including 1916, when he hit .343 with 15 homers. In 1917, he captured the AA batting title with a .323 mark, prompting The Chicago Daily Tribune to proclaim: "Beals Becker, Undisputed King of Hitters." At the dawn of the lively ball era, he contributed to the offensive explosion that was enveloping pro baseball. In 1922, Becker paced AA batsmen with 362 total bases and ranked second in both batting average (.367) and home runs (26). The 36-year-old enjoyed his last big season in 1923 when he hit .301 with 26 doubles and 13 big flies.

A Kansan by birth, Becker eventually settled down in California and finished out his career in the Pacific Coast League (his last appearance came with the 1925 Seattle Indians). Over parts of 12 minor league seasons, he hit .323 with 189 doubles, 47 triples, and 92 home runs. Combined with his big-league statistics, Becker amassed 2,071 hits, 303 doubles, 94 triples, 137 home runs, and a .303 batting average as a professional.

Having suffered from "a variety of maladies"—the exact nature of which is unknown—for several years, David "Beals" Becker, age 57, passed away on August 16, 1943. He was living with his sister in Huntington Park, California, at the time of his death. On August 18, The New York Sun reported:

"There was a news item in the papers yesterday that, sad in itself, must have taken the minds of veteran Giant fans back to a brighter and happier era. It revealed that Beals Becker had died. Becker's name probably doesn't mean much, if anything, to younger fans but he was an outfielder with the Giants back around 1911, 1912 and 1913 when they won three pennants in a row. He was one . . . [of] that hard running, hard sliding, battling crew that stormed about the National League circuits, stirring up rows and jangles wherever it went."

✍️ Bobby King II

       

☑️Sources: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov + https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org + https://fultonhistory.com + https://www.baseball-reference.com + https://www.pinterest.com

Bobby Lowe

"The crowd saw some of the finest hitting ever seen in this country," reported The Boston Globe on May 31, 1894. "Bobby Lowe broke all league records with four home runs in succession, and then by adding a single, making a total of 17 bases." Sportswriter Tim Murnane noted that the "home runs were on line drives far over the fence, and would be good for four bases on an open prairie." Bolstered by his record-setting game, the Boston Beaneaters' second baseman and leadoff man enjoyed a career year at the plate. He slashed .346/.401/.520 with 34 doubles, 11 triples, 17 home runs (2nd in the NL), 115 runs batted in, 23 stolen bases, and 158 runs scored.

A Pittsburgh native, Lowe was born in July 1865, and by age 16, was starring for local semipro clubs. After three seasons in the minors (he homered in his first professional at-bat), the 5-foot-10 inch, 150 pounder began a 12-year stint with the National League's Boston Beaneaters in 1890. Lowe played his first full season in 1891, hitting .260 with 30 extra-base hits, 74 RBI, and 43 steals. In 1893, the 27-year-old hit .298 with 14 home runs (3rd in the NL), 89 RBI, and 130 runs scored. Following his epic 1894 campaign, Lowe's slugging stats fell off quite a bit, though he was still a force to be reckoned with. During the ensuing six-year span (1895-1900), Bobby hit .289 while averaging 30 extra-base hits, 100 RBI, and 98 runs scored per 154 games played.

Now in his mid-30s, Lowe struggled to hit .250 for the balance of his career (1901-07), though his reputation as a defensive whiz remained firmly intact. At the time of his retirement, Lowe held the record for highest career fielding percentage (.953) by a second baseman; he still ranks among the top 50 at the position in putouts (48th), assists (46th), and range factor-per-game (30th). Lowe's wife, Harriet, once complimented Nap Lajoie on being named the best second sacker of all-time. Lajoie humbly replied: "The greatest second baseman was your husband."

For his career, Lowe amassed 1,934 hits — including 230 doubles, 85 triples, and 71 home runs — 1,135 runs scored, 989 RBI, 303 stolen bases, and a .273/.325/.360 slash-line. Noted for his versatility, "Link" — his middle name was Lincoln — also played shortstop, third base, and the outfield. In 1911, former big leaguer Fred Tenney wrote: "Lowe of Boston was one of those baseball phenomena who could play any position on the team in first-class style."

Following his retirement, Lowe briefly worked as a coach at the college and minor league levels, and then took a job as a scout for the Detroit Tigers, with whom he had finished up his playing career (1904-07). Lowe lived in Detroit for the remainder of his life, where he was employed by the Department of Public Works. In June 1932, Bobby found himself back in the spotlight after Lou Gehrig equaled his four-homer performance. Upon meeting the legendary slugger, Lowe declared: "I feel complimented to share the record with so grand a boy."

In 1936, Lowe — along with 59 others — was considered by the Veterans Committee for induction into Cooperstown. He received more votes (1.9%) than seven future Hall of Famers — including Jesse Burkett, Candy Cummings, Tim Keefe, and Deacon White. On December 8, 1951, Robert Lincoln Lowe passed away, age 86, at his home in Detroit. The Associated Press ran an obituary, the second line of which read: "He was the first of four men in baseball history to hit four home runs in a regulation nine-inning game."

✍️ Bobby King II

Forgotten Greats: Jim Fogarty

Jim Fogarty 

                                                                                                                                    One of the 19th century's top defensive outfielders and an absolute terror on the basepaths, Jim Fogarty, despite his accomplishments, is statistically easy to overlook—that is, unless you do some digging. A .246 hitter over parts of seven big-league seasons (1884-90) spent primarily with the Philadelphia Quakers, Fogarty was nonetheless a very productive batsman. Said by one scribe to possess "the patience of Job," Fogarty was a pitcher's worst nightmare, able to foul off deliveries and "wait 'em out" like few others—which wasn't easy considering it took five or more balls to constitute a walk before 1889. For an idea of what a pitcher (and catcher) was up against, look no further than his 1887 statistics—an NL-best 82 walks to go along with 102 stolen bases.

More than just a pest, Fogarty could make a pitcher pay if they got careless. For his career, the multi-talented speedster averaged 23 doubles, 11 triples, 66 RBI, 104 runs scored, 72 walks, 92 stolen bases, and 38 outfield assists per 154 games played. Yeah, you read that last number correctly. Primarily a right fielder, Fogarty gunned down 171 baserunners during his career—this despite playing only 685 games in the outfield! However, it wasn't Fogarty's arm that drew the most attention; it was his incredible range and penchant for spectacular, tumbling catches. The stats more than back up his reputation among contemporaries. He paced NL gardeners in range factor on three occasions; fielding percentage, putouts, assists, and double plays two times apiece.

In an 1890 interview with the Cincinnati Times-Star, former Boston manager Jim Hart—when asked to name "the finest fielder living"—gushed: "Fogarty is the king of them all. He can lay over Dickey Johnston or anybody else you could name. . . . Fogarty has no rival as a general fielder. Curt Welch, do you say? Why Curt is great in center field, but that is the easiest of the three to cover. . . . [W]hile in right and left, you have to do considerable gymnastics in a game. Fogarty can take a ball on the dead run and fire it home without a second's hesitation. He doesn't lose a moment in recovering."

James G. Fogarty was born on February 12, 1864, in San Francisco. A well-liked, whip-smart lad, he later attended Saint Mary's College of California. Jim began his major league career at age 20 with the 1884 Philadelphia Quakers; he posted a meager .212 batting average but starred in the field, finishing second among NL gardeners with a .915 fielding percentage. Fogarty hiked his average to .232 in 1885 and amassed 26 outfield assists while once again ranking second in fielding percentage. Having bulked up considerably during the off-season, the 5-foot-10-inch, 180-pounder came into his own in 1886, hitting .293 with 13 doubles, 47 RBI, 54 runs scored, and 30 stolen bases in only 77 games.

Fogarty's 1887 statistics—as they looked at the time—were breathtaking. He hit .366 with career-highs in doubles (26), home runs (8), stolen bases (102), and runs scored (129). However, this was the year bases on balls were tallied as hits—a rule that Fogarty, who led the league with 82 walks, took full advantage of. Take away the free passes, and his average drops over 100 points to a more pedestrian .261—which is how baseball-reference.com and most record books list it.

As you might expect, the new rule was quite unpopular, except with the once middling batsmen who suddenly found themselves hitting .400. An editor with the Sporting Life was not amused: "That lying perjurer, the base-on-ball-base-hit, is seriously injuring the game with patrons," he complained. "The invitation given to the batsman by the four-strike-five-ball business to tiresomely wait for a base on balls and be credited with a base hit is wearying spectators and prolonging the game and bringing censure on the umpire. It is making record players."

With the rule rescinded, Fogarty fell back down to earth in 1888. The 24-year-old posted an anemic .236 average; however, he ranked among the league leaders with 58 steals (6th) and 53 walks (7th). One of the high points came on August 31, when he spoiled Jim Whitney's no-hit bid. In its coverage of the proceedings, The Pittsburgh Dispatch noted: "The only home player who could connect with 'Grasshopper' Jim's delivery was Fogarty, who secured a single and double."

Fogarty would enjoy one of his best all-around seasons in 1889. He hit .259 with 17 triples, 107 runs scored, and an NL-best 99 stolen bases. In the outfield, he had no equals, finishing first among senior circuit gardeners in putouts (303), assists (42), range factor (2.76), and fielding percentage (.961). Fogarty, among the more vocal members of the Brotherhood of Professional Base-Ball Players, pro baseball's first union, jumped to the upstart Players' League in 1890. Popular and well-respected amongst his brethren, Jim was named player-manager of the circuit's Philadelphia franchise.

From a statistical standpoint, the 1890 season was about par for the course: Fogarty played in 91 games, hit .239, walked 59 times, and stole 36 bases. As for his managerial career, that lasted only 16 games when the new club president, Henry Love, replaced him with pitcher Charlie Buffington. Fogarty, who claimed that Love physically threatened him, was incensed: "I shall not play ball again with the Philadelphia club as long as Mr. Love has anything to do with it," he said. In response, Love wrote an open letter to the press: "The statement that I shook my fist in his face is a malicious lie. The statement that I stated that I was his equal—intellectually, morally and physically—is a malicious lie." (Despite the drama and his previous declaration, Fogarty finished out the season.)

In February 1891, The Pittsburgh Dispatch reported that Fogarty was expected to sign with the Alleghenys (Pirates), but "is holding out for more money." The unidentified scribe predicted that the addition of Fogarty—along with veterans Ned Hanlon and Billy Sunday—would give Pittsburgh "the best outfield in the country." Tragically, it wasn't to be. Though I can find no mention of his being sick in the local press, on May 20, 1891, the seemingly healthy Fogarty died from tuberculosis; he was 27 years old. (Tuberculosis zaps one's lung capacity and energy, making his recent performance even more remarkable—if not downright heroic.)

The Pittsburgh Chronicle-Telegraph ran a glowing obituary, which read in part: "Possibly no more brilliant outfielder ever graced the profession than 'Jimmie' Fogarty, who died Thursday. He began his base ball career in his native state, California. . . . He had wonderful judgment of a fly ball, and local patrons will recall his brilliant running catches. He robbed [Jake] Beckley of a triple at Player's Park last season by taking the ball off the fence. He was a dashing base runner, fair batsman and excellent thrower. He had scores of friends and was always jolly."

Home Run Johnson

Grant "Home Run" Johnson acquired his nickname after hitting a purported 60 long balls with the 1894 Findlay Sluggers, an integrated semi-pro club out of Ohio. Though his otherworldly home run totals waned, Johnson's exploits as a professional were just as impressive. A line-drive artist with good speed and unparalleled bat control, he would earn a reputation as one of the Deadball Era's top hitters and shortstops—regardless of race. Grant claimed he "never swang for the fences," but his strategy of waiting for a good pitch and ability to live up to his moniker in big spots speaks loudly. However, he remained at his core, a pure hitter in the Willie Keeler-Ty Cobb mold. Johnson later said his approach was based upon the idea that a pitcher would prefer to "face the mighty swinger to the cool, steady batter who tries to meet the ball and place it."

Home Run Johnson 

One of Grant's most memorable long balls came during the first inning of a 1909 exhibition game that pitted the Lincoln Giants against Walter Johnson and the Washington Senators. "Lay that fastball in here, Mr. Johnson," boasted the playful slugger, "and I'll knock it over the fence." True to his word, he proceeded to deposit the first pitch of the ballgame into the left-field stands. In a 1939 interview with Shirley Povich, "The Big Train" begrudgingly confirmed the story: "I didn't like the way this 'Home Run' Johnson was crowing about his hit," he grumbled.

Aside from the obvious, Johnson shared much in common with his big-league counterpart—Frank "Home Run" Baker. Johnson stood 5-foot-10 and weighed 170-pounds; Baker was an inch taller and weighed 173. Both were defensive standouts on the left side of the infield and averaged around 10 homers per season, with each man topping out (in league play) at 12 big flies. Both were exceptional all-around batsmen who stole a fair amount of bases, rarely struck out, and routinely ranked among the league leaders in doubles, triples, and batting average. Despite their 14 year age difference, the pair's top offensive seasons (1911-13) uncannily overlap; each man passed away in 1963.

A native of Findlay, Ohio, Grant Johnson was born on September 23, 1872. Following his stint with the hometown Sluggers, he and teammate Bud Fowler—who in 1878 became the first African American to play pro baseball—formed the legendary Page Fence Giants, a Michigan-based barnstorming team, in 1895. Despite his youth, the well-liked and highly intelligent lad was named team captain; he finished the year with a .471 batting average as the club won over 100 games. In 1899, Johnson joined the powerhouse Chicago Columbia Giants, hitting .529 with two home runs and seven ribbies in only four games during their "cross-country title match" versus the Cuban X-Giants. The following year he was named captain of the rival X-Giants, who proceeded to win the 1903 colored championship.

Johnson joined the Philadelphia Giants in 1905; the 32-year-old hit .370 while pacing the club in home runs (12), walks, and sacrifices. A man of many talents, he also took the mound upon occasion and was famous for baffling opponents with his submarine delivery. In 1906, he was named player-manager of the Brooklyn Royal Giants, finishing the year with 16 extra-base hits, 22 runs batted in, and a .362/.459/.606 slash-line in 24 games versus top clubs from the East. If you count exhibitions, Johnson paced the "Eastern Independent League" with a .497 average. That offseason, he played his first of five winters in Cuba, finishing with a .347 average. A .319 hitter during his time in the Caribbean, he became the first American to win the island's batting crown in 1912 (.410) and twice led the circuit in hits.

A teetotaler who kept in tip-top shape year-round, Johnson seemed to get better with age. As a member of Rube Foster's 1910 Leland Giants, the 37-year-old hit .397. Following the regular season, Johnson put on a show for the ages: He hit .412 in a 12 game exhibition series versus the Detroit Tigers, followed by a .429 average in ten contests against the Philadelphia Athletics (Hall of Famers Chief Bender and Eddie Plank started seven of those games).

In 1911, Johnson began a three-year stint with the New York Lincoln Giants, with whom he compiled an aggregate .386 average versus all comers, including a high of .413 in 1912. As he approached his 40th birthday, Johnson—a witty, inspirational speaker of sorts—became increasingly involved as a mentor to young players, who affectionately called him "Dad." Though his best days were behind him, he continued to play and manage in the Negro Leagues until 1923. A true baseball lifer, Grant made regular appearances with semi-pro and barnstorming clubs until age 58. (Chappie Gardner—editor and publisher of the Negro Professional Baseball Guide—once marveled that Johnson was still "hitting 'em through the infield at 50.")

Following his retirement, Johnson settled down in Buffalo and took a job with the New York Central Railroad. A role model on and off the field, he touched the lives of countless neigborhood children over the years—talking baseball and warning against the evils of smoking and drinking. Johnson's life lessons proved sound; he passed away on September 5, 1963—18 days shy of his 91st birthday.

The Findlay Republican Courier ran an obituary that read in part: "Grant 'Home Run' Johnson, a former Findlay resident, died of a heart failure after surgery. . . . As a youth, Mr. Johnson became interested in baseball and formed a club here known as the Page Fence Giants. He played for a number of ball clubs after leaving Findlay. . . . Mr. Johnson was a former choir member of the AME Church and was known in the city and county for his musical ability. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Chruch in Buffalo, N.Y. A few years ago, he became totally blind and entered the Erie Home of the Blind."

✍️ Bobby King II