Tom Barlow (baseball)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tom Barlow | ||
|---|---|---|
| Catcher/Shortstop | ||
| Born: 1852 New York |
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| Died: Unknown | ||
| Batted: Unknown | Threw: Unknown | |
| MLB debut | ||
| May 2, 1872 for the Brooklyn Atlantics |
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| Final game | ||
| July 30, 1875 for the Brooklyn Atlantics |
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| Career statistics | ||
| Batting average | .288 | |
| Runs scored | 120 | |
| Runs batted in | 34 | |
| Teams | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
Thomas H. Barlow (Born: 1852 in New York) was an American Major League Baseball player who played catcher and shortstop for three different team in his four year career, a career that was comprised entirely in the National Association.[1] Barlow is credited as the pioneer of the bunt.[2]
[edit] Career
Tom began his career with the Brooklyn Atlantics in 1872, and played 37 games, most of them as catcher, but did play four games at shortstop as well. He hit well that season, hitting .310, and scored 34 runs. In 1873, he caught all 53 of his team's games, a feat that has only been equalled seven times, the latest being Mike Tresh in 1945.[3]
It was during the 1874 season while playing for the Hartford Dark Blues that sustained an injury to his side while catching pitcher Cherokee Fisher. When he was taken back to the hotel, the physician administered a morphine injection, which began his addiction to the drug, later causing him to lose his career. This incident was written in a letter by Barlow, and read by a voice actor in Ken Burns's 1994 documentary, Baseball. In the letter Barlow explains how it started, and how the addiction took over. He lamented on how he was the catcher the Mutuals, and the Atlantics, "but no one would know it by looking at me now." He also said "I'd had rather died behind the bat, than have had that first dose." Tom played two games in 1875, one for the New Haven Elm Citys, and another for his old team, the Atlantics. Currently, there is no information of his life after baseball, to include where he lived, or where he died.
[edit] References
- ^ Tom Barlow's Stats. retrosheet.org. Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ Burns (1994). Baseball, p.20.
- ^ Iron Man Catchers. members.tripod.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
