Bert Whaling
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Albert James Whaling (June 22, 1888 – January 7, 1965) was an American professional
Whaling excelled defensively as a catcher with a strong throwing arm however, his fielding prowess was not enough to overcome his deficiencies as a
Baseball career
Whaling was born in
Whaling then appeared in 11 games for the Seattle Turks of the Northwestern League in 1909.[2][3] At the end of the season, he returned to Los Angeles and played for the Vernon Tigers in the Semi-professional California Winter League.[2]
In August 1911, he was signed by the
Whaling then resigned with the Seattle Giants where he began the 1912 season as their starting catcher.
Whaling signed a contract to play for the Boston Braves in October 1912, and made his major league debut with the team on April 22, 1913 at the age of 25.[1][6] He posted a .242 batting average in 79 games while sharing starting catching duties with Bill Rariden.[1] Whaling led the league with a .990 fielding percentage that year, becoming the first rookie catcher in major league baseball history to win a fielding title.[9][10] Only four other rookie catchers in Major League Baseball history have accomplished the feat.[10]
Before the 1914 season began, Rariden left the Braves to join the Federal League leaving Whaling as their main catcher with Hank Gowdy as his back up.[11] When Whaling failed to provide much offense, Braves manager, George Stallings gave Gowdy the starting catcher's job.[11] The Braves had been in last place in the National League on July 4 before going on an extended winning streak.[12] The team went from last place to first place within a two-month period, becoming the first team to win a pennant after being in last place on the Fourth of July.[12] Whaling hit .206 in 60 games as Gowdy's back up and led National League catchers in baserunners caught stealing percentage with 54.5%.[1][13] The Braves went on to sweep Connie Mack's heavily favored Philadelphia Athletics in four games in the 1914 World Series, although Whaling never got a chance to play in the series.[14] The team became known as the "Miracle" Braves and remain one of the most storied comeback teams in baseball history.[15]
While he was a weak hitter and a slow runner, Whaling developed a reputation as a fine defensive catcher.[16] In his final major league season, 1915, Whaling hit .221 in 72 games (42 at-bats), once again as the back up to Gowdy.[1] He appeared in his final major league game on October 7, 1915.[1] It was reported that there was friction between Whaling and the Braves management and, on October 13, he was traded with Herbie Moran to the Vernon Tigers for Joe Wilhoit.[1][17] After threatening to join the outlaw Federal League, Whaling signed with the Tigers in December 1915.[17][18]
Whaling played with the Vernon Tigers for two seasons before joining the
Career statistics
In a three-year major league career, Whaling played in 211
Minor league manager
After serving as a player-manager for the Salt Lake City Bees in 1926, Whaling was named the manager of the Phoenix Senators, and led them to the Arizona State League championship in 1928.[20][24]
After his playing career, Whaling returned to the Los Angeles area where he worked in the
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Bert Whaling at Baseball Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Faber, Charles F. "Bert Whaling Baseball BioProject". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Bert Whaling minor league statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "Louie Litschi To Be Given Another Chance By New York". Reading Eagle. 27 August 1911. p. 13. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ "Naps Release Bert Whaling". The Milwaukee Journal. 24 April 1912. p. 15. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Boston Signs Crack Players". The Meriden Daily Journal. 24 October 1912. p. 8. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ Vass, George (May 2005). "For Catchers, The Name of the Game is Defense". Baseball Digest. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Northwestern's Batting Honors of 1912 to Meek While James Is King of Pitchers". The Spokesman-Review. 6 October 1912. p. 8. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "1913 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Rookies Who Won Fielding Titles". Baseball Digest. May 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ ISBN 0-684-80697-5
- ^ a b Overfield, Joseph (May 1961). "How Losing an Exhibition Sparked Miracle Braves". Baseball Digest. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "1914 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "1914 World Series". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "1914: The Miracle Braves". thisgreatgame.com. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ "Whaling Too Slow On Bases But Is Great Catcher". The Bakersfield Californian. 28 October 1915. p. 8. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Fedbug Stings Catcher Whaling". Spokane Daily Chronicle. 12 November 1915. p. 20. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "No More Hold Outs To Brother Ed Maier". The Bakersfield Californian. 15 December 1915. p. 20. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Bert Whaling Is Signed By Speas For Regina Team". The Morning Leader. 4 March 1920. p. 5. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ a b c "History of Phoenix Minor League Baseball 1915–1957". usfamily.net. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Bert Whaling Is Signed By Kester". The Spokesman-Review. 29 March 1917. p. 16. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "Whaling Is In Arizona". The Pittsburgh Press. 13 May 1917. p. 4. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "Ex-Big Leaguers Apply For Job of Managing Team". The Morning Leader. 20 November 1919. p. 12. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "Bert Whaling managing statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 10 July 2011.