Bob O'Farrell
Bob O'Farrell | |
---|---|
Catcher / Manager | |
Born: Waukegan, Illinois, U.S. | October 19, 1896|
Died: February 20, 1988 Waukegan, Illinois, U.S. | (aged 91)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 5, 1915, for the Chicago Cubs | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 23, 1935, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .273 |
Home runs | 51 |
Runs batted in | 549 |
Managerial record | 122–121 |
Winning % | .502 |
Teams | |
As player
As manager | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Robert Arthur O'Farrell (October 19, 1896 – February 20, 1988) was an American
Baseball career
O'Farrell was born in
In 1920 O'Farrell caught the majority of the Cubs' games and posting a .248 batting average as, Killefer was injured during the season.[1] He began the 1921 season as backup catcher until August when, Killefer was named the Cubs new manager.[8][9]
O'Farrell had a breakout season in
In July 1924, O'Farrell suffered a fractured skull when a foul ball broke his catcher's mask.[12] He had asked a club house attendant to bring him a newer mask however, not wanting to delay the game, decided to continue to play with the older mask when he was struck in the head.[12]
He missed most of the season, and lost his job when future
In the 1926 World Series against the New York Yankees, O'Farrell produced a .301 batting average but, is remembered for throwing out Babe Ruth trying to steal second base for the last out of the seven-game series as the Cardinals claimed their first-ever world championship.[16][17]
In November, he was voted the winner of the 1926 National League Most Valuable Player Award with 79 out of the possible 80 votes.[18][19] He was the first catcher to win a Most Valuable Player Award.[19]
In December
The owner of the Cardinals at that time, Sam Breadon was unhappy that the Cardinals did not win the pennant, and that O'Farrell was leaving his pitchers in too long during games.[22] He was given a $5,000 bonus to step down and replaced by Bill McKechnie.[23] O'Farrell was traded to the New York Giants for George Harper in May 1928.[24] The trade caught many observers by surprise as, it left the Cardinals without an experienced catcher while the Giants had a surplus of catchers.[25]
O'Farrell played as a part-time catcher for the Giants, sharing catching duties with Shanty Hogan during John McGraw's final four years as manager of the club.[26] He hit for a .306 batting average in 1929 and followed that with a .301 average in 1930. By the 1931 season, the 34-year-old O'Farrell was past his prime as his batting average dipped to .224.[1]
In October 1932, O'Farrell was traded back to the St. Louis Cardinals for catcher Gus Mancuso as part of new Giants manager Bill Terry's rebuilding campaign.[27] He spent one season serving as backup catcher to Jimmie Wilson before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds in January 1934.[1]
The General Manager of the Reds, Larry MacPhail, named O'Farrell as the team's player-manager.[28] By July, the Reds had fallen to last place in the National League standings and, on July 27, O'Farrell requested his unconditional release from the team.[29]
It was later reported that after the Reds had lost nine consecutive games, O'Farrell was engaged in a conversation with MacPhail when he quipped, "Well, you can't win 'em all." A supposedly infuriated MacPhail hired
Career statistics
In a 21-year major league career, O'Farrell played in 1,492
While with the Giants, O'Farrell caught Carl Hubbell's no-hitter on May 8, 1929.[33] He caught for six pitchers who would eventually be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.[34]
After retirement he ran a bowling alley in Waukegan which was open for over 30 years. O'Farrell died in Waukegan at the age of 91.[35]
See also
- List of Major League Baseball player–managers
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Bob O'Farrell statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ISBN 1-56639-703-0.
- ISBN 0-688-11273-0.
- ^ Ritter: p. 241.
- ^ "Bob O'Farrell minor league statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ "1918 Chicago Cubs". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ "Bob O'Farrell post-season statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ "Cubs Under Evers Show New Life". The Saskatoon Phoenix. April 12, 1921. p. 9. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ "Evers Is Deposed As Leader Of Cubs". The New York Times. August 4, 1921. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ "1922 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ Broeg, Bob (October 1946). Strikes Behind The Plate. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ ISBN 0-684-80697-5.
- ^ Ritter: p. 235.
- ^ "Hornsby Likes Bob O'Farrell". The Meriden Journal. Associated Press. September 28, 1926. p. 4. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ "1926 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ Ahrens, Arthur (April 1975). Bob O'Farrell Recalls the 'Good Old Days'. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ "1926 World Series". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ "1926 National League Most Valuable Player Award". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ a b "Bob O'Farrell Nat. League's Most Valuable". The Grape Belt. December 7, 1926. p. 29. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ "Bob O'Farrell Assumes Duties With Cards". The Miami News. Associated Press. December 28, 1926. p. 29. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ a b Eisenbath: p. 254.
- ISBN 1-56639-745-6.
- ^ "M'Kechnie Made Manager Of Cardinals". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. November 7, 1927. p. 14. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ "Bob O'Farrell Goes To Giants". The Miami News. Associated Press. May 11, 1928. p. 12. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- ^ "Harper Goes To Cardinals". The Border Cities Star. United Press International. May 11, 1928. p. 3. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- ^ Ritter: p. 239.
- ^ "First Trade Sends Four To Cardinals". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. October 11, 1932. p. 27. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- ^ "O'Farrell Of Cards To Manage Cincinnati Reds". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. January 12, 1934. p. 7. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- ^ "O'Farrell Requested His Release By Reds". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. August 2, 1934. p. 19. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- ^ Robinson, Murray (August 1961). Murray Robinson Says. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ "Bob O'Farrell Signs With Cubs". The Day. Associated Press. August 7, 1934. p. 14. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- ^ "Bob O'Farrell Given Release". Herald-Journal. December 15, 1935. p. 14. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Giants 11, Pittsburgh Pirates 0".
- ^ "Catchers Who Caught The Most Hall Of Fame Pitchers". sabr.org. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
- ^ "Former Catcher O'Farrell Dies". The Telegraph-Herald. February 24, 1988. p. 3. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Bob O'Farrell at Find a Grave