Gabby Hartnett
Gabby Hartnett | |
---|---|
Catcher / Manager | |
Born: Woonsocket, Rhode Island, U.S. | December 20, 1900|
Died: December 20, 1972 Park Ridge, Illinois, U.S. | (aged 72)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 12, 1922, for the Chicago Cubs | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 24, 1941, for the New York Giants | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .297 |
Home runs | 236 |
Runs batted in | 1,179 |
Managerial record | 203–176 |
Winning % | .536 |
Teams | |
As player
As manager | |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Member of the National | |
Baseball Hall of Fame | |
Induction | 1955 |
Vote | 77.7% (12th ballot) |
Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett (December 20, 1900 – December 20, 1972), also nicknamed "Old Tomato Face",
Hartnett was an all-around player, performing well both offensively and defensively.
Prior to Johnny Bench, Hartnett was considered the greatest catcher in the history of the National League.[4][5] A six-time All-Star, he appeared in four World Series during his playing career. At the time of his retirement, Hartnett held the career records for catchers in home runs, runs batted in, hits, doubles and most games played as a catcher. Hartnett was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955.[6]
Life and career
Early life
Hartnett was born in
Professional career
Hartnett joined the Cubs in
Rise to stardom
Hartnett hit 24 home runs in 1925, breaking the single-season home run record for catchers set by
The young catcher had a disappointing year in 1926 as his batting average dropped to .275 with only 41 runs batted in. Hartnett's offensive statistics rebounded in 1927, producing a .294 batting average with 10 home runs and 80 runs batted in. Although he led the league's catchers in putouts, assists and in baserunners caught stealing, his inexperience showed as he also led the league in errors and in passed balls. He finished tenth in the balloting for the 1927 National League Most Valuable Player Award.[19]
Career prime
In 1928, Hartnett hit above .300 for the first time, posting a .302 batting average with 14 home runs.[2] He also surpassed Jack Clements' major league record of 72 career home runs by a catcher.[14] Hartnett also led National League catchers in assists, caught stealing percentage and in fielding percentage.[20] As he matured as a player, he became more disciplined on the field and committed fewer errors.[3] He threw the baseball around the infield in a fearless manner, throwing out baserunners with a high degree of accuracy. Between 1928 and 1938, Hartnett led the league's catchers in fielding percentage seven times.[3]
In
During an exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox on September 9, 1931, Hartnett was photographed while signing an autograph for gangster Al Capone.[25] After the photograph was published in newspapers across the United States, Hartnett received a telegram from Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis instructing him not to have his photograph taken with Capone in the future.[25] Hartnett replied with a telegram to the Commissioner whimsically stating, "OK, but if you don't want me to have my picture taken with Al Capone, you tell him."[25]
In 1932, Hartnett guided the Cubs' pitching staff to the lowest team earned run average in the league, as the Cubs clinched the National League pennant by 4 games over the Pittsburgh Pirates.[26] Hartnett was the Cubs' catcher on October 1, in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series against the New York Yankees when Babe Ruth hit his debated "called shot."[17] Although he hit for a .313 batting average with 1 home run, the Yankees won the series in a four-game sweep.[27]
In 1933, Hartnett was selected to be a reserve catcher for the National League team in the inaugural Major League Baseball All-Star Game held on July 6, 1933.[28] It was the first of six consecutive All-Star game selections for Hartnett.[2] At the mid-season point of the 1934 season, Hartnett was hitting for a .336 batting average with 13 home runs to earn the starting catcher's role for the National League team in the 1934 All-Star Game.[29][30] Hartnett was calling the pitches for Carl Hubbell in the 1934 All-Star Game when the Giants pitcher set a record by striking out future Hall of Fame members Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin in succession.[17] Hartnett ended the 1934 season with another strong offensive performance, hitting for a .299 batting average with 22 home runs and 90 runs batted in.[2] He dominated the defensive statistics, leading the league's catchers in assists, putouts, baserunners caught stealing, caught stealing percentage, range factor and in fielding percentage.[31]
Hartnett had another impressive season in 1935 when he produced a .344 batting average, third-highest in the league and led the league's catchers in assists, double plays, and fielding percentage.[2][32] He also led the Cubs pitching staff to the lowest earned run average in the league as they won the National League pennant by 4 games over the St. Louis Cardinals.[33] For his performance, Hartnett was named the recipient of the 1935 National League Most Valuable Player Award.[34] The Cubs lost to the Detroit Tigers led by Mickey Cochrane in the 1935 World Series.[35]
The Cubs fell to third place in
Homer in the Gloamin'
On July 20,
On September 28, 1938, the two teams met for the second game of the series, where Hartnett experienced the highlight of his career. With darkness descending on the lightless Wrigley Field and the score tied at 5 runs apiece, the umpires ruled that the ninth
The Cubs were in first place, culminating an impressive 19-3-1 record in September, and the pennant was clinched three days later.[43] Hartnett once again led the Cubs pitching staff to the lowest earned run average in the league and led National League catchers with a .995 fielding percentage.[46][47] However, the Cubs were swept in the 1938 World Series by the New York Yankees, their fourth Series loss in ten years.[48]
Later career
Hartnett felt the strain of managing a team during the 1939 season as he faced player discontent over the pampering of Dizzy Dean while pitcher Larry French went over his head to complain to owner Philip Wrigley about his lack of pitching assignments.[49] French felt he was being punished for requesting to have Gus Mancuso as his catcher.[49] In addition, Hartnett was forced to pencil himself into the lineup more often because the Cubs' other catchers had little luck at the plate.[49] On August 28, 1939, he broke Ray Schalk's major league record of 1,727 career games as a catcher.[50] His record for longevity was surpassed by Al López during the 1945 season.[51]
After two disappointing seasons, Hartnett was dismissed by the Cubs on November 13,
Career statistics
In a 20-year major league career, Hartnett played in 1,990
At the time of his retirement, Hartnett's 236 home runs, 1,179 runs batted in, 1,912 hits, and 396 doubles were all records for catchers.
Post-playing career and retirement
Afterwards, Hartnett managed in the minor leagues for five seasons, retiring to Lincolnwood, Illinois, in 1946.[62] On January 26, 1955, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame along with Joe DiMaggio, Ted Lyons and Dazzy Vance.[63] In 1981, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included Hartnett in their book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time. In 1999, he was named as a finalist to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.[64]
Hartnett also served as a color commentator for CBS' Major League Baseball telecasts. Hartnett in particular, alongside Bob Finnegan called the April 11, 1959, contest between Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs and the June 12, 1960, contest between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cubs.
In his last job in the majors Hartnett worked as a
Hartnett died of cirrhosis in Park Ridge, Illinois, on his 72nd birthday in 1972, and is interred in All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois.[54]
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball player-managers
References
- ^ a b c d Gabby Hartnett at the SABR Baseball Biography Project , by Bill Johnson, Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Gabby Hartnett statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7864-2177-0.
- ^ a b "Gabby Hartnett". entertainment.howstuffworks.com. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ Vass, George (November 1969). Superstars of the 70's Who Will They Be?. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ "Gabby Hartnett". Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "Gabby Hartnett minor league statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ a b Birtwell, Roger (February 1970). Scout's Report on Hartnett Proved Wrong. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ a b c "Gabby Hartnett at Baseball Statistics". baseball-statistics.com. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ISBN 0-684-80697-5.
- ^ Ahrens, Art (March 1976). When Old Alex Won his 300th Game. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ISBN 0-688-11273-0.
- ^ "Bob O'Farrell". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "Record for Most Home Runs by a Catcher". sabr.org. Archived from the original on July 14, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "1925 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "1925 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Haag, Irv (April 1973). Baseball's All-Time Greatest Catchers. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ "Many Big Trades Expected At Meet". The Telegraph-Herald. I.N.S. December 9, 1925. p. 9. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ^ "1927 National League Most Valuable Player Award ballot". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
- ^ "1928 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
- ^ a b "Gabby Hartnett at The Baseball Page". thebaseballpage.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "Gabby Hartnett post-season statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "1930 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "Progression of Season Catcher Homerun Record". The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
- ^ ISBN 0-7864-1850-8. Google Book Search. Retrieved on February 14, 2011.
- ^ "1932 National League Team Statistics and Standings". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "1932 World Series". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "1933 All-Star Game". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "1934 Gabby Hartnett batting log". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "1934 All-Star Game". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "1934 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
- ^ "1935 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "1935 National League Team Statistics and Standings". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ "1935 National League Most Valuable Player Award ballot". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "1935 World Series". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "1936 All-Star Game". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
- ^ "1936 National League Team Statistics and Standings". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
- ^ "1937 All-Star Game". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ "1937 National League Most Valuable Player Award ballot". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ Vass, George (April 1996). Here's How Division Races Shape Up for the '96 Season. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ "Mike Piazza career statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ "Gabby Hartnett Succeeds Grimm As Cub Manager". The Daily Times. July 21, 1938. p. 9. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ a b c "1938 Chicago Cubs Schedule". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ a b "Homer In The Gloamin'". mlb.com. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ Carmichael, John (October 1978). When Gabby Hartnett Hit His Homer In The Gloamin'. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ "1938 National League Team Statistics and Standings". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ "1938 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "1938 World Series". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ a b c "French Action Further Pains Cub's Manager". The Telegraph-Herald. United Press International. August 1, 1939. p. 9. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "Chicago Catcher-Manager Has Equalled or Cracked Long Time Backstop Mark". The Calgary Herald. Associated Press. August 29, 1939. p. 7. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "Al Lopez Set Major Loop Catching Mark". The Daily Times. August 3, 1945. p. 5. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
- ^ "Gabby Hartnett Dismissed as Chicago Cubs Manager in National League". Montreal Gazette. Associated Press. November 14, 1940. p. 15. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "Gabby Hartnett To Coach Giants". The Calgary Herald. Associated Press. December 3, 1940. p. 7. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ a b "Former Cubs great, Gabby Hartnett dead". The Telegraph-Herald. Associated Press. December 19, 1972. p. 24. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "Catchers' fielding records". The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "Hartnett Looks Like Old Gabby". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. February 26, 1941. p. 24. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ How Ted Simmons Rates With Hall of Fame Catchers. Baseball Digest. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
- ^ "Johnny Bench career statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ "Yogi Berra career statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ "Career Leaders & Records for Caught Stealing Percentage". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
- ISBN 0-684-80697-5.
- ^ "Gabby Hartnett minor league manager record". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "Di Mag, Lyons, Hartnett, Vance Voted To Hall". The Victoria Advocate. United Press International. January 27, 1955. p. 10. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "Major League Baseball All-Century Team". mlb.com. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
External links
- Gabby Hartnett at the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Gabby Hartnett at the SABR Baseball Biography Project , by Bill Johnson, Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Retrosheet