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Joe_G.My favorite catcher of all time, 19th century or otherwise, would be Charlie Bennett. Considered the best by many of his contemporaries, Charlie regularly led the league in fielding percentage.
Other than the Tomlinson portrait, I don't believe I've posted these images in the past. I would like to thank Bob Richardson, Bruce Babcock, and eBay (Brian Deer) for bringing these cabinets together. The batting Tomlinson being my most recent pick-up.
It would take volumes to relate all the interesting Charlie Bennett stories, but here is one account I'd like to share as published in the New York Times during the 1887 World Championship (w.r.t. Charlie behind the plate):
"When he held up that battered right hand, with its fingers swollen and spread like a boxing glove, with rags tied around three of them, and a general appearance of having been run over by a freight-car about the entire hand, it did not seem as though there was room to split it in any new place. He went right on with his play . . . though the blood was reddening his hand and could be seen now and then to drip from his fingers. Bennett wears a look of patient suffering on his bronzed features. His hands have suffered so much that they have probably become case-hardened and cease to feel . . ."
Here's a close-up of his Tomlinson Batting pose that shows his battered hands, hardly able to grip the bat. Consider that the photo dates to just before the start of the 1886 season, about half way through his career. His offensive dominance suffered as the injuries took their toll, but his defensive greatness remained.
Bennett's playing days would tragically end after the 1893 season concluded when he lost both legs in a train accident. He would then move back to Detroit where he was still extremely popular. A new ball park was built at the corner of Michigan & Trumbull in 1896 for the new Detroit Tiger team (Ban Johnson's Western League which turned American League 1901). The park was named "Bennett Park" in Bennett's honor. Charlie would catch the cerimonial first pitch that season, a tradition that would continue every year until 1927 due to Charlie's passing.
Feel free to comment and share scans of your favorite catcher, Charlie Bennett or otherwise.
Best Regards,
Joe Gonsowski