SABR "2010 Overlooked 19C BB Legend" Vote Results

[Joe_G.]

Point / Counter Point . . .

Here are a couple thoughts for your consideration. By 1936, the biggest issue facing Deacon White and many of the other 19th century greats was that they were forgotten. While Deacon White did play until 1890, his most impressive years, the years in which he clearly distanced himself from all others, spanned from the late 1860s through 1879 (his catching days). Most voters in 1936 had no memory of Deacon in his heyday unless they themselves were approaching 80+ years of age. I suspect very few of the voter’s fathers even remembered much about Deacon White. Before his death in 1939, Deacon White was the oldest major leaguer in the land, he had out-lived his contemporaries.

The more recent probing studies bring to light just how significant Deacon White was to the game of baseball. Recent books like “Catcher: How the Man Behind the Plate Became an American Folk Hero” by Peter Morris explain in great detail how important the catcher’s role was through the decades. In the 1870s, the catcher was deemed the most important position in baseball, a status it would never again attain. If you were the most skilled player on an 1870s nine and you were a truly brave soul, you just might make a successful catcher. The team with the best catcher typically won regardless of who might be pitching, hitting, etc. The games best pitchers needed equally capable catchers or they would flounder. The danger of catching was never higher than the 1870s when pitch speeds were on the rise, new pitches debuted such as the curve ball, and the dangerous proposition of playing right behind the batter when runners were aboard (a tactic Deacon White is credited with introducing). All this without safety equipment to protect against foul tips as would become popular (and necessary) by the 1880s and beyond. Deacon White was the gold standard, the best aspired to play like him. Deacon caught masterfully and did so for more games than anyone else in the 1870s.

Beyond his catching abilities, Deacon was also a feared hitter, often posting best or near-best numbers for his position, sometimes leading the whole league in BA, hits, RBIs, etc. Deacon White then re-invented himself as a 3rd baseman for the second half of his career (catching more games than anyone else in the 1870s did take its toll). If you dismiss his hero status of the 1870s and wipe the slate clean, Deacon was still impressive (Bill James ranks him as 76th best 3rd baseman of all time). Even when he became the oldest man in the league in 1887, he batted better than league average, heck better than the Wolverines league leading team average.

One should also note that Championships seemed to follow him around. Of course being part of two different "Big 4" moves didn't hurt. Spalding and others often wrote about his catching abilities together with his leadership on and off the field, his virtuous ways responsible for his nickname, the Deacon.

Lastly, I know N172 pose counts mean next to nothing, but it is somewhat suspicious to at least me that Deacon White was issued 9 poses when the next highest pose count for any Detroit player is 5 (Deacon White with 9, 19 other players with 5 or less). To spice up this thread and give Deacon a little love, I will post copies of all 9 poses in Studio Proof format (5 here, 4 in the next).