Baseball History Podcast

John Lester Moss, nicknamed “Les”, was born May 14, 1925 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Moss played as a catcher for the St. Louis Browns for the most significant portion of his career, and was a backup catcher almost all his career. He also scouted, coached, and managed in the White Sox and Tiger organizations for nearly 30 years.

Ernest Gordon Phelps, nicknamed “Babe”, was born April 19, 1908 in Odenton, MD. While playing for a local team, Phelps’ baseball exploits caught the attention of Clark Griffith, owner of the Washington Senators. Griffith eventually offered the young ballplayer his first professional contract. In 1931, he was called up to the big club at the end of the season for the proverbial “cup of coffee.”

William Ashley Freehan was born November 29, 1941 in Detroit, MI. Freehan played his entire Major League career for the Detroit Tigers and was widely regarded as one of the game’s best defensive catchers. He was described as a fierce competitor and a committed leader on the diamond.

Raymond William Schalk was born August 12, 1892 in Harvel, Illinois. The diminutive Ray Schalk was a symbol of toughness and durability and was one of the premier catchers of his day. He caught a Major League record four no-hitters in his career, including one perfect game. A merely adequate batter, his best batting came in the 1919 World Series, when he hit .304 as eight of his teammates threw the Series to gamblers.

Gerald Wayne Grote was born on October 6, 1942 in San Antonio, Texas. Grote become a key ingredient on Met teams for a dozen years. Lou Brock once said that Grote was the toughest catcher in the league to steal against. He was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era.

Martin Bergen, nicknamed “Marty”, was born October 25, 1871 in North Brookfield, Massachusetts. He was considered a superior defensive catcher, as compared to his contemporaries. A 2001 article about him described him as “a nimble fielder with a bullwhip arm who could snap the ball to second base without so much as moving his feet.” Bergen’s career, however, ended suddenly when he killed his wife and two children and then committed suicide.

William Walker Cooper was born January 8, 1915 in Atherton, Missouri. Cooper was a solid defensive catcher as well as a strong hitter, making the National League All-Star team every year from 1942 to 1950.

Clayton Errol Dalrymple was born December 3, 1936 in Chico, California. Remembered mainly for his strong-armed defense, Dalrymple actually won the Phillies’ regular catching job in 1960 with his bat. While Dalrymple’s hitting declined after his fourth year with the Phillies, his skills behind the plate kept him employed. He handled pitchers deftly and threw out a superior 49 percent of the runners who tried to steal against him during his career.

Elston Gene Howard was born February 23, 1929 in St. Louis, Missouri. Howard was a strong hitter, three times topping .300, with a high of .348 in 1961. He hit from an exaggerated spread stance when he came up, which he modified later in his career.

Gary Edmund Carter was born April 8, 1954 in Culver City, California. Nicknamed “The Kid”, for his youthful exuberance and ever-present smile, he was a premier catcher of the 1970s and early 1980s after Johnny Bench retired. Carter was known for his durability, clutch hitting, and skill at handling pitchers and balls in the dirt.