Doug Allison | |
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Catcher | |
Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | July 12, 1846|
Died: December 19, 1916 Washington, D.C., U.S. | (aged 70)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
May 5, 1871, for the Washington Olympics | |
Last MLB appearance | |
July 13, 1883, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .271 |
Home runs | 2 |
Runs batted in | 139 |
Teams | |
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Douglas L. Allison (July 12, 1846 – December 19, 1916) was an American Major League Baseball player. He began his career as a catcher for the original Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first fully professional baseball team. Allison was one of the first catchers to stand directly behind the batter, as a means to prevent baserunners from stealing bases.[1] He was considered a specialist, at a time when some of the better batsmen who manned the position normally rested, or substituted at other fielding positions. Allison became the earliest known player to use a type of baseball glove when he donned buckskin mittens to protect his hands in 1870.[2]
Prior to his baseball career, Allison served as a private in Company L of the 192nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War.[3] His brother Art Allison also played in the Major Leagues.[citation needed]