| Roger Bresnahan | |
|---|---|
_(LOC)_(cropped).jpg) | |
| Catcher / Outfielder / Manager | |
| Born: June 11, 1879 Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: December 4, 1944 (aged 65) Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 27, 1897, for the Washington Senators | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 3, 1915, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .279 |
| Home runs | 26 |
| Runs batted in | 530 |
| Managerial record | 328–432 |
| Winning % | .432 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Managerial record at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
As player
As manager | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 1945 |
| Election method | Old-Timers Committee |
Roger Philip Bresnahan (June 11, 1879 – December 4, 1944), nicknamed "the Duke of Tralee", was an American player and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). As a player, Bresnahan competed in MLB for the Washington Senators (1897), Chicago Orphans (1900), Baltimore Orioles (1901–02), New York Giants (1902–1908), St. Louis Cardinals (1909–1912) and Chicago Cubs (1913–1915). Bresnahan also managed the Cardinals (1909–1912) and Cubs (1915). He was a member of the 1905 World Series champions.
Bresnahan began his MLB career as a pitcher. He also served as an outfielder, before becoming a regular catcher. For his MLB career, Bresnahan had a .279 batting average in 4,480 at bats and a 328–432 managerial win–loss record. Bresnahan popularized the use of protective equipment in baseball by introducing shin guards, to be worn by catchers, in 1907.[1][2] He also developed the first batting helmet.
After retiring as a player, Bresnahan remained active in professional baseball. He owned the minor league Toledo Mud Hens and coached for the Giants and Detroit Tigers. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945 by the Veterans Committee.[3]
- ^ Suehsdorf, A. D. (1978). The Great American Baseball Scrapbook. Random House. p. 36. ISBN 0-394-50253-1.
- ^ Appel, Marty (Winter 2011–2012). "A Second Look at Hall of Famer Roger Bresnahan. Memories and Dreams". National Baseball Hall of Fame Official Magazine. 33 (6): 39.
A pair of his shin guards is ... part of the Hall of Fame's collection . ...
- ^ His Hall of Fame plaque states, in part: "He was one of the game's most natural players and might have starred at any position. [He] was one of the few major league catchers fast enough to be used as a leadoff man." Appel, Marty. A Second Look at Hall of Famer Roger Bresnahan. Memories and Dreams (Vol. 33, No. 6; Winter 2011[-2012], p. 39). National Baseball Hall of Fame official magazine.