Post by glasspoet on Nov 26, 2011 15:10:56 GMT -5
Fred Dunlap was baseball's first defensive specialist, a 2Bman before the advent of the glove. He was baseball's highest paid player at one time before baseball began to mandate player salaries.
Not only did he start playing secondbase like modern players do today---he was known to be able to catch the ball with either hand smoothly and efficiently (known for fielding percentage and range), BUT he could THROW hard and accurately with either hand! He continued to play without a glove well after the usage of gloves became universal. Many baseball experts feel he probably had the highest rate of successful double plays per total double play chances of anyone in history!
Its not like he couldn't hit either! He once led his league in Runs, Hits, Homeruns, Stolen Bases, Assists....and if they had kept Runs Batted In back then---he would certainly have won the Triple Crown! And did that as player/manager.
His stats don't reflect his prowess: as a contract dispute, a bad slide into thirdbase, and his successful business interests kept him from only playing a handful of games after the age of 30.
Not only did he start playing secondbase like modern players do today---he was known to be able to catch the ball with either hand smoothly and efficiently (known for fielding percentage and range), BUT he could THROW hard and accurately with either hand! He continued to play without a glove well after the usage of gloves became universal. Many baseball experts feel he probably had the highest rate of successful double plays per total double play chances of anyone in history!
Its not like he couldn't hit either! He once led his league in Runs, Hits, Homeruns, Stolen Bases, Assists....and if they had kept Runs Batted In back then---he would certainly have won the Triple Crown! And did that as player/manager.
His stats don't reflect his prowess: as a contract dispute, a bad slide into thirdbase, and his successful business interests kept him from only playing a handful of games after the age of 30.