Photo of the Day Thursday March 13, 2014 Catchers....catchers everywhere!

[mchenrycards]

I have run across a few decent photos featuring catchers and their masks and thought some of them were pretty cool. It was fun to look up some of these pictures and see the evolution of the equipment and, in some cases, wonder how the catcher escaped serious injury while wearing these masks.

Today's photos will be a bit interractive as I am not going to post the names of the players featured but will ask everyone to guess who the pictured are. If you are a casual fan of baseball you will certainly know the names of the players pictured. I will post later in the day who the players are.

I hope you enjoy today's photo of the day.

1. Roger Bresnahan (obviously since his name is on the photo!)
2. Vic Willis, 1903
3. Mickey Cochrane, 1930
4. Jimmy Foxx, year unknown
5. Bill Dickey
6. Dizzy Dean, 1937
7. Johnny Bench, 1970
8. Carlton Fisk, Mid '70's
9. Gary Carter, 1986

 

[olerud363]

The last one looks like Gary Carter.

- Rodrick

 

[mchenrycards]

The last one looks like Gary Carter.

- Rodrick

The last photo is indeed Expos and Mets Hall of Famer Gary Carter. The photo was taken in 1986 during the Mets championship year!

 

[MrMet]

7 Bench?

 

[mchenrycards]

7 Bench?

Photo number seven is Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench. This photo was taken in 1970.

 

[MrMet]

I don't know the old guys too well, but the guy lounging in the Cards uni looks so damn familiar!

 

[Mozzie22]

#6 is Dizzy Dean and #8 looks like Fisk

 

[mchenrycards]

I don't know the old guys too well, but the guy lounging in the Cards uni looks so damn familiar!

He is probably very familiar to you. The only hint I would give is that the player is not actually a catcher!!

 

[gracecollector]

#2 is a trick question, he's a little-known HOF pitcher. Never caught a game in his MLB career, although did play 12 games at 1B.

Vic Willis

 

[BunchOBull]

Isn't 8 Fisk?

 

[gracecollector]

#3 is another HOFer, but this time a real catcher. He never really wanted to be a baseball player or a catcher, his passion was football but he couldn't support his family on a football player's salary in the 1920's (football was still in its infancy).

Mickey Cochrane

 

[mchenrycards]

#6 is Dizzy Dean and #8 looks like Fisk

You are right on both counts!!

 

[mchenrycards]

#2 is a trick question, he's a little-known HOF pitcher. Never caught a game in his MLB career, although did play 12 games at 1B.

Vic Willis

I had to throw a trick in there to make it a bit tougher! Good eye.

 

[gracecollector]

And #5 I'm not sure, but guessing Bruce Ogrodowski.

 

[mchenrycards]

#3 is another HOFer, but this time a real catcher. He never really wanted to be a baseball player or a catcher, his passion was football but he couldn't support his family on a football player's salary in the 1920's (football was still in its infancy).

Mickey Cochrane

Number three is indeed "Black" Mike Cochrane. They called him Black Mike because of his intense hatred of losing and the black mood he would be in after a loss. Hall of Fame catcher for the Tigers and Athletics.

Mickey Mantle has often said that he was named after the "original" Mickey!

 

[mchenrycards]

And #5 I'm not sure, but guessing Bruce Ogrodowski.

Per the notations on the photo this is not Ogrodowski. The depicted player started out as a catcher but was never really known for playing that position.

 

[gracecollector]

Per the notations on the photo this is not Ogrodowski. The depicted player started out as a catcher but was never really known for playing that position.

Young Ted messing around?

 

[mchenrycards]

Young Ted messing around?

Well I will just throw this out there because looking at the picture I had a hard time believeing it was 'ole Double X himself, Jimmy Foxx! The photo attributes say it is him though!

 

[mchenrycards]

As a side note, the color photo of Bill Dickey was taken right before the start of the 1939 World Series that matched the powerhouse Yankees against the Cincinnati Reds. There is some very cool color footage of that World Series on YouTube that I thought was pretty cool to see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMm_GeM4Hhk