Tom Barlow (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Thomas H. Barlow was an American
Major League Baseball
player who played catcher
and shortstop
for three different team in his four year career, a career that was comprised entirely in the National Association
. Barlow is credited as the pioneer of the bunt.
in , and played 37 games
, most of them as catcher, but did play four games at shortstop as well. He hit well that season, hitting
.310, and scored 34 runs
. In , he caught 53 games, becoming the second player credited with catching all of his team's games, a feat that has been accomplished just seven times, the latest occurring in when Mike Tresh
caught all 150 of the Chicago White Sox
's games.
It was during the season while playing for the Hartford Dark Blues
that he sustained an injury to his side while catching pitcher Cherokee Fisher
. Later, when he was being treated at his hotel room, a physician administered a morphine
injection, which began his addiction to the drug, and subsequently, he lost his baseball career to it. Barlow documented his troubles in a letter, which is read by a voice actor in Ken Burns
's 1994 documentary
, Baseball. In the letter, he lamented on how he was once the catcher for the Mutuals, and the Atlantics, "but no one would know it by looking at me now." He also said "I'd had rather died behind the bat, than have had that first dose." Barlow played two games in , one for the New Haven Elm Citys
, and another for his old team, the Atlantics. Currently, there is no information of his life after baseball, to include where he lived, or where he died. He can be found in the 1880 census as living with his parents and his occupation is listed as "ball player."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player who played catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for three different team in his four year career, a career that was comprised entirely in the National Association
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
. Barlow is credited as the pioneer of the bunt.
Career
Tom began his career with the Brooklyn AtlanticsBrooklyn Atlantics
The Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn was baseball's first champion and its first dynasty.Established in 1855, Atlantic was a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players in 1857. In 1859, with a record of 11 wins and 1 loss, Atlantic emerged as the recognized champions of...
in , and played 37 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, most of them as catcher, but did play four games at shortstop as well. He hit well that season, hitting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.310, and scored 34 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
. In , he caught 53 games, becoming the second player credited with catching all of his team's games, a feat that has been accomplished just seven times, the latest occurring in when Mike Tresh
Mike Tresh
Michael "Mike" Tresh was a catcher in Major League Baseball. From 1938 through 1949, he played for the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians . Tresh batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania...
caught all 150 of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
's games.
It was during the season while playing for the Hartford Dark Blues
Hartford Dark Blues
The Hartford Dark Blues were a 19th century baseball team. The team was based in Hartford, Connecticut.-History:They were a member of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players in 1874 and 1875 and the National League in 1876 and 1877...
that he sustained an injury to his side while catching pitcher Cherokee Fisher
Cherokee Fisher
William Charles "Cherokee" Fisher , was an American baseball pitcher.Fisher was a pitcher during organized baseball's formative years, from about 1867 to the end of his career. He was known for his fastball on the field and his heavy drinking off it. William J...
. Later, when he was being treated at his hotel room, a physician administered a morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
injection, which began his addiction to the drug, and subsequently, he lost his baseball career to it. Barlow documented his troubles in a letter, which is read by a voice actor in Ken Burns
Ken Burns
Kenneth Lauren "Ken" Burns is an American director and producer of documentary films, known for his style of using archival footage and photographs...
's 1994 documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
, Baseball. In the letter, he lamented on how he was once the catcher for the Mutuals, and the Atlantics, "but no one would know it by looking at me now." He also said "I'd had rather died behind the bat, than have had that first dose." Barlow played two games in , one for the New Haven Elm Citys
New Haven Elm Citys
The New Haven Elm Citys was a professional baseball team based in New Haven, Connecticut. The existed for one season, in the National Association in . The Elm City played 47 games during their existence, and had a win–loss record of 7–40. They played their home games at the Howard Avenue Grounds...
, and another for his old team, the Atlantics. Currently, there is no information of his life after baseball, to include where he lived, or where he died. He can be found in the 1880 census as living with his parents and his occupation is listed as "ball player."