Description
Gabby Street
Born: September 30, 1882 Huntsville, Alabama
Died: February 6, 1951 (aged 68) Joplin, Missouri
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 180 lbs.
Positions: Catcher
Played For:
As player
Cincinnati Reds (1904–05)
Boston Beaneaters (1905)
Cincinnati Reds (1905)
Washington Senators (1908–1911)
New York Highlanders (1912)
St. Louis Cardinals (1931)
As manager
St. Louis Cardinals (1929; 1930–33)
St. Louis Browns (1938)
Biography:
Charles Evard “Gabby” Street (September 30, 1882 – February 6, 1951), also nicknamed “The Old Sarge”, was an American catcher, manager, coach, and radio broadcaster in Major League Baseball during the first half of the 20th century. As a catcher, he participated in one of the most publicized baseball stunts of the century’s first decade. As a manager, he led the St. Louis Cardinals to two National League championships (1930–31) and one world title (1931). And as a broadcaster, he entertained St. Louis baseball fans in the years following World War II.
Gabby Street may not have been much of a batsman in his career. His high mark for batting average was .238 in 1905, a season he split between Cincinnati and the Boston Beaneaters. Perhaps he was aided by only 105 at-bats, the second lowest total of his career. There may have been a slight decrease in that .238 average had he made more trips to the plate. His strength as a big-league catcher was how he handled his position, worked the pitching staff.
During his time in Washington, Street was a favorite backstop of Walter Johnson. “You don’t see Gabby’s kind of a catcher anymore. He never hit much, but what a receiver he was—big fellow, a perfect target, great arm, slow afoot, but spry as a cat on his feet behind the plate, always talking, always hustling, full of pep and fight,” said Johnson. “Gabby was always jabberin’, and he never let a pitcher take his mind off the game. When we got in a tight spot, Gabby was right out there to talk it over with me. He never let me forget a batter’s weakness.”
More info:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabby_Street
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/streega01.shtml
