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George McBride

Born: November 20, 1880 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Died: July 2, 1973 (aged 92) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 170 lbs.
Position: Shortstop / Manager / Coach

Played For:

As player

Milwaukee Brewers (1901)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1905)
St. Louis Cardinals (1905–1906)
Washington Senators (1908–1920)

As manager

Washington Senators (1921)

As coach

Detroit Tigers (1925–1926, 1929)

Biography:

After stints in semi-pro ball, George Florian “Pinch” McBride joined the Pirates in 1905 but was traded mid-season to the Cardinals. He did not become a regular starter until the 1908 season, when he joined the Senators and became their everyday shortstop. He never hit for a high average (his best season was in 1911 when he hit .235 with 11 doubles and 4 triples), but was very talented with the glove, leading the American League in fielding for four straight seasons (1912 – 1915). He was given the nickname “Pinch” for his ability to hit in the clutch.

Like his contemporary in the National League, Mickey Doolan, George McBride was the prototypical “good-field, no-hit” shortstop during the Deadball Era. Widely viewed as the best defensive shortstop in his league, McBride struggled mightily at the bat. A relatively large shortstop, standing 5’11’ and weighing 170 pounds, McBride was described in the press as an “aggressive, alert, and quick-witted” fielder. He led the AL in fielding percentage five times, including four times consecutively from 1912 to 1915, and was near the lead in most other years. Meanwhile, he achieved only a .218 lifetime batting average, never exceeding .235 for a single season. He was an iron man during his days as the regular shortstop for the Washington Senators, and was recognized as one of the headiest players of his day.

For more info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_McBride
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bb22ca0e

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Bob Bescher

Born: February 25, 1884 in London, Ohio
Died: November 29, 1942 (aged 58) in London, Ohio
Bats: Both
Throws: Left
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 200 lbs.
Position: Leftfielder

Played For:

Cincinnati Reds (1908–1913)
New York Giants (1914)
St. Louis Cardinals (1915–1917)
Cleveland Indians (1918)

Biography:

Robert Henry “Bob” Bescher (February 25, 1884 – November 29, 1942) was a baseball outfielder who played 11 seasons in the major leagues. Born in London, Ohio, he played his best seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, and was one of the National League’s best base stealers during his time. Bescher originally attended the University of Notre Dame, but did not play college baseballthere. He played college football at Wittenberg University before signing his first minor leaguecontract in 1906. In September 1908, he joined the Reds for the first time and became the team’s regular left fielder in 1909. The switch-hitting Bescher played 5 seasons with Cincy, and established himself as a dangerous player on the basepaths with the Reds. He led the NL in stolen bases for four consecutive years from 1909 to 1912, and his 81 stolen bases in 1911 set a league record which was not broken for over 50 years.

Outside of stolen bases, he was the NL leader in runs in 1912, and was the NL leader in walksin 1913. Also in 1912, he hit a career-best .282 and finished 5th in voting for the Chalmers Award, a forerunner to the modern MVP award. He played for the New York Giants in 1914, after being traded there in exchange for Buck Herzog, and hit .270 in his lone year in the Big Apple. Three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals followed, which ended after he was traded to the minor league Milwaukee Brewers, the trade coming at a time before minor league teams were affiliated with Major League clubs. Bescher eventually returned to the majors in 1918 to play 25 games for the Cleveland Indiansto end his big league career, although he continued to play in the minor leagues into his 40s. He settled back down in London after his Major League career to run a local lodge. He later died at the age of 58 in a car accident after being hit by an oncoming train.

More info:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beschbo01.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Bescher

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