Tom Barlow (baseball): Difference between revisions
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Barlow stated several years after the fact that he sustained an injury to his side during the {{Baseball year|1874}} season while catching pitcher [[Cherokee Fisher]], while playing for the [[Hartford Dark Blues]]. 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 actor David Caruso in [[Ken Burns]]'s 1994 [[Documentary film|documentary]], [[Baseball (TV series)|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 stated several years after the fact that he sustained an injury to his side during the {{Baseball year|1874}} season while catching pitcher [[Cherokee Fisher]], while playing for the [[Hartford Dark Blues]]. 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 actor David Caruso in [[Ken Burns]]'s 1994 [[Documentary film|documentary]], [[Baseball (TV series)|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." |
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The specific details in the letter are |
The specific details in the letter are mostly, but not totally, supported by the historical record. Fisher and Barlow were indeed teammates with the [[1874 Hartford Dark Blues season|1874 Hartford Dark Blues]]. Fisher started 35 of the Dark Blues' 53 games. Barlow was however a shortstop that season, playing in 32 games. Barlow says the injury happened when the Dark Blues were playing the Chicago White Stockings in Chicago on August 10, 1874, but the record shows that on that date the Dark Blues were playing at home against [[1874 Philadelphia Athletics season|the Philadelphia Athletics]], and [[Bill Stearns]] was Hartford's starting pitcher. |
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Barlow was taken out in the middle of the game that day, which was highly unusual at the time. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1874/B08110HR11874.htm}}</ref> He skipped Hartford's next game, but returned to the lineup for five games, before missing the rest of the season. His last appearance on September 10, 1874 was indeed against the White Stockings, but it was a home game for the Dark Blues. |
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Barlow played two games in {{Baseball year|1875}}, one for the [[New Haven Elm Citys]], and another for his old team, the Atlantics. In September 1877, Barlow was arrested for shoplifting in New York City. He told the court that he was under the influence of opium, and that his addiction began four years earlier when he was a catcher for Hartford. (In 1873, he was a catcher, but with the [[1873 Brooklyn Atlantics season|Brooklyn Atlantics]]. <ref>{{cite news |
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| author =<!--not stated--> |
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| title = [[New York Times]] |
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| date = 1877-09-09 |
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| title = A Disconsolate Base-Ball Player |
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}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 01:25, 8 November 2023
| Tom Barlow | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Catcher/Shortstop | |
| Born: 1852 New York | |
| Died: Unknown | |
Batted: Unknown Threw: Unknown | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 2, 1872, for the Brooklyn Atlantics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 30, 1875, for the Brooklyn Atlantics | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .290 |
| Runs scored | 120 |
| Runs batted in | 32 |
| Teams | |
Thomas H. Barlow (1852–?) was an American Major League Baseball player who played as a catcher and shortstop for three different teams in his entire four-year career, spent entirely in the National Association.[1] Barlow is credited as the pioneer of the bunt.[2]
Career
Barlow began his career with the Brooklyn Atlantics in 1872, 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 1873, 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 1945 when Mike Tresh caught all 150 of the Chicago White Sox' games.[3]
Barlow stated several years after the fact that he sustained an injury to his side during the 1874 season while catching pitcher Cherokee Fisher, while playing for the Hartford Dark Blues. 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 actor David Caruso 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."
The specific details in the letter are mostly, but not totally, supported by the historical record. Fisher and Barlow were indeed teammates with the 1874 Hartford Dark Blues. Fisher started 35 of the Dark Blues' 53 games. Barlow was however a shortstop that season, playing in 32 games. Barlow says the injury happened when the Dark Blues were playing the Chicago White Stockings in Chicago on August 10, 1874, but the record shows that on that date the Dark Blues were playing at home against the Philadelphia Athletics, and Bill Stearns was Hartford's starting pitcher.
Barlow was taken out in the middle of the game that day, which was highly unusual at the time. [4] He skipped Hartford's next game, but returned to the lineup for five games, before missing the rest of the season. His last appearance on September 10, 1874 was indeed against the White Stockings, but it was a home game for the Dark Blues.
Barlow played two games in 1875, one for the New Haven Elm Citys, and another for his old team, the Atlantics. In September 1877, Barlow was arrested for shoplifting in New York City. He told the court that he was under the influence of opium, and that his addiction began four years earlier when he was a catcher for Hartford. (In 1873, he was a catcher, but with the Brooklyn Atlantics. [5]
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 in Brooklyn and his occupation is listed as "ball player."
References
- ^ "Tom Barlow's Stats". retrosheet.org. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
- ^ Burns (1994). Baseball. p. 20.
- ^ "Iron Man Catchers". members.tripod.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
- ^ https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1874/B08110HR11874.htm.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "A Disconsolate Base-Ball Player". 1877-09-09.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference