Charlie Bennett

Charlie Bennett
Catcher
Born: November 21, 1854 New Castle , United States
Died on: February 24, 1927 Detroit , United States
Suggested: Right	Threw: Right
Debut in Major League Baseball
May 1,  1878  with the  Milwaukee Grays
Last MLB assignment
September 30,  1893  with the  Boston Beaneaters
MLB statistics (until end of career)
Batting average	, 256
Home runs	55
Runs Batted In	533
Teams
Milwaukee Grays (1878) Worcester Ruby Legs (1880) Detroit Wolverines (1881-1888) Boston Beaneaters (1889-1893)

Charles Wesley Bennett (born November 21, 1854 in Newcastle , Pennsylvania , † February 24, 1927 in Detroit , Michigan ) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball .

Career

He played as a catcher in the major league for 15 seasons . In total, he played 1062 games, scored 978 hits , 55 home runs and 533 RBIs . He had the highest slugging percentage on the Detroit Wolverines team in the first four years .

In addition to his skills as a batsman, Bennett was considered one of the best defensive catchers of the 19th century. He led the National League in the statistics " fielding percentage of a catcher" seven times (1881, 1883, 1886, and 1888-1891). Furthermore, he had three times the most double plays and putouts in the National League by a catcher. He is also considered to be the inventor of the chest protector, special protective equipment for a catcher that protects his upper body. For this purpose, he had his wife make a cork-lined vest that he wore under his uniform.

After playing for the Milwaukee Grays and Worcester Ruby Legs in 1878 , he moved to the Detroit Wolverines (1881-1888) for eight seasons . He played with it the whole time the team existed and became one of the most famous Detroit players of the 19th century. The only one who had been on the team for just as long was center fielder Ned Hanlon .

For the last five years of his career he played with the Boston Beaneaters , winning with them the 1892 World Championship Series against the Cleveland Spiders .

statistics

year	Runs	Hits	Home runs	Batting average	RBIs	Slugging percentage
1878	16	45	1	12	, 245	, 310
1880	20th	44	0	18th	, 228	, 306
1881	44	90	7th	64	, 301	, 478
1882	43	103	5	51	, 301	, 450
1883	56	113	5	55	, 305	, 474
1884	37	90	3	40	, 264	, 378
1885	49	94	5	60	, 269	, 456
1886	37	57	4th	34	, 243	, 391
1887	26th	39	3	20th	, 244	, 400
1888	32	68	5	29	, 264	, 399
1889	42	57	4th	28	, 231	, 328
1890	59	60	3	40	, 214	, 320
1891	35	55	5	39	, 215	, 332
1892	19th	23	1	16	, 202	, 263
1893	34	40	4th	27	, 209	, 304

Train accident and life after sport

After the 1893 season, Bennett went hunting with pitcher John Clarkson . Bennet got off the train in Wellsville to talk to a friend. When he tried to get back on the train, he slipped and fell under the wheels. As a result of the accident, he lost both legs. His baseball career was over.

After his accident, Bennett moved to Detroit, where he owned a tobacco shop. In 1896, the then newly built Bennett Park baseball stadium was named after him. At the opening he caught the first litter in the new stadium. This became a tradition in Detroit, which Bennett continued in every home game until 1926.

Benett died in Detroit on February 24, 1927, at the age of 72.

Web links

• Player information and statistics Baseball Reference (English)
• Charlie Bennett in the Baseball Library (English)