Roger Bresnahan
| Birthdate | 6/11/1879 |
| Death Date | 12/4/1944 |
| Debut Year | 1897 |
| Year of Induction | 1945 |
| Teams | Cardinals, Cubs, Giants |
| Positions | Catcher, Outfield |
Roger Bresnahan is often credited with introducing shin guards to be worn by catchers, as well as developing the first batting helmet.
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Roger Bresnahan was Christy Mathewson's primary catcher from 1902-1908
Roger Bresnahan was Christy Mathewson's primary catcher from 1902-1908
Roger Bresnahan played his first big league game in 1897, just two months after his 18th birthday. He played for five teams including the NL Washington Senators, Chicago Orphans, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Giants.
Early in his time John McGraw‘s Orioles as a pitcher, Bresnahan was displeased with the Baltimore backup receivers. McGraw then pressed the athletically-gifted Bresnahan to catcher, a position he’d hold the rest of his career. Listed at 5’9″ and 200 pounds, the versatile Bresnahan was fleet of foot, sometimes batting in the leadoff spot in the order.
Perhaps his biggest break came on July 17, 1902, the day he was released by Baltimore and signed by the New York Giants.
Bresnahan’s seven seasons in New York as Christy Mathewson‘s battery mate are what he’s remembered for today. From 1902 until 1908 Bresnahan was Matty’s primary catcher. Later that role was passed to Chief Meyers who was with the Giants from 1910-1914.
After a 17-year career as a player ended in 1915, Bresnahan kept close ties to the game until 1931. Among the roles he fulfilled was owner of the Toledo Mud Hens.
It was in this capacity that Bresnahan affixed his signature to this contract from July 11, 1919. Hall of Fame Yankee owner Jacob Ruppert has also signed this agreement as president of the New York club.
Bresnahan finished his Hall of Fame career with 1,252 hits and a .279 average
Bresnahan finished his Hall of Fame career with 1,252 hits and a .279 average
A nice closeup of the signatures of Roger Bresnahan and Jacob Ruppert is shown here. Christy Mathewson’s longtime battery mate, Bresnahan amassed 1,252 career hits and a .279 lifetime average.
He also served as player/manager for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1909-1912 and for the Chicago Cubs in his last season as a player in 1915. Bresnahan died on December 4, 1944, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1945.
As I replied over on Facebook, the idea had been kicking around for a couple of decades. My guess is that the early ones were very clunky, and that the innovation here was making them more user friendly.