During a National League game in Chicago in August of 1886 between the Philadelphia Quakers and the Chicago White Stockings, sore catcher’s hands would be the focus of a controversial strategic situation. Interestingly the key characters in this affair are some of the most famous in all of 19th century base ball.
With Chicago batting in the top of the 3rd having taken the lead 5-3 by scoring four runs in the inning already and still threatening with a runner at 2nd, Dan Casey, the Philadelphia hurler pitched a fast ball wild and high enough to get past catcher Deacon McGuire advancing the runner on 2nd over to third. Catcher McGuire claimed he injured his finger on the play and opted to pull himself from the game. League rules required approval from the opposing team’s captain, the legendary Cap Anson, and the umpire in order to remove an injured player from the game. Anson declined the ok claiming McGuire was not badly injured and the umpired also agreed and told McGuire to stay in the game. The Philadelphia captain, Foxy Irwin, became enraged and “kicked” in McGuire’s defense (more importantly knowing McGuire was really injured and could not catch a pitch with any effectiveness). He consulted with team manager, Harry Wright (whose powers were limited in playing matters) and asked McGuire if he could continue and reluctantly agreed. This again enraged Irwin even further and he continued to “kick.” The umpire understood the catcher’s hands were sore before but did not believe they became unplayable on the last play and required the catcher to continue.
Fifteen minutes had past during the argument upsetting the cranks who had become impatient. When play resumed, the furious Philadelphia captain directed McGuire to stand way back behind the batter (much more so than normal) and catch the pitch on the bounce. On the first pitch the runner from third stole home. Three more runs would score in the inning on a series of hits, passed balls and dropped third strikes as McGuire was unable to perform his duties with any effectiveness. With the crowd becoming even more restless due to the lack of quality, League president, Albert Spalding, who happened to be in attendance, immediately went down to the field to consult with Harry Wright and directed catcher McGuire to move closer to the batter in the normal position. Again, Irwin exploded, this time at Wright for approving this move and ordered McGuire to his position deep behind the batter. Spalding, having heard Irwin reversed his order, raced back to the field to confer with Anson and Wright and declared that the came would continue under protest and allowed a change in catchers to which Spalding shook his finger at Irwin and said, “We’ll have you disciplined for your tactics!” Finally, after forty minutes of delays and arguments, the game continued and Chicago won but much of the interest was lost.
It was thought that Anson was to blame for this entire problem not letting the change in catchers. The editors of the Sporting News agreed with Anson stating that “sentiment and chivalry does not and should not enter into the question in any shape, whatsoever.” The wise but dirty Anson, who knew McGuire’s hands were already hurting at the outset of the game, did not believe McGuire’s hands got hurt on the play and was using his rights to make the call in Chicago’s favor. The actions of Irwin irked Spalding so much that he suggested disciplining the Philadelphia captain for “conduct prejudicial to the good repute of the game of base ball.”
