Backstop: A History of the Catcher and a Sabermetric Ranking of 50 All-Time Greats

by William F. McNeil

It's often said that catcher is the most important, most demanding defensive position in baseball. This view explains why so many light-hitting catchers have enjoyed long--and by all accounts successful--major league careers. Yet arguments over the all-time greats invariably privilege offensive standouts, and even among these players batting statistics are more likely than fielding numbers to affect ranking. So what, historically, have been the expectations...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786421770
• ISBN13: 9780786421770
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: McFarland & Company
• Length: 267 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.7" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher