Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Paperback
$27.85

$27.85 with 7 percent savings

List Price: $29.95

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

FREE delivery Saturday, May 18 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 11 hrs 40 mins

Select delivery location

Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

$$27.85 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Ships from

Amazon.com

Ships from

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Returns

30-day easy returns

Returns

30-day easy returns

This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.

Read full return policy

Payment

Secure transaction

Payment

Secure transaction

We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more

Details

Add a gift receipt for easy returns

Other sellers on Amazon

New & Used (11) from $22.21 + $4.95 shipping

Follow the author

William McNeil

+ Follow

More books from this author

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

Backstop: A History of the Catcher and a Sabermetric Ranking of 50 All-Time Greats Paperback – December 27, 2005

by William F. McNeil (Author), Foreword by Pete Palmer (Author)

3.5 3 ratings

See all formats and editions

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$27.85","priceAmount":27.85,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"27","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"85","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"%2F89ccDZfGp9Um8U%2FzoytmZxMeZs0IvgDGfxpUZkUm3TcljEXtq1KpPtTFO%2F4dlk4Xm6JuwhpB8t6EBP64d6AVR4BmHVFiTxVAkQL1YRi8zFtRU7D06UQoS8A9ND%2Fpdir5rJVhm9hT7g%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

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 for major league catchers, and who stands as the greatest in a more balanced view of offensive and defensive contributions?

In Part I of this book, the history of catching and catchers is discussed in detail, with attention to the most celebrated players of each era. In Part II, the author employs sabermetric formulas to rank the 50 greatest catchers since 1920, when changes to the rules, the parks, and the ball dramatically changed the way baseball was played. Also included is a chapter on catchers of the 19th century, deadball era, and Negro Leagues, whose career statistics are either incomplete, inaccurate, or produced under markedly different playing conditions and rules.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“fascinating...the book is a stunning realization of intricate organization blended with fabulous heartfelt storytelling...a well-crafted work”―Metro Spirit; “outstanding...a must have”―Chuck Rosciam, Baseballcatchers.com.

About the Author

William F. McNeil is a longtime baseball historian and the author of numerous books on the game. A member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), he is the recipient of five Robert Peterson awards for increasing the public's awareness of the Negro Leagues. He lives in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.