Roger Bresnahan Marquee Hall of Fame 1945

He arrived as a pitcher, winning his first four decisions for Washington in 1897 at 18, then vanished from the majors for two years. He came back behind the plate, caught Christy Mathewson through the Giants' best seasons, and stole 212 bases in a career spent mostly in the crouch. In 1908 he led the National League with 83 walks.

In 1907 he came out with cricket-style leg guards buckled outside his stockings. Catchers had padded themselves under their clothes; this was visible, and it drew laughter and complaints that he was blocking the plate on purpose. Within a few years the guards were standard. He also tried head protection after being hit by a pitch.

He hit .279 with 1,252 hits over seventeen seasons, 972 of his games behind the plate and another 290 in the outfield. The writers got him to 133 votes in 1945, short of the 186 he needed, and the Old Timers Committee elected him that same year, on a reputation the batting record does not carry by itself.