Bob O'Farrell

{{Short description|American baseball player and manager (1896–1988)}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Bob O'Farrell

|image=1918 Bob O'Farrell.jpeg

|position=Catcher / Manager

|birth_date={{Birth date|1896|10|19}}

|birth_place=Waukegan, Illinois, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|1988|2|20|1896|10|19}}

|death_place=Waukegan, Illinois, U.S.

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 5

|debutyear=1915

|debutteam=Chicago Cubs

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 23

|finalyear=1935

|finalteam=St. Louis Cardinals

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.273

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=51

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=549

|stat4label=Managerial record

|stat4value=122–121

|stat5label=Winning %

|stat5value=.502

|teams=

As player

Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|1915}}–{{mlby|1925}})
St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|1925}}–{{mlby|1928}})
New York Giants ({{mlby|1928}}–{{mlby|1932}})
St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|1933}})
Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|1934}})
Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|1934}})
St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|1935}})

As manager

St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|1927}})
Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|1934}})

|highlights=

World Series champion ({{wsy|1926}})
NL MVP (1926)

}}

Robert Arthur O'Farrell (October 19, 1896 – February 20, 1988) was an American professional baseball player and manager.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/o'farbo01.shtml |title=Bob O'Farrell statistics |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date= February 21, 2011 }} He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for 21 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Giants. O'Farrell also played for the Cincinnati Reds, albeit briefly. He was considered one of the greatest defensive catchers of his generation.{{cite book|title=The Cardinals Encyclopedia|year=1999|author=Mike Eisenbath|publisher=Temple University Press|isbn=1-56639-703-0|page=253|url=https://archive.org/details/deepvegetarianis0000foxm|url-access=registration}}

Baseball career

O'Farrell was born in Waukegan, Illinois where he grew up a Chicago White Sox fan. He signed with the Cubs in 1915 after playing an exhibition game for his local semi-professional team.{{cite book|title=The Glory of Their Times|author=Lawrence Ritter|author-link=Lawrence Ritter|date=19 March 1992|publisher=Collier Books|isbn=0-688-11273-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/gloryoftheirtime00ritt/page/240 240]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/gloryoftheirtime00ritt/page/240}} His first manager was former catcher, Roger Bresnahan, who helped O'Farrell develop his catching skills.Ritter: p. 241. After a season on the bench, O'Farrell was sent to Three-I League where he spent two years before returning to the Cubs for the 1918 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ofarre001rob |title=Bob O'Farrell minor league statistics |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date= February 21, 2011 }} He served as backup catcher working behind Bill Killefer as the Cubs went on to claim the {{Baseball year|1918}} National League pennant before losing to the Boston Red Sox in the 1918 World Series.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/1918.shtml |title=1918 Chicago Cubs |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=February 21, 2011 }} O'Farrell went hitless in three at bats during the series.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/o'farbo01.shtml#batting_postseason::none |title=Bob O'Farrell post-season statistics |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=February 21, 2011 }}

In 1920 O'Farrell caught the majority of the Cubs' games and posting a .248 batting average as, Killefer was injured during the season. He began the 1921 season as backup catcher until August when, Killefer was named the Cubs new manager.{{cite news |title=Cubs Under Evers Show New Life |work=The Saskatoon Phoenix |page=9 |date=April 12, 1921 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z-BfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3870,4501597&dq=bob+o-farrell&hl=en}}{{cite news |title=Evers Is Deposed As Leader Of Cubs |work=The New York Times |date=August 4, 1921 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0F14F83C5A1B7A93C7A91783D85F458285F9}}

O'Farrell had a breakout season in 1922 when he hit for a .322 average along with 4 home runs, 60 runs batted in and a .439 on-base percentage. He became one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, leading National League catchers in games caught, putouts, assists, baserunners caught stealing and in caught stealing percentage.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1922-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1922 National League Fielding Leaders |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=February 21, 2011 }} He became skillful at framing pitches by moving his catcher's mitt towards the strike zone after having caught a pitch, in an effort to influence the umpire to call a strike.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1DIDAAAAMBAJ&q=bob+o'farrell+baseball+digest&pg=PA58 |title=Strikes Behind The Plate |author=Broeg, Bob |date=October 1946 |work=Baseball Digest |access-date=February 22, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=April 2025}} He had an even better year offensively in 1923, producing career-highs in home runs (12), runs batted in (80), stolen bases (10) along with a .319 batting average.

In July 1924, O'Farrell suffered a fractured skull when a foul ball broke his catcher's mask.{{cite book |author=James, Bill |title=The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract |publisher=Free Press |location=New York |year=2001 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newbilljameshist00jame/page/401 401] |isbn=0-684-80697-5 }} He had asked a club house attendant to bring him a newer mask however, not wanting to delay the game, decided to continue to play with the older mask when he was struck in the head.

He missed most of the season, and lost his job when future Baseball Hall of Fame member, Gabby Hartnett, played well in his absence.Ritter: p. 235. The Cubs decided to keep Hartnett as their starting catcher and traded O'Farrell to the St. Louis Cardinals at the start of the 1925 season for Mike González and Howard Freigau.

O'Farrell experienced the highlight of his career in 1926 when he hit for a .293 average with a career-high 30 doubles, 7 home runs and 68 runs batted in as he helped the Cardinals clinch the National League pennant.{{cite news |title=Hornsby Likes Bob O'Farrell |agency=Associated Press |work=The Meriden Journal |page=4 |date=September 28, 1926 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rtxIAAAAIBAJ&pg=4106,7534052&dq=bob+o-farrell&hl=en}} He also led National League catchers in games caught and in putouts.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1926-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1926 National League Fielding Leaders |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=February 21, 2011 }}

In the 1926 World Series against the New York Yankees, O'Farrell produced a .301 batting average but, is remembered for throwing out Babe Ruth trying to steal second base for the last out of the seven-game series as the Cardinals claimed their first-ever world championship.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FzMDAAAAMBAJ&q=bob+o%27farrell+baseball+digest&pg=PA89 |title=Bob O'Farrell Recalls the 'Good Old Days' |author=Ahrens, Arthur |date=April 1975 |work=Baseball Digest |access-date=February 21, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=April 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1926_WS.shtml |title=1926 World Series |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date= February 21, 2011 }}

In November, he was voted the winner of the {{Baseball year|1926}} National League Most Valuable Player Award with 79 out of the possible 80 votes.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1926.shtml#NLmvp |title=1926 National League Most Valuable Player Award |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=February 21, 2011 }}{{cite news |title=Bob O'Farrell Nat. League's Most Valuable |work=The Grape Belt |page=29 |date=December 7, 1926 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mRxCAAAAIBAJ&pg=3817,3467783&dq=bob+o-farrell&hl=en}} He was the first catcher to win a Most Valuable Player Award.

In December {{Baseball year|1926}}, the Cardinals traded their manager Rogers Hornsby to the New York Giants for Frankie Frisch and Jimmy Ring while O'Farrell was named player-manager.{{cite news |title=Bob O'Farrell Assumes Duties With Cards |agency=Associated Press |work=The Miami News |page=29 |date=December 28, 1926 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hj8uAAAAIBAJ&pg=3678,1505204&dq=bob+o-farrell&hl=en}} He led the Cardinals to a second-place finish, behind the Pittsburgh Pirates even though the Cardinals won three more games than the previous season.Eisenbath: p. 254. He only played in 61 games that season because of a sore arm.

The owner of the Cardinals at that time, Sam Breadon was unhappy that the Cardinals did not win the pennant, and that O'Farrell was leaving his pitchers in too long during games.{{cite book |title=The Man in the Dugout|author=Leonard Koppett|author-link=Leonard Koppett|year=2000|publisher=Temple University Press|isbn=1-56639-745-6|page=105}} He was given a $5,000 bonus to step down and replaced by Bill McKechnie.{{cite news |title=M'Kechnie Made Manager Of Cardinals |agency=Associated Press |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |page=14 |date=November 7, 1927 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9npIAAAAIBAJ&pg=1517,3729448&dq=bob+o-farrell&hl=en}} O'Farrell was traded to the New York Giants for George Harper in May 1928.{{cite news |title=Bob O'Farrell Goes To Giants |agency=Associated Press |work=The Miami News |page=12 |date=May 11, 1928 |access-date=February 22, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OXNYAAAAIBAJ&pg=5925,5419579&dq=bob+o-farrell&hl=en}} The trade caught many observers by surprise as, it left the Cardinals without an experienced catcher while the Giants had a surplus of catchers.{{cite news |title=Harper Goes To Cardinals |agency=United Press International |work=The Border Cities Star |page=3 |date= May 11, 1928 |access-date= February 22, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ywA_AAAAIBAJ&pg=5142,1063112&dq=bob+o-farrell&hl=en}}

O'Farrell played as a part-time catcher for the Giants, sharing catching duties with Shanty Hogan during John McGraw's final four years as manager of the club.Ritter: p. 239. He hit for a .306 batting average in 1929 and followed that with a .301 average in 1930. By the 1931 season, the 34-year-old O'Farrell was past his prime as his batting average dipped to .224.

In October 1932, O'Farrell was traded back to the St. Louis Cardinals for catcher Gus Mancuso as part of new Giants manager Bill Terry's rebuilding campaign.{{cite news |title=First Trade Sends Four To Cardinals |agency=United Press International |work=The Pittsburgh Press |page=27 |date=October 11, 1932 |access-date=February 22, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GfkaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6437,1054659&dq=bob+o-farrell&hl=en}} He spent one season serving as backup catcher to Jimmie Wilson before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds in January 1934.

File:(Bob O'Farrell, Chicago NL (baseball)) (LOC) (27653889931).jpg

The General Manager of the Reds, Larry MacPhail, named O'Farrell as the team's player-manager.{{cite news |title=O'Farrell Of Cards To Manage Cincinnati Reds |agency=Associated Press |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |page=7 |date=January 12, 1934 |access-date=February 22, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b6JfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3416,642869&dq=bob+o-farrell&hl=en}} By July, the Reds had fallen to last place in the National League standings and, on July 27, O'Farrell requested his unconditional release from the team.{{cite news |title=O'Farrell Requested His Release By Reds |agency=Associated Press |work=Reading Eagle |page=19 |date=August 2, 1934 |access-date=February 22, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sxIxAAAAIBAJ&pg=4079,327860&dq=bob+o-farrell&hl=en}}

It was later reported that after the Reds had lost nine consecutive games, O'Farrell was engaged in a conversation with MacPhail when he quipped, "Well, you can't win 'em all." A supposedly infuriated MacPhail hired Charlie Dressen as the new Reds manager the following day.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ky4DAAAAMBAJ&q=bob+o'farrell+baseball+digest&pg=PA9 |title=Murray Robinson Says |author=Robinson, Murray |date=August 1961 |work=Baseball Digest |access-date=February 22, 2011 }} In August, he returned to the Chicago Cubs where he worked as a backup catcher to Gabby Hartnett.{{cite news |title=Bob O'Farrell Signs With Cubs |agency=Associated Press |work=The Day |page=14 |date= August 7, 1934 |access-date=February 22, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2YMjAAAAIBAJ&pg=3809,3155869&dq=bob+o-farrell&hl=en}} O'Farrell was released by the Cubs at the end of the year and signed to play with the Cardinals for the 1935 season. He appeared in only 14 games for the Cardinals, playing his final major league game on September 23 at the age of 38, and was released by the Cardinals in December {{Baseball year|1935}}.{{cite news |title=Bob O'Farrell Given Release |work=Herald-Journal |page=14 |date=December 15, 1935 |access-date=February 22, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UE0sAAAAIBAJ&pg=1762,4106355&dq=bob+o-farrell&hl=en}} O'Farrell played two more seasons in the minor leagues with the Rochester Red Wings. In {{Baseball year|1938}} he managed the Bloomington Bloomers before retiring from professional baseball at the age of 41.

Career statistics

In a 21-year major league career, O'Farrell played in 1,492 games, accumulating 1,120 hits in 4,101 at bats for a .273 career batting average along with 51 home runs, 549 runs batted in and a .360 on-base percentage. He finished his career with a .976 fielding percentage. He led the National League three times in putouts and twice in assists.

While with the Giants, O'Farrell caught Carl Hubbell's no-hitter on May 8, 1929.{{Cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1929/B05080NY11929.htm|title=Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Giants 11, Pittsburgh Pirates 0}} He caught for six pitchers who would eventually be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.{{cite web |url=http://batteries.sabr.org/caught-most.htm |title=Catchers Who Caught The Most Hall Of Fame Pitchers |publisher=sabr.org |access-date=June 28, 2012 }}

After retirement he ran a bowling alley in Waukegan which was open for over 30 years. O'Farrell died in Waukegan at the age of 91.{{cite news |title=Former Catcher O'Farrell Dies |work=The Telegraph-Herald |page=3 |date=February 24, 1988 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Uo5dAAAAIBAJ&pg=6001,4905275&dq=bob+o-farrell&hl=en}}