Wally Schang

Walter Henry Schang (August 22, 1889 – March 6, 1965) was an American professional baseball player and manager who played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1913 to 1931. Over his career he caught for the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers, and was considered one of the best major league catchers of his era, both offensively and defensively. Schang was the starting catcher for six American League pennant winners: the Philadelphia Athletics in 1913 and 1914, the Boston Red Sox in 1918, and the New York Yankees in 1921, 1922 and 1923. A switch-hitter, he batted above .300 six times and posted a career .393 on-base percentage, second only to Mickey Cochrane among major league catchers. In 1916 he became the first major league player to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same game. Standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 180 pounds, Schang was among the new breed of catchers that emerged from the Deadball Era, relying on speed and agility to field the position. His reputation as a defensive standout was enhanced by the era in which he played, when catchers carried a substantial defensive role. He also worked as a manager during his time in professional baseball.