Bill Dickey's Quiet Intensity
by Harold Friend
Bill Dickey was the regular Yankees’ catcher from 1929 until 1941. He was an outstanding, feared hitter and an excellent defensive player with a great throwing arm. Dickey’s lifetime batting average was .313, which ranks near the top of all catchers. In 1936, he batted .362 and the following season he hit .332. Until Yogi Berra came along, Dickey held the American League record for the most home runs in a single season by a catcher with 29. Yogi hit 30 in 1956.
Defense Preferred Over Offense
Dickey caught at least 100 games a season for 13 consecutive years and caught 125 games in 1931 without being charged with a passed ball. He has been quoted as saying that “I loved to make a great defensive play, I'd rather do that than hit a home run.” A quiet individual, Dickey roomed with Lou Gehrig. All someone looking for a quiet place had to do was go to their room. But just as Henry Louis Gehrig was a quiet, intense competitor, so too was William Malcolm Dickey.
The First Collision at Home Plate
On July 3, 1932, the Red Sox hosted the Yankees in the first Sunday game ever played in Fenway Park. Due to local laws, the Sox had been forced to play Sunday games at Braves Field. In the third inning, Boston outfielder Roy Johnson singled and Marv Olsen singled to right. Babe Ruth, who was an excellent outfielder with a great arm, fielded the ball and fired home to Bill Dickey. Johnson plowed into Dickey, knocking the ball loose as well as loosening one of Dickey’s teeth. Dickey was charged with an error.
The Second Collision and a Broken Jaw
The next day the Yankees were in Washington for a July 4th double header. With the Yankees ahead in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Senators’ Carl Reynolds tried to score the tying run on a squeeze play. He crashed into Bill Dickey, knocking him flat on his back. The game was tied and Dickey was fit to be tied. He jumped to his feet and landed a right hand that broke Reynolds’ jaw in two places. Both players were ejected. The next day, Dickey was suspended indefinitely, which turned out to be thirty days and a $1,000 fine.
Dickey Was Willing to Face the Consequences
Dickey had had enough. Base runners had smashed into him two consecutive games. Dickey was wrong for swinging at Reynolds, but it illustrates the competitiveness that existed. Dickey was punished, he knew that he would be punished, but he did what he thought he had to do and was willing to face the consequences of his actions. Most of the time, Dickey’s intensity during the game was properly channeled, and he was mild mannered off the field, but he hated to lose.
The Greatest Catchers of All Time
For many years, Dickey was considered the greatest catcher of all time. Bob Feller said "As an all-around catcher for both hitting and catching, I'd have to rate Bill Dickey of the Yankees in the 1930's and 40's as the best I ever saw. He was as good as anyone behind the plate, and better with the bat.”
After Dickey retired, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Johnny Bench had careers that challenged Dickey’s ranking. Rob Neyer, who is a disciple of Bill James, rated the ten greatest catchers in chronological order. The list: Gabby Hartnett, Mickey Cochrane, Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Gary Carter, Ivan Rodriguez, and Mike Piazza. Neyer picked Bench over Berra by a small margin as the greatest of all time, with Dickey placed fourth, but Neyer based his rankings primarily on statistics. One must wonder where Dickey would have finished if Neyer had seen him play.
References:
Bill Dickey was the regular Yankees’ catcher from 1929 until 1941. He was an outstanding, feared hitter and an excellent defensive player with a great throwing arm. Dickey’s lifetime batting average was .313, which ranks near the top of all catchers. In 1936, he batted .362 and the following season he hit .332. Until Yogi Berra came along, Dickey held the American League record for the most home runs in a single season by a catcher with 29. Yogi hit 30 in 1956.
Defense Preferred Over Offense
Dickey caught at least 100 games a season for 13 consecutive years and caught 125 games in 1931 without being charged with a passed ball. He has been quoted as saying that “I loved to make a great defensive play, I'd rather do that than hit a home run.” A quiet individual, Dickey roomed with Lou Gehrig. All someone looking for a quiet place had to do was go to their room. But just as Henry Louis Gehrig was a quiet, intense competitor, so too was William Malcolm Dickey.
The First Collision at Home Plate
On July 3, 1932, the Red Sox hosted the Yankees in the first Sunday game ever played in Fenway Park. Due to local laws, the Sox had been forced to play Sunday games at Braves Field. In the third inning, Boston outfielder Roy Johnson singled and Marv Olsen singled to right. Babe Ruth, who was an excellent outfielder with a great arm, fielded the ball and fired home to Bill Dickey. Johnson plowed into Dickey, knocking the ball loose as well as loosening one of Dickey’s teeth. Dickey was charged with an error.
The Second Collision and a Broken Jaw
The next day the Yankees were in Washington for a July 4th double header. With the Yankees ahead in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Senators’ Carl Reynolds tried to score the tying run on a squeeze play. He crashed into Bill Dickey, knocking him flat on his back. The game was tied and Dickey was fit to be tied. He jumped to his feet and landed a right hand that broke Reynolds’ jaw in two places. Both players were ejected. The next day, Dickey was suspended indefinitely, which turned out to be thirty days and a $1,000 fine.
Dickey Was Willing to Face the Consequences
Dickey had had enough. Base runners had smashed into him two consecutive games. Dickey was wrong for swinging at Reynolds, but it illustrates the competitiveness that existed. Dickey was punished, he knew that he would be punished, but he did what he thought he had to do and was willing to face the consequences of his actions. Most of the time, Dickey’s intensity during the game was properly channeled, and he was mild mannered off the field, but he hated to lose.
The Greatest Catchers of All Time
For many years, Dickey was considered the greatest catcher of all time. Bob Feller said "As an all-around catcher for both hitting and catching, I'd have to rate Bill Dickey of the Yankees in the 1930's and 40's as the best I ever saw. He was as good as anyone behind the plate, and better with the bat.”
After Dickey retired, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Johnny Bench had careers that challenged Dickey’s ranking. Rob Neyer, who is a disciple of Bill James, rated the ten greatest catchers in chronological order. The list: Gabby Hartnett, Mickey Cochrane, Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Gary Carter, Ivan Rodriguez, and Mike Piazza. Neyer picked Bench over Berra by a small margin as the greatest of all time, with Dickey placed fourth, but Neyer based his rankings primarily on statistics. One must wonder where Dickey would have finished if Neyer had seen him play.
References:
- Brandt, William E. "Yankees' Barrage Routs Red Sox, 13-2." New York Times. 4 July 1932, p.7.
- Brandt, William E. "Ruth Hits No. 23 in Second Game; Washington Rallies to Take the Opener, 5-3, Then Wins Nightcap, 1-6. Dickey, Reynolds Clash; Latter Suffers Broken Jaw When Struck by Catcher After Collision. New York Times. 5 July 1932.
- "Dickey is Suspended for Reynolds Fracas." New York Times. 6 July 1932, p. 24.\
Labels: Bill Dickey, Bob Feller, colliision at home plate, greatest catchers, Johnny Bench, July 4th doubleheader, Lou Gehrig, Roy Campanella, Yankees acquired Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra home run record
posted by Yankee27us at
10/16/2007
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