Doug Allison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Doug Allison |
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| Catcher | |||
| Born: July 12, 1846 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Died: December 19, 1916 (aged 70) Washington, D.C. |
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| debut | |||
| May 5, 1871, for the Washington Olympics | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 13, 1883, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| AVG | .271 | ||
| HR | 2 | ||
| RBI | 139 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Douglas L. Allison (born July 12, 1846 – died December 19, 1916) was an important American Major League Baseball player. He started his career as a catcher for the famous Cincinnati Red Stockings. This team was the very first fully professional baseball team.
Doug Allison was one of the first catchers to stand right behind the batter. This helped stop players from "stealing" bases. He was also the first known player to use a type of baseball glove. He wore special buckskin mittens in 1870 to protect his hands. Before playing baseball, Allison served in the army during the American Civil War. His brother, Art Allison, also played in the Major Leagues.
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Baseball Career Highlights
Playing for the Cincinnati Red Stockings
Doug Allison moved to Cincinnati when he was almost 22 years old. He joined the Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1868. The team was managed by Harry Wright. Even though professional baseball was not yet official, it seems Allison was paid by the club. He had been working as a bricklayer in Philadelphia.
The Cincinnati team was very strong that year. Five players who would become famous were already on the team. Allison was a defensive specialist. His main job was to catch the pitches from Asa Brainard.
A New Way to Catch
Most catchers in Allison's time stood far behind the batter. They were usually about 20 to 25 feet away. But Allison started standing much closer. This new technique was very good at stopping runners from stealing bases.
In the 1860s, teams often scored 50 or 60 runs in a single game. As more catchers started using Allison's close-up style, fewer runs were scored. This change helped lead to what is known as the dead-ball era in baseball.
The First Professional Team
The National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP) soon allowed players to be paid. The Red Stockings then hired five of their current players, including Allison. They also brought in five new players. This made them the first team with only paid players.
Allison played catcher in almost every game. The Cincinnati Red Stockings traveled across the country in 1869. They did not lose a single game that year! They were likely the strongest team in 1870 too. However, the club stopped playing professional baseball after that second season.
Later Baseball Teams
After the Red Stockings, Harry Wright started a new team in Boston. He signed three of Allison's former teammates. Doug Allison and five other former Red Stockings joined Nick Young's Washington Olympics. This team also joined the new professional league, the National Association (NA), in 1871. The former Red Stockings helped the Olympics have a good first season.
Doug Allison continued to play in the Major Leagues for several teams. He played for the Troy Haymakers and the Brooklyn Eckfords in 1872. In 1873, he played for the Elizabeth Resolutes. He then joined the New York Mutuals from 1873 to 1874. From 1875 to 1877, he played for the Hartford Dark Blues. He was with the Providence Grays from 1878 to 1879. Finally, he played one game with the Baltimore Orioles in 1883.
Later Life
After his baseball career, Doug Allison worked for the post office. He passed away in Washington, D.C., at the age of 70. He was on his way to work at the Post Office Department. He is buried in Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington.
