Arlie Latham
Encyclopedia
Walter Arlington Latham (March 15, 1860 – November 29, 1952) was an American
third baseman
in Major League Baseball
from -. He died in Garden City, New York
, at the age of 92.
and manager Charles Comiskey
. In one famous stunt, he lit a firecracker under third base in an effort to "wake himself up", after Comiskey had been complaining about him falling asleep on the job. Also he would occasionally put on a clown's nose while walking behind von der Ahe.
in his day. In , as a member of the St. Louis Browns
, he stole 129 bases. This record is not recognized by Major League Baseball, as stolen bases were defined differently prior to . In 1909, he became the oldest man in Major League history to steal a base, at the age of 49, a record that still stands today. Latham ended his career with 739 stolen bases. Latham’s baserunning expertise was apparently purely instinctive.
He holds the career record for errors at third base, with 822, more than 200 more than the next player on the list. He apparently had the habit of letting catchable ground balls go past him by standing still as one passed to his side. Until decades after his playing days, when a third baseman did this it was said that he "Arlie Lathamed it."
In 1907, John McGraw
, the manager of the New York Giants
, hired him as their third base coach. Latham tried to do the same things in New York as he had done years earlier in St. Louis, but times had changed and screaming obscenities was not looked well upon, as baseball was being changed into more of a family-friendly game by then. In the opinion of Fred Snodgrass
he was “probably the worst third base coach that ever lived”.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from -. He died in Garden City, New York
Garden City, New York
Garden City is a village in the town of Hempstead in central Nassau County, New York, in the United States. It was founded by multi-millionaire Alexander Turney Stewart in 1869, and is located on Long Island, to the east of New York City, from mid-town Manhattan, and just south of the town of...
, at the age of 92.
Personality
Nicknamed "The Freshest Man on Earth", Latham was a colorful player known for playing practical jokes on his owner Chris von der AheChris von der Ahe
Christian Friedrich Wilhelm von der Ahe was a German-American entrepreneur, best known as the owner of the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the American Association, now known as the St. Louis Cardinals....
and manager Charles Comiskey
Charles Comiskey
Charles Albert "The Old Roman" Comiskey was a Major League Baseball player, manager and team owner. He was a key person in the formation of the American League and later owned the Chicago White Sox...
. In one famous stunt, he lit a firecracker under third base in an effort to "wake himself up", after Comiskey had been complaining about him falling asleep on the job. Also he would occasionally put on a clown's nose while walking behind von der Ahe.
Playing career
Latham was known as a very good base stealerStolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
in his day. In , as a member of the St. Louis Browns
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, he stole 129 bases. This record is not recognized by Major League Baseball, as stolen bases were defined differently prior to . In 1909, he became the oldest man in Major League history to steal a base, at the age of 49, a record that still stands today. Latham ended his career with 739 stolen bases. Latham’s baserunning expertise was apparently purely instinctive.
He holds the career record for errors at third base, with 822, more than 200 more than the next player on the list. He apparently had the habit of letting catchable ground balls go past him by standing still as one passed to his side. Until decades after his playing days, when a third baseman did this it was said that he "Arlie Lathamed it."
Coaching career
Latham was major league baseball's first full-time coach. When he was a player, as at that time there were no coaches, he would stand on the third base line and yell insults at the other team's pitcher, attempting to distract him and give the Browns an advantage. One of his techniques was to scream while running up and down the third base line during the pitcher's delivery. The coach's box was introduced to prevent him from doing this.In 1907, John McGraw
John McGraw
John McGraw may refer to:* John McGraw , , New York lumber tycoon, and one of the founding trustees of Cornell University* John McGraw , , Governor of Washington state from 1893–1897...
, the manager of the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, hired him as their third base coach. Latham tried to do the same things in New York as he had done years earlier in St. Louis, but times had changed and screaming obscenities was not looked well upon, as baseball was being changed into more of a family-friendly game by then. In the opinion of Fred Snodgrass
Fred Snodgrass
Frederick Carlisle "Snow" Snodgrass was an American center fielder in Major League baseball from 1908 to 1916 for the New York Giants and the Boston Braves. He played under manager John McGraw and with some of the game's early greats, including Christy Mathewson...
he was “probably the worst third base coach that ever lived”.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions