Bert Whaling
Encyclopedia
Albert James Whaling was an American
professional
baseball
player. He played as a catcher
in Major League Baseball
for the Boston Braves from to . Whaling batted and threw right-handed.
in . He then played for the Seattle Giants
from to . In August 1911, he was signed by the Cleveland Naps of the American League
but, didn't play at the major league level. In April , Whaling was released by the Naps and returned to play for the Seattle Giants where, he posted a .264 batting average
and hit 10 home run
s. Whaling's defensive skills were made evident as he threw out 188 baserunners attempting to steal a base during the 1912 season. During the Deadball Era, catchers played a huge defensive role, given the large number of bunts and stolen base
attempts, as well as the difficulty of handling the spitball
pitchers who dominated pitching staffs. A newspaper report in 1912 called Whaling the best catcher to have ever played in the Northwestern League.
Whaling signed a contract to play for the Boston Braves in October 1912, and made his major league debut with the team on April 22, 1913
at the age of 25. He posted a .242 batting average in 79 games while sharing starting catching duties with Bill Rariden
. Whaling had a .990 fielding percentage
that year, becoming the first rookie
catcher in major league baseball history to win a fielding title. Only four other rookie catchers in Major League Baseball history have accomplished the feat.
Before the 1914
season began, Rariden left the Braves to join the Federal League
leaving Whaling as their main catcher with Hank Gowdy
as his back up. When Whaling failed to provide much offense, Braves manager, George Stallings
gave Gowdy the starting catcher's job. The Braves had been in last place in the National League
on July 4 before going on an extended winning streak. The team went from last place to first place within a two month period, becoming the first team to win a pennant
after being in last place on the Fourth of July. Whaling hit .206 in 60 games as Gowdy's back up and led National League catchers in baserunners caught stealing
percentage with 54.5%. The Braves went on to sweep Connie Mack's
heavily-favored Philadelphia Athletics
in four games in the 1914 World Series
, although Whaling never got a chance to play in the series. The team became known as the "Miracle" Braves and remain one of the most storied comeback teams in baseball history.
While he was a weak hitter and a slow runner, Whaling developed a reputation as a fine defensive catcher. In his final major league season, 1915
, Whaling hit .221 in 72 games (42 at-bats), once again as the back up to Gowdy. He appeared in his final major league game on October 7, 1915. It was reported that there was friction between Whaling and the Braves management and, on October 13, he was traded with Herbie Moran
to the Pacific Coast League
's Vernon Tigers
for Joe Wilhoit
. After threatening to join the outlaw Federal League, Whaling signed with the Tigers in December 1915.
Whaling played with the Vernon Tigers for two seasons before joining the United States Navy during World War I. After his discharge from military service, Whaling then became a journeyman
baseball player. In , he signed to play for the Great Falls Electrics
however, two months later he was reported to be playing in Arizona for the Copper Queen Mine
baseball team. In , he played in Medicine Hat, Alberta before applying for the job of manager of the Regina Senators in . In May , he was signed as a player for the Regina club. Whaling continued to play in minor league baseball
, never staying with a team for more than one season with the exception of two seasons spent with the Denver Bears in and . He played his final season as a player-manager for the Salt Lake City Bees in before ending his playing career at the age of 38.
, accumulating 129 hits
in 573 at bats for a .225 career batting average along with 0 home runs, 50 runs batted in and an on base percentage
of .283. He scored 50 runs
while walking
39 times and had 98 strikeouts. His .986 career fielding average was 15 points higher than the league average over the span of his playing career. Whaling also spent twelve seasons in the minor leagues
, hitting .245 in 793 games.
of the Phoenix Senators
, and led them to the Arizona State League championship in .
Whaling died in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 21, and was interred at Los Angeles National Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
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...
for the Boston Braves from to . Whaling batted and threw right-handed.
Baseball career
Whaling began his professional baseball career at the age of 20 with the Portland BeaversPortland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
in . He then played for the Seattle Giants
Seattle Giants
The Seattle Giants were a minor league baseball team that played in various leagues from 1910 to 1920. Based in Seattle, Washington, USA, they played in the Northwestern League from 1910 to 1917, the Pacific Coast International League in 1918 and 1920, and the Northwest International League in...
from to . In August 1911, he was signed by the Cleveland Naps of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
but, didn't play at the major league level. In April , Whaling was released by the Naps and returned to play for the Seattle Giants where, he posted a .264 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
and hit 10 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s. Whaling's defensive skills were made evident as he threw out 188 baserunners attempting to steal a base during the 1912 season. During the Deadball Era, catchers played a huge defensive role, given the large number of bunts and stolen base
Stolen 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...
attempts, as well as the difficulty of handling the spitball
Spitball
A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance....
pitchers who dominated pitching staffs. A newspaper report in 1912 called Whaling the best catcher to have ever played in the Northwestern League.
Whaling signed a contract to play for the Boston Braves in October 1912, and made his major league debut with the team on April 22, 1913
1913 Boston Braves season
The 1913 Boston Braves season was a season in Major League Baseball. The Beaneaters finished fifth in the National League with a record of 69 wins and 82 losses.-Offseason:* December 1912: Guy Zinn was purchased by the Braves from the New York Highlanders....
at the age of 25. He posted a .242 batting average in 79 games while sharing starting catching duties with Bill Rariden
Bill Rariden
William Angel Rariden , was an American professional baseball player...
. Whaling had a .990 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
that year, becoming the first rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
catcher in major league baseball history to win a fielding title. Only four other rookie catchers in Major League Baseball history have accomplished the feat.
Before the 1914
1914 Boston Braves season
The 1914 Boston Braves was a season in American baseball. The team finished first in the National League, winning the pennant by 10½ games over the New York Giants...
season began, Rariden left the Braves to join the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
leaving Whaling as their main catcher with Hank Gowdy
Hank Gowdy
Henry Morgan Gowdy was a professional baseball catcher and a first baseman who played in the major leagues for the New York Giants and the Boston Braves...
as his back up. When Whaling failed to provide much offense, Braves manager, George Stallings
George Stallings
George Tweedy Stallings was an American manager and player in Major League Baseball. His most famous achievement – leading the Boston Braves from last place in mid-July to the National League championship and a World Series sweep of the powerful Philadelphia Athletics – resulted in a nickname he...
gave Gowdy the starting catcher's job. The Braves had been in last place in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
on July 4 before going on an extended winning streak. The team went from last place to first place within a two month period, becoming the first team to win a pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
after being in last place on the Fourth of July. Whaling hit .206 in 60 games as Gowdy's back up and led National League catchers in baserunners caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
percentage with 54.5%. The Braves went on to sweep Connie Mack's
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
heavily-favored Philadelphia Athletics
1914 Philadelphia Athletics season
The Philadelphia Athletics season was a season in American baseball. It involved the A's finishing first in the American League with a record of 99 wins and 53 losses...
in four games in the 1914 World Series
1914 World Series
In the 1914 World Series, the Boston Braves beat the Philadelphia Athletics in a four-game sweep.A contender for greatest upset of all time, the "Miracle Braves" were in last place on July 4, then roared on to win the National League pennant by games and sweep the stunned Athletics...
, although Whaling never got a chance to play in the series. The team became known as the "Miracle" Braves and remain one of the most storied comeback teams in baseball history.
While he was a weak hitter and a slow runner, Whaling developed a reputation as a fine defensive catcher. In his final major league season, 1915
1915 Boston Braves season
The 1915 Boston Braves season was a season in Major League Baseball. The Braves finished second in the National League with a record of 83 wins and 69 losses.- Offseason :...
, Whaling hit .221 in 72 games (42 at-bats), once again as the back up to Gowdy. He appeared in his final major league game on October 7, 1915. It was reported that there was friction between Whaling and the Braves management and, on October 13, he was traded with Herbie Moran
Herbie Moran
John Herbert Moran , was a professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in the Major League Baseball from to...
to the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
's Vernon Tigers
Vernon Tigers
The Vernon Tigers were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1909 through 1925. Vernon, California, was and is a small town in Los Angeles County. The Tigers, together with the Sacramento Solons, joined the PCL as new teams in 1909 as the league expanded from...
for Joe Wilhoit
Joe Wilhoit
Joseph William Wilhoit was an outfielder in Major League Baseball, playing mainly as a right fielder from through for the Boston Braves , Pittsburgh Pirates , New York Giants , and Boston Red Sox . Listed at 6'2", 175 lb., Wilhoit batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
. After threatening to join the outlaw Federal League, Whaling signed with the Tigers in December 1915.
Whaling played with the Vernon Tigers for two seasons before joining the United States Navy during World War I. After his discharge from military service, Whaling then became a journeyman
Journeyman (sports)
A journeyman or journeywoman is an athlete or professional sports player who is technically competent, but unable to excel. In certain parts of the world the term has less negative connotations and the inability to excel is not needed for a player to be labelled thus.-Definitions:Alexandra Allred...
baseball player. In , he signed to play for the Great Falls Electrics
Great Falls Electrics
The Great Falls Electrics were a minor league baseball team that operated out of Great Falls, Montana. The team was formed in 1911 as part of the old Union Association league. They also played in the Northwestern League from 1916-1917. The team disbanded at that time and then was reformed as part...
however, two months later he was reported to be playing in Arizona for the Copper Queen Mine
Copper Queen Mine
The Copper Queen Mine was the copper mine in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, that gave birth to the surrounding town of Bisbee. In the early 1900s it was the most productive copper mine in Arizona.- History :...
baseball team. In , he played in Medicine Hat, Alberta before applying for the job of manager of the Regina Senators in . In May , he was signed as a player for the Regina club. Whaling continued to play in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, never staying with a team for more than one season with the exception of two seasons spent with the Denver Bears in and . He played his final season as a player-manager for the Salt Lake City Bees in before ending his playing career at the age of 38.
Career statistics
In a three-year major league career, Whaling played in 211 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 129 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 573 at bats for a .225 career batting average along with 0 home runs, 50 runs batted in and an on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .283. He scored 50 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
while walking
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
39 times and had 98 strikeouts. His .986 career fielding average was 15 points higher than the league average over the span of his playing career. Whaling also spent twelve seasons in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, hitting .245 in 793 games.
Minor league manager
After serving as a player-manager for the Salt Lake City Bees in 1926, Whaling was named the managerManager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of the Phoenix Senators
Phoenix Senators
The Phoenix Senators were a minor league baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, USA that played on-and-off from 1915 to 1953. They played in the Rio Grande Association in 1915, the Arizona State League from 1928 to 1930, the Arizona-Texas League from 1931 to 1950 and from 1952 to 1953, and the...
, and led them to the Arizona State League championship in .
Whaling died in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 21, and was interred at Los Angeles National Cemetery
Los Angeles National Cemetery
The Los Angeles National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery in West Los Angeles, at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard. The cemetery was dedicated in 1889. Interred there are war veterans, from the Spanish-American war, World War I, World War II, Korean War,...
.