Doug Allison
Encyclopedia
Douglas L. Allison played catcher
for the original Cincinnati Red Stockings
, the first fully professional baseball
team. He was considered a specialist, at a time when some of the better batsmen who manned the position normally rested, or substituted at other fielding positions. In Cincinnati, his job was simply to catch the ball. First, he caught for Asa Brainard
plus he had to contend with pop ups and tips off the bat
, a fielder could put the batter out by a catch on the first bounce at that time. He is the earliest known player to use a glove
, when he donned buckskin
mittens to protect his hands in 1870.
His brother Art Allison
also played in the Major Leagues.
for the 1868 season and played for the Cincinnati Red Stockings managed by Harry Wright
. Open professionalism was one year away but the long move from Philadelphia, where he worked as a bricklayer
, suggests that Allison was somehow compensated by club members, if not by the club. Cincinnati fielded a strong team that year, with five of the famous team already in place. Allison was a specialist, maybe the weakest batsman on the team.
When the National Association of Base Ball Players
(NABBP) permitted professionalism, the Red Stockings hired five incumbents including Allison and five new men to complete its roster, the first team that consisted of salaried players. A few of the others had previously played some catcher (all played at the six infield positions in 1868), but Allison filled the role in almost every game. Cincinnati toured the continent undefeated in 1869 and may have been the strongest team in 1870, but the club dropped professional base ball after the second season.
's Washington Olympics
, an established club that also joined the new, entirely professional National Association
(NA). The five former Red Stockings led the Olympics to a respectable finish in the inaugural NA season.
Later, Doug Allison played in the Major Leagues with the Troy Haymakers
in , the Brooklyn Eckfords in , the Elizabeth Resolutes
in , the New York Mutuals
from to , the Hartford Dark Blues
from to , the Providence Grays
from to , and one game with the Baltimore Orioles
of the American Association in .
team in 1882. Thirty-four years later he died in Washington, DC at age 70, en route to his job at the Post Office Department. He is buried in Rock Creek Cemetery
, Washington.
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...
for the original Cincinnati Red Stockings
Cincinnati Red Stockings
The Cincinnati Red Stockings of were baseball's first fully professional team, with ten salaried players. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club formed in 1866 and fielded competitive teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players 1867–1870, a time of a transition that ambitious Cincinnati,...
, the first fully professional baseball
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....
team. He was considered a specialist, at a time when some of the better batsmen who manned the position normally rested, or substituted at other fielding positions. In Cincinnati, his job was simply to catch the ball. First, he caught for Asa Brainard
Asa Brainard
Asahel "Asa" Brainard , nicknamed "Count", was the ace pitcher of the original Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first fully professional baseball team, after having pitched for the Excelsior club of Brooklyn, New York....
plus he had to contend with pop ups and tips off the bat
Baseball bat
A baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the game of baseball to hit the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. It is no more than 2.75 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches in length. It typically weighs no more than 33 ounces , but it...
, a fielder could put the batter out by a catch on the first bounce at that time. He is the earliest known player to use a glove
Baseball glove
A baseball glove or mitt is a large leather glove that baseball players on the defending team are allowed to wear to assist them in catching and fielding balls hit by a batter, or thrown by a teammate.-History:...
, when he donned buckskin
Buckskin (leather)
Buckskin is the soft, pliable, porous preserved hide of an animal, usually deer, moose or elk or even cowhide tanned to order, but potentially any animal's hide,. Modern leather labeled "buckskin" may be made of sheepskin tanned with modern chromate tanning chemicals and dyed to resemble real...
mittens to protect his hands in 1870.
His brother Art Allison
Art Allison
Arthur Algernon Allison was a Major League Baseball player from 1871 to 1876. He played both as an outfielder and first baseman. He played with many teams, but his best year was with the 1873 Elizabeth Resolutes, when he had a career high batting average of .323. Despite his performance, his team...
also played in the Major Leagues.
Cincinnati Red Stockings
Not quite 22 years old, he moved to CincinnatiCincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
for the 1868 season and played for the Cincinnati Red Stockings managed by Harry Wright
Harry Wright
William Henry "Harry" Wright was an English-born American professional baseball player, manager, and developer. He assembled, managed, and played center field for baseball's first fully professional team, the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings...
. Open professionalism was one year away but the long move from Philadelphia, where he worked as a bricklayer
Bricklayer
A bricklayer or mason is a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork. The term also refers to personnel who use blocks to construct blockwork walls and other forms of masonry. In British and Australian English, a bricklayer is colloquially known as a "brickie".The training of a trade in...
, suggests that Allison was somehow compensated by club members, if not by the club. Cincinnati fielded a strong team that year, with five of the famous team already in place. Allison was a specialist, maybe the weakest batsman on the team.
When the National Association of Base Ball Players
National Association of Base Ball Players
The National Association of Base Ball Players was the first organization governing American baseball. The first, 1857 convention of sixteen New York City clubs...
(NABBP) permitted professionalism, the Red Stockings hired five incumbents including Allison and five new men to complete its roster, the first team that consisted of salaried players. A few of the others had previously played some catcher (all played at the six infield positions in 1868), but Allison filled the role in almost every game. Cincinnati toured the continent undefeated in 1869 and may have been the strongest team in 1870, but the club dropped professional base ball after the second season.
Later career
Harry Wright was hired to organize a new team in Boston, where he signed three teammates for . The other five regulars including Allison signed with Nick YoungNicholas Young (executive)
thumb|Nicholas Ephraim Young was an American executive, manager and umpire in professional baseball who served as president of the National League from 1885 to 1902. Born in Amsterdam, New York at Johnson Hall, the estate of Sir William Johnson, he served in the Union Army during the Civil War,...
's Washington Olympics
Washington Olympics
The Olympic Club of Washington, D.C., or Washington Olympics, was an early professional baseball team.When the National Association of Base Ball Players permitted openly professional clubs for the 1869 season, the Olympics were one of twelve to go pro...
, an established club that also joined the new, entirely professional National Association
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
(NA). The five former Red Stockings led the Olympics to a respectable finish in the inaugural NA season.
Later, Doug Allison played in the Major Leagues with the Troy Haymakers
Troy Haymakers
The Troy Haymakers were an American professional baseball team.-History:Established in 1860 as the Union base ball club of neighboring Lansingburgh, New York, the Haymakers participated in the first professional pennant race of 1869 and joined the first professional league, the 1871 National...
in , the Brooklyn Eckfords in , the Elizabeth Resolutes
Elizabeth Resolutes
The Elizabeth Resolutes were a 19th-century professional baseball team based in Elizabeth, New Jersey. They were a member of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players for the season, and played their home games at Waverly Fairgrounds....
in , the New York Mutuals
New York Mutuals
The Mutual Base Ball Club of New York was a leading American baseball club almost throughout its 20-year history. It was established during 1857, the year of the first baseball convention, just too late to be a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players. It was a charter...
from to , the Hartford Dark Blues
Hartford Dark Blues
The Hartford Dark Blues were a 19th century baseball team. The team was based in Hartford, Connecticut.-History:They were a member of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players in 1874 and 1875 and the National League in 1876 and 1877...
from to , the Providence Grays
Providence Grays
The Providence Grays were a Major League Baseball team based in Providence, Rhode Island who played in the National League from until . The Grays played at Messer Field in the Olneyville neighborhood. The team won the National League title twice, in and...
from to , and one game with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
of the American Association in .
Later life
Allison was reported playing for a post officePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
team in 1882. Thirty-four years later he died in Washington, DC at age 70, en route to his job at the Post Office Department. He is buried in Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery — also Rock Creek Church Yard and Cemetery — is an cemetery with a natural rolling landscape located at Rock Creek Church Road, NW, and Webster Street, NW, off Hawaii Avenue, NE in Washington, D.C.'s Michigan Park neighborhood, near Washington's Petworth neighborhood...
, Washington.