Tom Barlow
From BR Bullpen
Thomas H. Barlow
- Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown
[edit] Biographical Information
While playing as catcher, Tom Barlow is quoted as having sustained an injury from a pitched ball. The attending doctor gave him an injection of morphine back at his hotel room. He claims this resulted in his eventual addiction (which he accounts as costing him about $8.00 per day). It is this incident that Barlow is quoted as having resulted in his leaving baseball and eventual degeneracy.
Barlow is credited by some sources as the most likely creator of the bunt, which was then popularized by his teammate Dickey Pearce. This was done with the Brooklyn Atlantics of the National Association in 1872. The bunt was invented as a means to produce fair-foul hits, but was then retained in the game even after the foul ball rule was modified in 1877, ending the existence of the fair-foul hit.
[edit] Further Reading
- Robert H. Schaefer: "Bunts and Fair-Foul Hits: Who Was First ? Dickey Pearce or Tommy Barlow ?", The National Pastime, SABR, Number 20 (2000), pp. 8-9.
