January 1st, 1884 - Long time league catcher Doug Allison has decided to retire today, after playing in the league from 1871 to 1879, with a brief return to Baltimore in 1883. He is a career .314 hitter, though his other totals are low due to only having 795 at bats. Doug played for the championship 1879 Providence Grays.
Doug was the first known player to use a glove, employing buckskin mittens in 1870 to preserve his hands. He was also one of the first catchers to move closer to the batter, rather than sticking to the common practice of standing 15-20 feet behind home plate. This technique severely limited baserunners stealing ability.
We asked Doug what his plans are now that his baseball career is over.
"I'm a pretty low key guy. I've been working for the U.S. Post Office, and I'll probably just continue to do that."
Do you think Doug will make it in to the Hall of Fame?
