Quote:
Originally Posted by Merkle923
His position was irrelevant. The Giants obtained him because he was the best sign-stealer in baseball and they were about to activate the binoculars-and-buzzers system which won them the 1951 pennant.
PS - Schenz went to the Giants on June 30. Between that date and July 14th he appeared six times as a pinch-runner. In the remaining two-and-a-half months of the season he appeared in exactly two games, both as a pinch-runner - and both on the road.
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I'd like to make two points here:
1. The original posting of the photo indicated that Hank Schenz was a journeyman catcher. I was simply trying to indicate that to anyone not familiar with Schenz, he was not a catcher. He played more than 150 games in the majors as an infielder. Merkle, you've made your point that with the 1951 Giants, Schenz was used strictly as a pinch runner and as a sign-stealer as part of the team's cheating scheme, and I accept that.
2. I'm not so sure that the Giants acquired him because of his sign-stealing ability. According to a SABR article which goes into an in-depth analysis of the 1951 Giants' sign-stealing activity, Schenz was the one who volunteered to Durocher the information that he had the ability and experience to use a telescope to pick up the opponent catchers' signs and interpret them. This conversation between Schenz and Durocher took place after Hank was already with the Giants. Durocher was intrigued by the idea, and the spying began after that. The article to which I'm referring may be seen at
Durocher the Spymaster: How much did the Giants prosper from cheating in 1951? | SABR