Originally a barehanded fielder, Corcoran successfully made the transition to gloves
and the 20th century. In Cincinnati he played shortstop alongside
Bid McPhee, whose
career was coming to an end, and
Miller Huggins, who was just beginning. In his final
season, with the Giants, the 18-year veteran spelled rookie
Larry Doyle at second.
Corcoran
survived two collapsed leagues (the Players' League and the American Association)
in his first two seasons, caught on with Brooklyn, and was traded to Cincinnati in
1897. There he excelled for a decade as shortstop and team captain. In 1903, he set
a still-standing ML record for SS with 14 assists in a nine-inning game. Corcoran
ranks high on the lifetime lists for putouts, assists, and total chances. A skillful
sign stealer, he once uprooted an electric signaling device the Phillies had buried
in their third base coaching box (a binocular-equipped observer in the scoreboard
passed along catcher's signs to aid Phillie batters). Corcoran later umpired in several
leagues, including the Federal League.
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Tommy Corcoran
