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BaseballLibrary.com
Copyright © 2002
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Chief Meyers
Given Name: John Tortes
1880-1971

C 1909-17 Giants , Dodgers, Braves

Chief Meyers's Teammates

GamesAverageHRRBI
Career 992.29114363
World Series 18.29006

Books and articles about Chief Meyers

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Matthew Fulling
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Photos
» Photo: Action at the Polo Grounds from The American League

Book Excerpts
» New York Giants: A Baseball Album: The Two Chiefs

A Cahuilla Indian from California, Meyers was the New York Giants' star catcher when they won three straight pennants from 1911 to 1913; he batted .332, .358, and .312 in those years. Slowed by catching more than 100 games in six straight seasons (1910-15), he retired at age 37 in 1917. He was booed while managing in a semi-pro game in 1920 and, disgusted, quit baseball. Educated at Dartmouth, he was employed by the Department of the Interior as an Indian supervisor. He scoffed at his nickname, Chief, bestowed on virtually every athlete of Indian ancestry. (JK)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
» September 11, 1909: Christy Mathewson and catcher Chief Meyers are all that the Giants need in the opener against Brooklyn. Matty allows three hits in shutting down the Superbas, and the Chief clubs his first major league homer in the 2nd inning, a grand slam to score all the runs. New York wins, 4-0, beating Elmer Knetzer. The Superbas take the nitecap, 10-1, behind Bugs Raymond. Rookie Zack Wheat has his first two ML hits in the nitecap, after being collared in the opener by Matty.

» May 26, 1911: In one of the few games in which both appear, Christy Mathewson and Grover Cleveland Alexander are relievers in a 5–3 win for the Giants over the Phillies. Matty takes over for Bugs Raymond in the 8th after the starter gives up two quick runs. With runners on 1B and 3B, Mickey Doolan flies to Devlin in right and his perfect strike to Chief Meyers is good for a DP. The Giant score to give Matty the win over Bill Burns, though by today's standards, it would be a save.

» June 10, 1912: In the opener with the Giants, the Cubs top the league leaders, 9–8, despite New York's Chief Meyers hitting for the cycle. The Chief is the first ML catcher to cycle. Heinie Zimmerman answers with two homers for Chicago.

» October 16, 1912: In the Series finale, Christy Mathewson squares off against Hugh Bedient in quest of his first win of the Series. He takes a 1–0 lead into the 7th, but with one out, Boston manager Jake Stahl hits a pop-up to short LF. The ball drops among Art Fletcher, Josh Devore, and Fred Snodgrass. Heinie Wagner walks, and with two outs, pinch hitter Olaf Henriksen doubles home the tying run. Smoky Joe Wood relieves Bedient, and the two aces match zeroes until Red Murray doubles and Fred Merkle singles in the 10th to give New York a 2–1 lead. In the last of the 10th, pinch hitter Clyde Engle lifts a can of corn to CF Snodgrass, who drops the ball. Snodgrass then makes a great catch of a long drive by Harry Hooper. Steve Yerkes walks, bringing up Tris Speaker, who pops a high foul along the 1B line. C Chief Meyers chases it, but it drops a few feet from 1B Merkle, who could have taken it easily. Reprieved, Speaker then singles in the tying run and sends Yerkes to 3B. After Duffy Lewis is walked intentionally, 3B Larry Gardner hits a long sac fly to a retreating Devore that scores Yerkes with the winning run. This World Series was the most butterfingered in history, with thirty-one errors recorded, seventeen for The Giants. The Red Sox earn $4,024.68 each; the Giants' share is $2,566.47 each.

» August 1, 1913: At Chicago, the Giants win, 5–2, on a controversial call in the 8th inning. Art Fletcher is called safe at 2B on an steal attempt by ump Bill Byron, prompting a shower of abuse from the crowd. Moments later, Fletcher scores the go-ahead run on a triple by Chief Meyers off Bert Humphries. The beneficiary of the offense is Christy Mathewson, who wins his 20th game, the 11th straight season he's topped the mark.

» May 9, 1914: Before 18,000, Christy Mathewson scatters 10 hits in shutting down the Braves, 2–0. A Chief Meyers double off Lefty Tyler accounts for both New York runs. Boston is now 3–11, 10 games behind the Pirates.

» July 30, 1914: It's a bad day for the Chief as the Giants lose a tough one to the Reds, 2–0. The Giants catcher doubles in the 6th and then is out for missing 1B. In the 9th, Chief Meyers throws one ball over Stock's head at 3B, bounces one to 2B on a steal, and tosses another into CF. The three errors hand Christy Mathewson the loss.

» February 10, 1916: C Chief Meyers is waived to Brooklyn by the Giants where he rejoins Wilbert Robinson. The Braves also claim him. Owners Ebbets and Haughton toss a coin to determine Meyers' fate, and Ebbets wins the right to sign him.