• Card series: Pilgrims
• City: St. Louis
• Team: Cardinals
• League: National League
• Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Roger Bresnahan (1879-1944) played every position but came into his own as a lead-off-hitting catcher and battery mate to Christy Mathewson for John McGraw’s Giants. Innovation took guts in a rowdy era and he had the fortitude to introduce shin guards, batting helmets and padded masks over the protests of other clubs and the pelting of irate fans (who didn’t have to catch Mathewson.)

• Batted .350 in 1903, trailing only Honus Wagner’s .355 and Fred Clarke’s .351
• Elected to Hall of Fame the year after his death: 1945