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They Played the Game
X, Y, Z
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Ben Young
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The most respected umpire in the American Association, Young was instrumental in getting his fellow AA umps a regular salary and per diem travel expenses before he was killed in a railway accident (on his way to a game). AA umpires started wearing blue caps and coats issued to them by the league -- hence the nickname "Blue" to denote an umpire.
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Chief Zimmer
(1884-1903)
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Zimmer revolutionized the position of catcher in 1887, when he began crouching directly behind home plate. Prior to that, catchers played several feet behind the plate for fear of being injured by foul tips. He also endorsed one of the first baseball board games, produced in 1893 by McLoughlin Brothers.
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