JULY 25, 1971

CAHUILLA MAJOR LEAGUE CATCHER JOHN TORRES “CHIEF” MEYERS DIED

Born July 29, 1880, in Riverside, California (CA), Meyers’ talents drew first notice in 1905 from a rival pitcher. A Dartmouth University alumnus provided Meyers with cash, railroad tickets, and doctored high school diploma, but when Dartmouth learned of the fake diploma, Meyers left. In 1908, the New York Giants traded its star catcher, Roger Bresnahan, to the St. Louis Cardinals so that Meyers could take the position. From 1910-12, he led the team in batting. Hitting .358 in 1912, he was 3^rd in MVP voting. Known as “Ironman,” Meyers was Christy Mathewson’s favorite catcher. His play declined in 1915. From 1916-20, he played for the Brooklyn Robins, Boston Braves, International League Buffalo Bisons, Eastern League New Haven Weissmen (player-manager), and a semipro team in San Diego. After baseball, he was Mission Indian Agency police chief and a Department of the Interior Indian supervisor. Meyers died in San Bernardino, CA. In 1972, he was inducted into to the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame.

Sources:

Ernie C. Selgado, Jr., “JOHN ‘CHIEF’ MEYERS American Indian Sports Superstar Catcher: Played MLB for New York Giants, Boston Braves, Brooklyn Robins (1909-1917),” California Indian Education.  Retrieved 5/25/2023, JOHN "CHIEF" MEYERS American Indian Sports Superstar Catcher: Played MLB for New York Giants, Boston Braves, Brooklyn Robins (1909-1917). (californiaindianeducation.org)

R. J. Lesch, “Jack Meyers,” Society for American Baseball Research.  Retrieved 5/25/2023, Jack Meyers – Society for American Baseball Research (sabr.org)  

Wikipedia

Photo:  Paul Thompson (1878-1940), 1910.  Public Domain.  Source: Library of Congress, LCCN2007677513.jpg