May

Who is this reticent receiver?

I was born Dec. 20, 1900, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, the oldest of 14 children.

My given names were Charles Leo, but I am better known by my ironic nickname.

I joined the Cubs in 1922 as a backup catcher and finally cracked the starting lineup in 1924. I remained in the league for the next two decades, retiring after the 1941 season.

In 1925, I belted 24 home runs, which at that time set the single-season record for a catcher. Five years later, I had my best season, hitting .339 with 37 dingers and 122 RBIs.

In 1937, I hit .354, which was the highest batting average for a catcher until Mike Piazza hit .362 in 1997.

At midseason in 1938, I was named player-manager with the Cubbies mired in third place. We battled back to within a half game of the Pirates when, on Sept. 28, I hit one of the most memorable home runs in baseball history in the bottom of the 9th to defeat the Pirates, as darkness descended on then-lightless Wrigley Field. It quickly became known as the "Homer in the Gloamin'." We won the pennant three days later.

With my strong throwing arm, excellent defensive ability, and powerful hitting, I could easily be called the Johnny Bench of my era. My career batting average was .297, and I finished with 236 home runs and an on-base percentage of .370 (slightly higher than Bench's .342).

I was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1955.

I died in Park Ridge, Illinois, on my 72nd birthday.