average. He also had his best defensive season, leading the American League's catchers with 184 assists and 129 runners caught stealing, though he also led the league with 37 errors at catcher and 115 stolen bases allowed. Many people who saw him play speculated that his gnarled hands made it difficult to grip the ball, which led to all the stolen bases against him. However, Schmidt ranked second among the league's catchers with 12 double plays turned and third with 541 putouts. His defensive wins above replacement rating of 2.6 was the third highest among all position players in the league during the 1908 season. Schmidt's 1908 season was marred by another poor showing in the World Series. The Tigers won their second consecutive pennant and again lost to the Cubs in the 1908 World Series. Schmidt hit .071 (one single in 14 at bats) in the series, and allowed 12 stolen bases in four games of the series. For the second year in a row, he made the last out of the series, becoming the only player ever to do so twice. 1909 season Prior to the 1909 season, Schmidt did not attend spring training with the team, instead holding out over salary issues. On March 3, he announced that he had purchased a half interest in a shoe store in Fort Smith and would miss the 1909 season so that he could manage his store. Aside from salary demands, he expressed frustration with the way the press treated him in 1907 and 1908. Schmidt argued that reporters who criticized his misplays were not taking into consideration his skill or the fact that injuries to his throwing hand had hindered his last two seasons. Schmidt ultimately reported to the team on April 9. However, Schmidt now faced competition from rookie Oscar Stanage. The pair shared the catching duties in 1909, with Schmidt starting 76 games and Stanage starting 74. Schmidt's batting average in 1909 dipped to a career-low .209 while Stanage hit more than 50 points higher at .262. Moreover, Schmidt led the American League's catchers in errors (20) for the third consecutive year. To his credit, he also ranked third among the league's catchers with 83 runners caught stealing. The Tigers won their third consecutive pennant in 1909. In the six games of the 1909 World Series in which he played, Schmidt compiled a .222 batting average (three