469:
move over into another part of the stand where some one was offering a heavy bet that his club would not score a run in the next inning. A man following close to Mike would take the bet. In order to wipe the perspiration from his brow the yellow umbrella had to be lowered and while this work was being done, his men out on the field would become possessed, and fairly knock the ball out of the enclosure. That old yellow umbrella was worth more to McGeary in those days than any old pair of shoes or gloves in those days of the $ 2,000 limit rule.
386:
score runs once he got on base. Between 1871 and 1875, he averaged more than a run per game every year and scored a total of 305 runs in 250 games. In 1916, McGeary claimed a record for having scored a run on a base hit with only three balls pitched. "He hit the first ball for a single, stole on the second pitch, and scored on an awkward infield hit on the third ball. Asked why the infielder did not throw home instead of to first Mike answered: 'Oh, we had boneheads in those days the same as you have them now.'"
36:
486:
for a portion of the following season. He led the Grays to an 8–7 record in his brief turn as manager, and appeared in 85 games as a player (73 games at second base, 12 at third base). He compiled a .275 batting average and scored 62 runs. During the 1879 season, McGearly also led the
National League
468:
It was amusing and instructive to notice how often Mike raised his yellow parasol, and just as often lowered it. Indeed, he seemed to go through a regular drill with it ... Strange to say a few bad errors would invariably follow, and a number of runs would result to his club. Then
Captain Mike would
440:
Rumors that he threw games persisted throughout his career, though never substantiated. On June 24, 1875, Philadelphia lost a game in the 12th inning against the
Chicago White Stockings. McGeary committed five errors in the game, and his Philadelphia teammates committed another 16 errors. A report
652:
Census entry for
Michael McGary and family. Son Michael McGary, age 8, born in Pennsylvania. Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 20 Division 1, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: M653_1171; Page: 375; Image: 383; Family History Library Film: 805171. Ancestry.com. 1860 United
385:
In the early days of professional baseball, McGeary developed a reputation as one of the best base runners in the game. He led the NABBP in stolen bases in 1871 and was among the NABBP league leaders in the category four times from 1871 to 1875. His base running also contributed to his ability to
1019:
Census entry for
Michael McGeary, age 59, born in Pennsylvania, parents from Ireland, employed as a builder of houses. Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Manhattan Ward 12, New York, New York; Roll: T624_1028; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0734; FHL microfilm: 1375041. Ancestry.com. 1910
498:
McGeary joined the
Cleveland Blues during the 1880 season and remained with the team through the 1881 season. He served as a player-manager for a brief time during the 1880 season and compiled a 4–7 record. He appeared in a total of 42 games for Cleveland, 40 of them at third base and two in the
444:
After the formation of the
National League in 1876, McGeary was the first league player to be accused of game-fixing. He was suspended but then reinstated after an investigation was unable to produce evidence. St. Louis management suspected him of "throwing" a game on May 27, 1876. The game took
376:
of the
Philadelphia Whites. He led the team to a 34–27 record, good for fifth place in the National Association. As a player, McGeary appeared in 27 games as a third baseman, 23 as a second baseman, 18 as a shortstop and three as an outfielder. He compiled a .290 batting average, stole 19 bases,
397:
Between 1871 and 1876, McGeary also developed a reputation as one of the least likely batters to strikeout at the plate. During those six seasons, he struck out only six times in 1,518 plate appearances. He led his league in at bats per strikeout ratio on three occasions, with ratios of 275 in
639:
Census entry for
Michael H. McGeary, age 32, baseball player, born in Pennsylvania. Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Providence, Providence, Rhode Island; Roll: 1212; Family History Film: 1255212; Page: 375C; Enumeration District: 023. Ancestry.com. 1880 United States Federal Census
314:
on
November 16, 1850. His parents, Michael and Ann McGeary (or McGary), were both immigrants from Ireland, and his father worked as a carpenter in Philadelphia. McGeary had two older brothers, John and James (both born in Ireland), and two younger sisters, Mary and Ellen (both born in
511:
of the National League for the 1882 season. He appeared in 34 games for the Wolverines, 33 at shortstop and three at second base. He compiled a .143 batting average for Detroit, appeared in his last major league game on June 26, 1882 (at age 31), and was released the next day.
675:. Jefferson NC: McFarland & Co. 2000. Page 300. Coverage of NABBP play, even the list of a player's teams, is generally limited to the record that Wright has published, which is compiled from various sources and commonly limited to regular and important substitute players.
441:
was published that gamblers had paid $ 300 to $ 500 to members of the Philadelphia team to throw the game. On October 18, 1875, errors by McGeary were also cited as contributing to a Philadelphia loss in which heavy betting was placed on the opposing team.
393:
wrote that McGeary was the best base-runner of his era: "The famous Mike McGeary in his day the best runner in the profession, and the Mike Kelly of that period, in point of base ball brains was the one player who regularly practiced sliding."
335:
McGeary remained with the Haymakers in 1871 as the team participated in the first professional league. During the 1871 season, McGeary appeared in 29 games, 26 of them as a catcher and three as a shortstop. He compiled a .264
359:
During the 1872 season, he split his time between the catcher and shortstop positions (23 games at each position), compiled a career high .360 batting average and scored 68 runs in 47 games. His
490:
McGeary returned to Providence at the start of the 1880 season as a player only. He appeared in 18 games and compiled a .186 batting average before being dealt to the Cleveland Blues.
366:
In 1873, McGeary was principally used as a shortstop, appearing in 43 games at that position and 14 as a catcher. He compiled a .302 batting average and scored 63 runs in 52 games.
1346:
1132:
1351:
1306:
1301:
1296:
464:
published a story suggesting that McGeary had used "a very peculiar yellow umbrella" to communicate with gamblers at the ball park. According to the story,
1341:
401:
McGeary was one of the most prominent players in the early days of the game. An article published in 1884 cited him as one of the players who, along with
429:. During the 1876 season, he appeared in 61 games for St. Louis, 56 of them as a second baseman. He compiled a .261 batting average and scored 48 runs.
1311:
413:, had grown rich off the game of baseball. The article noted that he "had made enough money out of base ball to build several houses in Philadelphia."
1281:
478:
After spending the 1878 seasons playing for Springfield in the International Association, McGeary returned to the National League in 1879 with the
1286:
302:
with 484 runs scored in 547 major league games. Rumors that he threw games persisted throughout his career, though such rumors were never proven.
1356:
1331:
369:
In 1874, McGeary appeared in 28 games as a catcher, 24 as a shortstop, and four as an outfielder. He hit .323 and scored 61 runs in 54 games.
1326:
878:
1336:
1125:
328:
McGeary began his baseball career in his home town of Philadelphia, playing for the "Experts" in 1868 and 1868. In 1870, he joined the
1321:
851:
624:
349:
268:
182:
1316:
520:
Little is known about McGeary after his baseball career, and he has been included in Peter Morris's "Cold Cases of the Diamond."
432:
In 1877, McGeary appeared in 39 games at second base and 19 games at third base. He compiled a .252 average and scored 35 runs.
1291:
523:
From at least 1890 to 1908, McGeary appears to have been employed as a clerk, laborer or caulker, and living in Philadelphia.
1118:
808:
291:(1882). Three of those clubs, the Philadelphia White Stockings, Providence Grays and Cleveland Blues, also employed him as
1146:
1038:
353:
272:
221:
188:
894:
763:
742:
425:
was formed and replaced the NABBP. During the 1876 and 1877 seasons, McGeary played in the National League for the
1215:
1151:
422:
337:
299:
123:
73:
57:
1259:
1236:
1058:
527:
426:
276:
194:
332:. McGeary played in 37 of 46 games and was a little below average as a batter in the company of his teammates.
1085:
363:(WAR) rating of 1.9 in 1872 was the ninth highest among all position players in the National Association.
360:
1102:
252:
1366:
1361:
1229:
1166:
1092:
1075:
284:
233:
206:
1243:
1110:
508:
288:
212:
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874:
868:
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804:
690:
620:
1141:
1065:
479:
454:
446:
280:
227:
200:
716:
402:
483:
373:
329:
292:
264:
176:
167:
143:
133:
1275:
1201:
450:
1173:
311:
1031:
1020:
United States Federal Census . Provo, UT, US: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
784:"Money In Base Ball: Some of the Men Who Have Grown Rich on the National Game".
1194:
1187:
1180:
406:
1222:
531:
410:
256:
44:
1048:
248:
251:
player whose career spanned from 1871 to 1882. He played 11 seasons in
35:
260:
801:
The Fix Is in: A History of Baseball Gambling and Game Fixing Scandals
340:, scored 42 runs in 29 games, and led the NABBP with 20 stolen bases.
870:
The League That Lasted: 1876 and the Founding of the National League
247:(November 16, 1850 – October 2, 1933) was an American professional
920:(Michael H. McGeary, clerk, 1415 N 18th, possible spouse Bertha)
1114:
673:
The National Association of Base Ball Players, 1857–1870
530:, McGeary was living as a lodger at 98 West 102nd Street in
298:
In 11 major league seasons, McGeary compiled a .276 career
617:
Players and Teams of the National Association, 1871-1875
113:
June 26, 1882, for the Detroit Wolverines
156:
142:
132:
122:
117:
107:
97:
26:
537:McGeary died on October 2, 1933, in Philadelphia.
534:and listed his occupation as a builder of houses.
103:May 9, 1871, for the Troy Haymakers
348:Over the next four years, McGeary played for the
164: National Association of Base Ball Players
499:outfield, and compiled a .243 batting average.
377:and scored a career high 71 runs in 68 games.
263:, for seven different major league clubs: the
1126:
8:
1347:Springfield (minor league baseball) players
1006:Boyd's City Directory of Philadelphia, 1908
993:. James Gopsill's Sons. 1905. p. 1608.
978:. James Gopsill's Sons. 1901. p. 1552.
487:with 62 errors in 73 games at second base.
1133:
1119:
1111:
1025:
963:. Ames Gopsill's Sons. 1897. p. 1267.
948:. Ames Gopsill's Sons. 1895. p. 1191.
933:. Ames Gopsill's Sons. 1893. p. 1234.
918:. Ames Gopsill's Sons. 1890. p. 1186.
846:. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 176.
34:
23:
991:Gopsill's Philadelphia Directory for 1905
976:Gopsill's Philadelphia Directory for 1901
961:Gopsill's Philadelphia Directory for 1897
946:Gopsill's Philadelphia Directory for 1895
931:Gopsill's Philadelphia Directory for 1893
916:Gopsill's Philadelphia Directory for 1890
1010:(Michael H. McGeary, clerk, 1703 N 15th)
965:(Michael H. McGeary, clerk, 1703 N 15th)
950:(Michael H. McGeary, clerk, 1703 N 15th)
935:(Michael H. McGeary, clerk, 1703 N 15th)
786:Wellington Enterprise (Wellington, Ohio)
545:
160:
995:(Michael McGeary, caulker, 214 Mercer)
980:(Michael McGeary, laborer, 927 S 18th)
610:
608:
1352:Major League Baseball player-managers
1307:Philadelphia White Stockings managers
1039:Philadelphia White Stockings Managers
685:
683:
681:
648:
646:
587:"Mike McGeary Statistics and History"
581:
579:
577:
575:
573:
571:
569:
7:
1302:Philadelphia White Stockings players
1008:. C. E. Howe Co. 1908. p. 1236.
567:
565:
563:
561:
559:
557:
555:
553:
551:
549:
398:1873, 310 in 1875, and 276 in 1876.
356:(1875) of the National Association.
16:American baseball player (1850–1933)
1297:Philadelphia Athletics (NA) players
1342:Baseball players from Philadelphia
14:
1312:St. Louis Brown Stockings players
1282:Major League Baseball infielders
788:. September 17, 1884. p. 1.
691:"Mike McGeary Managerial Record"
844:The Cheater's Guide to Baseball
832:Ginsberg, The Fix Is In, p. 29.
823:Ginsberg, The Fix Is In, p. 27.
662:Ginsburg, The Fix Is In, p. 34.
1287:Troy Haymakers (NABBP) players
773:. January 28, 1905. p. 4.
752:. October 21, 1916. p. 2.
1:
1357:19th-century baseball players
1332:Cleveland Blues (NL) managers
803:. McFarland. pp. 27–34.
717:"1875 Philadelphia Athletics"
344:Philadelphia Athletics/Whites
1327:Cleveland Blues (NL) players
372:In 1875, McGeary became the
354:Philadelphia White Stockings
273:Philadelphia White Stockings
255:, playing principally as an
222:Philadelphia White Stockings
189:Philadelphia White Stockings
799:Daniel E. Ginsburg (2004).
381:Base running and strikeouts
269:Philadelphia Athletics (NA)
183:Philadelphia Athletics (NA)
1383:
1337:Detroit Wolverines players
904:. May 30, 1888. p. 4.
873:. McFarland. p. 116.
436:Accusations of game-fixing
74:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
58:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1322:Providence Grays managers
1253:
1161:
1099:
1090:
1082:
1072:
1066:Providence Grays Managers
1063:
1055:
1045:
1036:
1028:
867:Neil W. McDonald (2004).
619:. McFarland. p. 90.
528:1910 United States Census
427:St. Louis Brown Stockings
277:St. Louis Brown Stockings
195:St. Louis Brown Stockings
161:
152:
112:
102:
79:
63:
51:
42:
33:
1317:Providence Grays players
1093:Cleveland Blues Managers
507:McGeary signed with the
453:, and McGeary made four
743:"Death of Dick McBride"
653:States Federal Census .
1292:Troy Haymakers players
842:Derek Zumsteg (2007).
723:. Sports Reference LLC
721:baseball-reference.com
697:. Sports Reference LLC
695:baseball-reference.com
593:. Sports Reference LLC
591:baseball-reference.com
471:
361:Wins Above Replacement
352:(1872–1874) and
350:Philadelphia Athletics
615:Paul Batesel (2012).
466:
319:Professional baseball
253:Major League Baseball
245:Michael Henry McGeary
218: League Manager
1230:John Montgomery Ward
1076:John Montgomery Ward
671:Wright, Marshall D.
310:McGeary was born in
287:(1880–1881) and the
173: League Player
526:At the time of the
108:Last MLB appearance
895:"Caylor's Comment"
764:"Men and Measures"
509:Detroit Wolverines
503:Detroit Wolverines
445:place against the
289:Detroit Wolverines
213:Detroit Wolverines
1269:
1268:
1109:
1108:
1100:Succeeded by
1073:Succeeded by
1046:Succeeded by
902:The Sporting Life
880:978-0-7864-1755-1
771:The Sporting Life
750:The Sporting Life
462:The Sporting Life
391:The Sporting Life
283:(1879–1880), the
279:(1876–1877), the
271:(1872–1874), the
267:(1870–1871), the
242:
241:
185:(1872–1874)
55:November 16, 1850
1374:
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1239:
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1225:
1218:
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1197:
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1183:
1176:
1169:
1154:
1149:
1144:
1143:Providence Grays
1135:
1128:
1121:
1112:
1083:Preceded by
1056:Preceded by
1029:Preceded by
1026:
1021:
1017:
1011:
1009:
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987:
981:
979:
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660:
654:
650:
641:
637:
631:
630:
612:
603:
602:
600:
598:
583:
482:and served as a
480:Providence Grays
474:Providence Grays
447:New York Mutuals
417:St. Louis Browns
281:Providence Grays
228:Providence Grays
201:Providence Grays
70:
38:
29:
24:
1382:
1381:
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1235:
1228:
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1193:
1186:
1179:
1172:
1165:
1157:
1153:National League
1152:
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1105:
1096:
1088:
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1061:
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984:
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584:
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543:
518:
505:
496:
494:Cleveland Blues
476:
438:
423:National League
419:
403:Albert Spalding
383:
346:
338:batting average
326:
321:
315:Pennsylvania).
308:
300:batting average
285:Cleveland Blues
234:Cleveland Blues
207:Cleveland Blues
124:Batting average
93:
92:
86:
72:
68:
67:October 2, 1933
56:
27:
22:
21:Baseball player
17:
12:
11:
5:
1380:
1378:
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1177:
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997:
982:
967:
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859:
853:978-0618551132
852:
834:
825:
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809:
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734:
708:
677:
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632:
626:978-0786470129
625:
604:
544:
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517:
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492:
484:player-manager
475:
472:
437:
434:
418:
415:
382:
379:
374:player-manager
345:
342:
330:Troy Haymakers
325:
324:Troy Haymakers
322:
320:
317:
307:
304:
293:player-manager
265:Troy Haymakers
240:
239:
238:
237:
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192:
186:
180:
177:Troy Haymakers
174:
171:
168:Troy Haymakers
165:
159:
158:
154:
153:
150:
149:
146:
144:Runs batted in
140:
139:
136:
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126:
120:
119:
118:MLB statistics
115:
114:
110:
109:
105:
104:
100:
99:
95:
94:
87:
81:
80:
77:
76:
71:(aged 82)
61:
60:
49:
48:
40:
39:
31:
30:
20:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1379:
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1298:
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1293:
1290:
1288:
1285:
1283:
1280:
1279:
1277:
1261:
1260:George Wright
1256:
1255:
1252:
1245:
1241:
1238:
1237:George Wright
1234:
1231:
1227:
1224:
1220:
1217:
1213:
1210:
1206:
1203:
1202:Bobby Mathews
1199:
1196:
1192:
1189:
1185:
1182:
1178:
1175:
1171:
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1163:
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1155:
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1136:
1131:
1129:
1124:
1122:
1117:
1116:
1113:
1104:
1095:
1094:
1087:
1086:Jim McCormick
1081:
1077:
1068:
1067:
1060:
1059:George Wright
1054:
1050:
1041:
1040:
1033:
1027:
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992:
986:
983:
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896:
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493:
491:
488:
485:
481:
473:
470:
465:
463:
458:
456:
452:
451:Union Grounds
448:
442:
435:
433:
430:
428:
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421:In 1876, the
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1216:Jim O'Rourke
1209:Mike McGeary
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1174:Jack Farrell
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275:(1875), the
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69:(1933-10-02)
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28:Mike McGeary
18:
1367:1933 deaths
1362:1850 births
1032:Bill Craver
597:January 16,
516:Later years
306:Early years
209:(1880–1881)
203:(1879–1880)
197:(1876–1877)
134:Runs scored
1276:Categories
1195:Paul Hines
1188:Bill Hague
1181:Emil Gross
1103:John Clapp
810:0786419202
541:References
407:Emil Gross
1258:Manager:
1223:Joe Start
1167:Lew Brown
1156:champions
532:Manhattan
460:In 1888,
411:Cap Anson
389:In 1905,
257:infielder
98:MLB debut
45:Infielder
1244:Tom York
1049:Bob Addy
249:baseball
727:July 4,
701:July 4,
449:at the
261:catcher
83:Batted:
877:
850:
807:
623:
455:errors
409:, and
236:(1881)
230:(1880)
224:(1875)
215:(1882)
191:(1875)
179:(1871)
170:(1870)
89:Threw:
1097:1881
1070:1880
1043:1875
898:(PDF)
767:(PDF)
746:(PDF)
157:Teams
91:Right
85:Right
65:Died:
53:Born:
1148:1879
875:ISBN
848:ISBN
805:ISBN
729:2014
703:2014
621:ISBN
599:2020
259:and
128:.276
148:236
138:484
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680:^
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405:,
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1134:e
1127:t
1120:v
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601:.
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